Practice guideline released for treating opioid use disorder
The American Society of Addiction Medicine has released a practice guideline to help clinicians evaluate and treat opioid use disorder, with the ultimate goal of getting more physicians to provide... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 23, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Step therapy and biologics: An easier road ahead?
Laws recently passed or under consideration in state legislatures may offer some relief to physicians and patients dogged by the “step” or “fail-first” therapy protocols mandated by insurers, but... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 22, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
CMS releases applications, instructions for 2015 meaningful use hardship exemptions
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the applications for meaningful use hardship exemptions for 2015.
Physicians who qualify for a hardship exemption must apply by March... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 22, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Patient records requests: New regs clarify physician responsibilities
The age of the information-empowered patient is upon us. Not only do patients bring the results of their Internet research when they come to the office, they also want to take a record of the... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 21, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Updated GRAPPA PsA recommendations call for integrated approach to care
Screening for cardiovascular disease and other known comorbidities of psoriatic arthritis take new precedence in updated treatment recommendations for rheumatologists from the Group for Research and... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 21, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
MRI findings beyond sacroiliitis not necessary for classifying nonradiographic axial SpA
Current recommendations for identifying sacroiliitis on MRI to classify patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis should still depend on the presence of subchondral bone marrow edema, but... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 20, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
CMS: IT changes are coming, but not here yet
Don’t walk away from meaningful use quite yet. That’s the message from CMS leaders Andy Slavitt and Dr. Karen DeSalvo.
Mr. Slavitt, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 19, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
DME: New prior authorization requirements could up the ‘hassle factor’
Starting next month, Medicare won’t pay for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) without prior authorization. The regulation could mean headaches for... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 19, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Law & Medicine: Health care costs and defensive medicine
Question: Which of the following choices is best?
A. Controversy exists over whether defensive medicine is widely practiced and whether it raises health care costs.
B. Everyone... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 19, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Alternative payment models: MedPAC says keep it simple
WASHINGTON – A federal advisory panel has straightforward advice for the government as it shifts towards value-based health care: Keep it simple.
At the Jan. 15 meeting of the Medicare Payment... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Source: Rheumatology News - January 19, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
