Rheumatologists News and Research

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Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have similar impacts on patients

Osteoarthritis has traditionally been viewed as a highly prevalent but milder condition when compared with rheumatoid arthritis, and some may believe that it is part of a normal aging process requiring acceptance, not treatment.

20 Mar 2019

New approach to tackling chronic inflammatory diseases

An EU-funded project has developed new approaches to tackling chronic inflammatory diseases. These will be used to create precise and individualized treatment options, potentially leading to faster diagnosis, more effective treatments and even cures.

1 Mar 2019

Student-led interest group increases student engagement with rheumatology

According to data from the 2005 and 2016 American College of Rheumatology Workforce Studies, a significant increase in the demand for rheumatologists is expected in the coming years. However, the number of trained rheumatologists is declining.

27 Feb 2019

OU researcher and collaborators are developing new strategies for early intervention of Lupus

A University of Oklahoma researcher, Si Wu, and collaborators from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Indiana University, are developing new strategies leading to diagnosis and early intervention of Lupus, an autoimmune disease that may affect up to 1.5 million Americans.

1 Feb 2019

Growing concern about incidence of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease is defined as an abnormality of kidney structure or function that persists for more than three months. It is prevalent, affecting 10.4% of men and 11.8% of women, worldwide. Chronic kidney disease can progress such that between 5.3 and 10.5 million people need kidney replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or transplantation.

31 Jan 2019

New research reveals that prescription opioids are used long-term to treat severe osteoarthritis

New research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology, reveals that prescription opioids are commonly used long-term to treat pain in older patients with severe osteoarthritis.

28 Jan 2019

ACR expresses its continuing concern with recent CMS policy

In comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the American College of Rheumatology expressed its continuing concern with a recent CMS policy allowing Medicare Advantage plans to utilize step therapy for Part B drugs.

25 Jan 2019

ACR and NPF release joint treatment guideline for psoriatic arthritis

The American College of Rheumatology and National Psoriasis Foundation have released a joint treatment guideline for psoriatic arthritis that provides evidence-based pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic recommendations on caring for treatment-naïve patients with active PsA and patients who continue to have active PsA despite treatment.

4 Dec 2018

ACR cautions policymakers that reducing E/M services can compromise patient access to care

In comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, the American College of Rheumatology cautioned policymakers against implementing a proposal to reduce physician reimbursement for evaluation and management services, arguing that doing so could severely compromise patient access to care and further exacerbate the growing rheumatology workforce shortage.

10 Sep 2018

ACR expresses concerns on step therapy in a recent meeting with HSS Secretary

Yesterday, the American College of Rheumatology met with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar for a productive discussion about the rheumatology community's concerns with a new policy that will allow Medicare Advantage plans to utilize step therapy in Medicare Part B.

17 Aug 2018

American College of Rheumatology receives grants to support development of lupus clinical trials

The American College of Rheumatology today announced the receipt of two, two-year grants from the Office of Minority Health to support the development of programs that aim to increase the recruitment and enrollment in lupus clinical trials of minority populations affected by lupus.

14 Aug 2018

Some doctors, patients balk at Medicare’s ‘flat fee’ payment proposal

The Trump administration announced a plan Friday that would affect about 40 percent of the payments physicians receive from Medicare. Not everybody’s pleased.

31 Jul 2018

New study highlights predictors that prevent from achieving remission in early RA

The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology report that obesity in women and current smoking in men were the strongest predictors of not achieving remission in early rheumatoid arthritis within a year.

18 Jun 2018

Osteoarthritis patients with greater disease severity may have higher risk of depression

Two measures of disease severity cumulatively contribute to depressive symptom onset; physical performance and structural severity

14 Jun 2018

ACR urges legislative action on access and cost barriers in rheumatologic care

Rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals convened on Capitol Hill this week to urge legislative action on pressing policy issues affecting rheumatology care during the American College of Rheumatology's Advocacy Leadership Conference, held May 16-17, 2018 in Washington, D.C.

21 May 2018

Guideline revisions for knee osteoarthritis have 'subtle but significant' impact on clinical practice

Recent updates in evidence-based recommendations have led to changes in the use of steroid and hyaluronic acid injection for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, reports a study in the May 16, 2018 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

18 May 2018

Obesity associated with more rapid progression of disability in rheumatoid arthritis patients

In a study of adults with rheumatoid arthritis, those who were severely obese experienced more rapidly progressing disability than patients who were overweight.

30 Apr 2018

NRAS launches online, interactive program to help people with rheumatoid arthritis

This Valentine’s Day, NRAS is delighted to announce the launch of its online, interactive educational program ‘Love your Heart’.

15 Feb 2018

ACR receives grant to focus on projects that reduce health disparities

The American College of Rheumatology's new program, Uniting Collaborators for Innovation, was named one of five recipients of the American Society of Association Executives Foundation Innovation Grants Program, which awards $10,000 to programs that demonstrate engagement in innovation efforts within the association community. UCOIN is being developed by the ACR's Collaborative Initiatives department as a platform for member-led projects that reduce health disparities.

14 Feb 2018

Studies find alarming shortage of rheumatology workforce in future

Two new articles provide insights on the outlook of rheumatology in the United States, noting that the need for rheumatologists will greatly exceed the projected growth of the rheumatology workforce over the next 15 years.

5 Feb 2018