Dr. Steven Katz describes how NIAMS sets priorities for investing congressionally-appropriated funds.

Dr. Marty Bergman (see prior article) writes to remind rheumatologists that the October 1 deadline is for the date of service. If you see the patient on September 30th, but don't bill it until October 4th, you need to use ICD-9 codes.

A recent survey by AmericanEHR Partners and the AMA of 940 physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners showed most physicians are dissatisfied with their EHR systems.

Are the benefits of androgen supplementation in older men overstated? Might the risks be understated?

CDC has released the findings of its 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), with 5 questions addressing different forms of disability - vision, cognition, mobility, self-care, and independent living. Overall, 22.2% of U.S. adults (53,316,677 persons) reported any disability.

Using claims data from 36,965 patients in an Indiana database, researchers found women (OR 1.86) and non-black patients (OR 1.52) were more likely to be treated (p<0.001) for osteoporosis.

Historically, women’s salaries have lagged behind their male colleagues. Women are less likely to achieve leadership roles or be full professors at academic institutions.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation has written a tribute noting the sad passing of Dr. Norman Talal on April 24, 2015. 

Dr. Talal was an eminent researcher and clinician known for his research and education on Sjogren’s syndrome.

On Friday, July 10th, the U.S. House voted overwhelmingly to streamline the approval process of prescription drugs and medical devices by the FDA.

One million people are hospitalized each year with sepsis. This is more than the number of hospitalizations for heart attack and stroke combined. Sepsis can be a particular risk for older people.

With three months until the switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 coding, CMS and the AMA have announced efforts to continue to help physicians get ready ahead of the October 1 deadline.

Obesity is associated with adverse outcomes in pregnancy, especially with higher rates of infertility and miscarriage. 

ACP has endorsed the Supreme Court ruling that the premium subsidies created by the Affordable Care Act, essential to making coverage affordable to millions, will continue to be available in states where the federal government manages their health insurance marketplaces.

A systematic review of the benefits and harms of arthroscopic knee surgery involving partial meniscectomy for middle-aged and older adults with knee pain and degenerative knee disease was recenttly published in BMJ. They found inconsequential benefits 3-6 months after surgery, but

Researchers at Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic and the NIH have determined that solar cycles and geomagnetic effects may account for the incidence of RA and PMR.

Dr. Angus Worthing writes of patient angst over rising copays. Expensive specialty medications are the frequent target of "sharing" the rising costs of medications and making them the patients responsibility and not the insurers.

May 10 was World Lupus Day.

Drug Safety Bulletin: Drug Shortages

A retrospective study of the national register in Sweden identified a total of 11,030 cases with an ankylosing spondylitis (AS) diagnosis (as of 2009) were identified in the National Patient Register, giving a point prevalence of 0.18% in 2009. Men had a higher prevalence of ankylo

Current Sunshine Act disclosures do not apply to CME certified educational activities for either the participants or the presenters. CMS has debated and waffled on whether companies would be required to report payments to doctors who speak at, or attend, CME seminars.