Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush talks of birthdays, Quizzes and journal articles this week on the podcast.
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BE BOLD Week 16 data - Bimekizumab vs. Risankizumab in PsA
UCB has released the Week 16 results from BE BOLD trial that will be presented at EULAR 2026 in London on Saturday, June 6. This head-to-head trial demonstrates that at week 16, bimekizumab (BKZ) yielded superior ACR50 results compared to risankizumab (RKB) adults with active psoriatic
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Medical Economics reports only 18% MDs practiced in MD-owned settings, a new low. By Jan '26 hospitals or corporate employment rose to 550,494 & independent MDs fell to 120,900 https://t.co/l0tt3yO9kt https://t.co/pkgmHFPjE1
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Does Exercise and Lifestyle Modification Improve RA?
Does exercise or lifestyle modifications reduce the risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or change those with early RA? A current review and meta-analysis found no studies addressing benefit in pre-clinical RA, but found evidence that exercise improves
“60-40-20” - Ed Keystone
(rumor has it he was actually bidding on a copy of my textbook!)
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Influential Rheumatoid Factors (5.8.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com
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Nurses - the calm through chaos
Gloria was the charge nurse on 3 West when a “code” was called. Action, running, and commotion ensues as the crash cart, nurses, and respiratory therapist appear at the bedside. Two residents emerge as the patient is hooked up to the monitor. While everyone assumes their position and role,
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U.S. spending on prescription drugs in 2025 jumped 13% to $915 billion=projected to surpass $1 trillion in 2026, according to ASHP/USA today. One major reason– the popularity of the weight-loss and diabetes drugs tirzepatide and semaglutide. https://t.co/EQ9yFCCdBp https://t.co/cig1jNp6NF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheumatology Salaries 2025
Medscape has published its annual Physician Compensation report with physican salaries up roughly 3% and eight specialties earning more than $500,000 per annum.
https://t.co/DNe42EsxRW https://t.co/aegcNm8Pla
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Follow the Money (4.23.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush follows the money and all the news that fits the Rheumatology Gab for this past week.
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Rheumatology Salaries 2025
Medscape has published its annual Physician Compensation report with physican salaries up roughly 3% and eight specialties earning more than $500,000 per annum.
https://t.co/UKc2l4FBQZ https://t.co/Kqzbl6pGWh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Twofold Mortality in SLE
Despite declining incidence of lupus, mortality for SLE was twice that of controls in this large incident cohort study.
Ethnicity is a strong predictor of incidence and outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This population study used the UK Clinical Practice
Rheumatology Salaries 2025
Medscape has published its annual Physician Compensation report with physican salaries up roughly 3% and eight specialties earning more than $500,000 per annum.
IN 2025 DTC TV ad spending by top 10 incr to $2.67 billion (up from $2.1 B). Rheum Drugs in top 3:
1. Skyrizi $440 million
2. Tremfya $431 M
3. Rinvoq $376 M
https://t.co/EsWgUqUy9Z https://t.co/zVHdVA2puZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ACR Backs the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act
The ACR thanked lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives for introducing the bipartisan Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2025 (H.R. 8163), legislation designed to stabilize Medicare payments for physicians and https://t.co/15xU3DGD34
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Simulation cost-effectiveness/QOL study compared Rx of psoriasis w/ biologics, phototherapy, or step-therapy Rx. Biologics had best QOL gains; step-therapy Rx similar w/ less variability & lower costs; phototherapy was cost-effective for payors. Pts had highest willingness to pay https://t.co/RyNooKhgQh
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Prescribing Lessons (4.17.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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ACR Backs the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act
ACR
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today thanked lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives for introducing the bipartisan Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2025 (H.R. 8163), legislation designed to stabilize Medicare payments for physicians and protect patient access to care
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Physician Use of Augmented Intelligence has Doubled
A 2026 Physician Survey to assess artificial intelligence and its use in Medical Practice has been published and follows earlier surveys around adoption and use. This is the third in a series of longitudinal surveys (prior waves 2023, 2024), enabling meaningful trend analysis. AI adoption has
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Modest Benefits with AI Scribes on EHR Documentation
EurekAlert!
Documenting a patient visit in the electronic health record (EHR) is essential to healthcare delivery, but also a major contributor to clinician burnout. Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled ambient documentation, or “AI scribes,” can automatically generate draft clinical notes for review
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Screening High Risk Myositis Patients for Cancer
An Italian retrospective study of 411 idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) patients applied IMACS criteria to assess the risk of cancer and found significantly more cancers in those at high risk.
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Opioids Down, Gabapentins Up
The number of U.S. patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy declined from 2015 to 2023, but co-prescribing of opioids with gabapentinoids increased, prescription data showed.
In 2023, 4.2 million people had an active long-term opioid therapy episode, defined as a period of opioid
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Korean study 50600 adult RA pts (Dx 2010-2020) shows Sustained high-income was assoc w/ reduced mortality, esp in younger pts (adj HR 0.50 <65 years vs 0.74 ≥65 years). Amplifed by Rural residence https://t.co/DUZoNsPSHj https://t.co/PV3Umlrgvv
Links:
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Updated CRA/SPARCC Recommendations for Axial Spondyloarthritis
In 2024, the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CMA) and the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) published a comprehensive set of 56 treatment recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis. This first update is focused on the reassessment of IL-17i
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Large pharmaceutical companies reduced their workforces by more than 22,000 employees in 2025. Among 17 largest companies , only five logged a head count increase in 2025 https://t.co/VdtlUaF4Q3 https://t.co/2xsCs9O1Tw
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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One of the benefits of attending conferences aside from scientific exchange is meeting new people. At one symposium, I met a unique rheumatologist. This chance meeting turned into an interview, that turned into a blog. Holly Bastian, MD is a rheumatologist practicing without the restraints of being tied to a place. She is a nomadic rheumatologist, a rheum on the road who embodies Johnny Appleseed as she spreads her knowledge and skills to multiple places in need of rheumatologic services. This is her story.
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