APPs in the News (12.5.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com, including info on scleroderma, dermatomyositis and malignancy, rheumatologist and APP salary concerns.
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Changing Loan Limits for Advance Practice Providers
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB), or H.R. 1, was signed into law in July, calls for significant changes in the funding of healthcare education. This bill that lowers cap limits on education loans applies to graduate (APRN, https://t.co/4fwhAo2WG5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Legislative Issues Affecting APPs
Major interstate “compacts” allow for cross state licensing for physicians. However, compacts for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) are fewer and currently on hold - thereby limiting healthcare manpower and patient care. https://t.co/sBYtX03IY7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Hiring, Onboarding and Training APPs
Watch our kickoff webinar for this month's Mission: APP — Partners in Care campaign. Our panel of rheumatologists and experienced advanced practice providers share insights into hiring, onboarding, training, compensation, and more. https://t.co/stgTQM9soW
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Survey of 500 Rheum Patients, 37% reported having APPs (NP or PA) as primary rheum providers. APP patients had greater ease scheduling& more prefer to see APPs over rheumatologists (P < 0.01) & recommend APPs . No difference between MD vs APP experience https://t.co/VShREnhsMG https://t.co/glaIUPZ5qh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Long-Term APP Retention: Building Success for Practices and Providers
Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are vital in rheumatology due to rising patient numbers and the need for prompt care. Their integration enhances practice efficiency, improves patient access, and balances https://t.co/bZBkbWyWfI
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Changing Loan Limits for Advance Practice Providers
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB), or H.R. 1, was signed into law in July, calls for significant changes in the funding of healthcare education. This bill that lowers cap limits on education loans applies to graduate (APRN, PA) programs. It was driven by the need to lower the US
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Legislative Issues Affecting APPs
Here's a summary of legislative issues in three key areas: APRN compact and interstate licensing hold up; scope of practice; and, reimbursement hassles.
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Vitamin D and Lupus Outcomes (11.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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ACR Applauds Bipartisan Support for Prior Authorization Reform Bill
The ACR commended the more than 295 bipartisan, bicameral cosponsors of The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which, if enacted, would reform the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage https://t.co/n0MKkSqRwO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
CDAI appropriately guided therapy escalation in RA, but not for everyone. Treatment adjustments were less likely in pts with public or no insurance. Even data-driven care can fall short when access barriers persist.
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstract#2616
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Paging the pharmacist
Abstract 1973: Dedicated clinic pharmacist -> benefits
Tasks included:
🔹 74% PA support
🔹 55% patient education
🔹 40% medication management
~50% pts had clinically meaningful improvement
Providers report ↑ care quality & ↓ admin burden
@RheumNow #ACR25
Akhil Sood MD, MS @AkhilSoodMD( View Tweet )
ADA-biosimilar use surged just before CVS formulary change then dropped sharply after. In RISE data, uptake reached 25% of users overall. Formulary policies reshape prescribing, but sustaining adoption needs alignment with patient access and preferences.
@RheumNow #ACR25 A#1042
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
ACR Urges Alaska and Montana to Strengthen Rheumatology Care
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is calling on Alaska and Montana to seize the opportunity to address critical gaps in rheumatology care by accessing funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program https://t.co/exHRCORcCG
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
AMN Healthcare report on MD salaries -- high demand for specialist MDs w/ RHEUM the 7th Most In-Demand. 2024/205 Rheum were low of $214K, a high of $450K, median of $341,000. Avg salary for NPs is $180K up from $164,000 last year, a 9.6% increase. https://t.co/NcmwrMxpKr https://t.co/a86NvQhZry
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Variability of Guidelines on the Perioperative Use of DMARDs in Rheumatic Diseases Patients
More effective treatments in patients with rheumatic diseases have resulted in less need for major surgery, yet a substantial number of RMD patients will undergo surgery often in the setting of DMARDs use. A scoping review looked at numerous clinical practice guidelines/recommendations for the
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CMS to Test Prior Authorization Model in Traditional Medicare
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new experimental model late last week to streamline some prior authorizations under the traditional Medicare program, but some politicians and experts https://t.co/o8iV9Bb6Ir
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Nurse-Led Treat-to-Target Clinics
EurekAlert!
New studies shared at the 2025 annual EULAR congress in Barcelona highlight the benefits that nurse-led care can bring for both patients and healthcare systems.
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ACR & Arthritis Foundation Denounce the Dismantling of Vital Health Programs
As organizations representing nearly 60 million adults and children living with arthritis in the United States and the rheumatologists and health care professionals who treat them, we are deeply https://t.co/VH3hPz115f
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#JIA #biologics and #tsDMARDs: Are all patients getting the same access? MDTs, share your insights on on-label and off-label prescribing and help improve future care.
💬 Take the survey by 15 April: https://t.co/vC2Pv5vmH4 https://t.co/rRM5rH0QQl
Links:
BSR @RheumatologyUK( View Tweet )
Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Hip Fractures
JAMA reviews the use of peripheral nerve block with hip fractures as an effective pain management strategy that can be performed by credentialed clinicians outside of the operating room.
https://t.co/baeLWVxeUo https://t.co/ZBTVDT0jGR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ERA, APPs, & Alpha GAL (3.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Listen in for 2 new case questions - Ask Cush Anything.
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NP and PA Growth in the USA
Forbes has published a thoughtful perspective on the declining number of US physicians and the growth in the number of advanced practice providers or APPs (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) in the US clinical workforce. Gastroenterologist Dr. Spencer Dorn writes that in the US, there
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Alive in 2025 (1.10.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush brings in the new year with a review of the latest from RheumNow.com
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Best of 2024: 13 Risk Factors for RA-associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most widespread and fatal pulmonary complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A recent metanalysis shows the pooled prevalence of RA-ILD was approximately 18.7%.
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