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The difference in payment between CPT codes 99211 and 99212 is approximately $16. If you undercode this just a couple of times a day, you could lose as much as $8,000 a year.

The first step is for dermatologists to recognize that these cutaneous conditions might be linked to new cancer treatments and to see these patients as quickly as possible.

Studies have shown that the long-term application of these topicals in mice skin was associated with the development of lymphoma.

Though not innately aggressive in the majority of cases, BCC must be treated in a timely manner to avoid the subsequent necessity of more invasive treatment of the tumor and to preserve the surrounding normal tissue.

If it is not growing, chances are it is not malignant. If it is growing, malignancy is possible. The problem is that all acquired nevi also have a growth phase, so growth cannot be used as a sole parameter.

Since we place all our "mole check" patients in gowns, it was easy to evaluate the patient's leg veins during the visit.

CMS published a proposed rule change that would let physicians repay Medicare overpayments over time, rather than demanding the money all at once.

Los Angeles - Natural oral and topical treatments can help round out traditional approaches to treating atopic dermatitis, especially for patients reluctant or unable to seek more conventional therapies.

Dermatologists prescribing any of the medications off label for pruritic dermatosis will find the dosages recommended are too low to suppress the itch of the dermatitic process.

Pittsburgh - New "activated" moisturizers help the skin retain moisture, and they also repair abnormalities with the skin at baseline in atopic dermatitis patients, according to Douglas W. Kress, M.D., of Children's Dermatology Services at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis has steadily increased over the past 40 years, and in children born after 1980, the rate has increased 15 percent to 20 percent.

Manchester, England - Treatments for psoriasis have evolved, with state-of-the-art biologicals leading the way for the more severe forms, but to maximize the effectiveness of any therapy it is crucial to assess the psychological aspects of psoriasis, as well as the physical, according to one expert.

San Francisco - Anecdotal evidence has long supported the notion that a person's mental health can impact his or her physical health and that psychological stress can have real physiological affects.

Washington - Because many skin diseases have associated rheumatic components, thorough musculoskeletal evaluations can help doctors slow or prevent some patients' disability, an expert says.

Unlike cancer, in which Srcasm levels are down and Src kinase levels are up, in psoriasis tissue samples, researchers have found that Src kinase levels are up, but so too are Srcasm levels, compared with normal skin on that same patient.

Sign follow-up correspondence to no-shows yourself; physician involvement may help patients understand the impact of their behavior.

Many practitioners initially suspect a diagnosis of psoriasis, eczema or a drug reaction - three of the more common possibilities that are considered when a physician is actually about to diagnose cutaneous lymphoma.

At one time in the not-too-distant past of our specialty, the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) was so high ... that our national organization's name was changed to reflect the training and expertise that dermatologists had in treating STDs.

There may be a possible flare of acne after the initiation of treatment, but long term, the improvement of lesions continues for three to six months after the cessation of treatment.

Coral Gables, Fla. - Stiefel Laboratories' recent purchase of Connetics blends Connetics' innovative vehicle technology with Stiefel's worldwide marketing reach, company officials say. For dermatologists and patients, the acquisition augurs a steady stream of new applications for vehicles including the popular, patient-friendly foam pioneered by Connetics.

National report - Cultured skin substitutes (CSS) are being engineered to perform better against infection through the stimulated production of beta defensins.

National report - Topical estrogen is one possible therapy for improving the skin of menopausal and postmenopausal women who choose to avoid hormone replacement therapy. But topicals, too, have their drawbacks, say dermatologists, who continue to look for answers to patient inquiries about HRT.

Kingston, N.Y. - Training board-certified primary care physicians in medical dermatology could be one way to help alleviate the shortage of medical dermatologists in the United States, according to Marie-Louise Johnson, M.D., in practice in Kingston, N.Y.

Washington - The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) must "clearly articulate its global role" as it moves into the future, says newly installed president Diane Baker, M.D.

Washington - They almost wouldn't let him leave.

Washington - Family physicians correlate well with dermatologists in diagnosis and treatment of many common skin lesions, a recent study says.

You now have a choice of deducting either your state and local income taxes or state and local sales taxes, but not both.

Toronto - Autologous fat transplantation, long recognized as a simple, effective technique for filling facial wrinkles and frown lines, is fast becoming the most frequently used technique for perioral rejuvenation, according to David A. Sherris, M.D.

Many of the new treatments on the market are not distinctive in their key ingredients, but represent a new formulation or vehicle of an available agent.

Some pharmaceutical companies feel the need to provide such incentives to be able to approach certain physicians in private practice.