JAMA: 2011-02-02, Vol. 305, No. 5, Author in the Room™ Audio Interview

Interview with Gabriela Schmajuk, MD, author of Receipt of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Medicare Managed Care Plans. Summary Points: 1. One third of Medicare managed care patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are not receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. 2. There is variation in disease-modifying antirheumatic drug receipt based on "accidental factors": sociodemographics, geographic location, and health plan. 3. Because disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use is the main way to affect outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis, these patient groups and the physicians treating them are a reasonable target for quality improvement interventions.