Author in the Room: Factors Associated with the Receipt of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary: 1) One third of Medicare managed care patients diagnosed with RA are not receiving DMARDs. 2) There is variation in DMARD receipt based on accidental factors: sociodemographics, geographic location, and health plan. 3) Since DMARD use is the main way to affect outcomes in RA, these patient groups and the physicians treating them are reasonable target for quality improvement interventions.