ChartLogic, Inc.
APMA News Brief
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube
November 3, 2016 In This Issue
National News
What PATIENTS Are Reading
National News
The American Podiatric Medical Association has announced its new Diabetes: A Path to Poor Circulation campaign, which will educate the public about the relationship between diabetes and vascular disease.  
 
The CMS Wednesday announced changes to how Medicare pays for primary care that could result in an estimated $140 million in additional funding in 2017 to providers.
Editor's note: Read APMA’s Comments to CMS on the 2017 Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
 
CMS released its final 2017 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System rule on Tuesday, which implements site-neutral payment provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. 
 
IMPROVED OUTCOMES = INCREASED REVENUES
Medical Wave, LLP
Increase patient satisfaction & create new revenue streams with the gold standard in Pressure Wave technology Storz. With a 91% success rate as per clinical studies reported outcomes for heel, foot & ankle pain are extraordinary. Improve your patient outcomes and start creating new revenue streams today! 1-800-595-0577
https://www.medicalwaveus.com
Advertisement
As part of the final Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule for 2017 unveiled Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has eased several requirements for participants in the Meaningful Use program. 
 
New gout clinical guidelines published by the American College of Physicians (ACP) satisfy guideline criteria set by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Guideline Clearinghouse and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), but leave many gout experts outraged and saying the guidelines will harm patient care. 
 
The ongoing transition from volume-based to value-based payment and care delivery models in healthcare has been a monumental industry-wide effort over the past few years, but there are many indicators that the pace of change has been slow, according to a recent Deloitte report. 
 
Even before Medicare's Quality Payment Program reimbursement changes were rolled out earlier this year, medical practices were looking at ways to align physician compensation with value over the traditional standard of volume. 
 
Risk Placement Services, Inc.
Claims being paid too slowly?
ABILITY Network
Podiatrists deserve better than one-size-fits-all software. Get paid fully, quickly and fairly with ABILITY. Use our secure web-based tool to connect with thousands of payers. Check eligibility and correct claim errors on the spot. Fast set-up – nothing to install. View our no-cost on-demand webinar!
Learn More Here
Advertisement
What Patients are Reading
November is National Diabetes Awareness month and Podiatrist, Dr. Mitchell Waskin, DPM, CEO of The Foot and Ankle Center wants her to break out your favorite wacky socks and snap a selfie of your foot and enter his 2nd Annual "Selfie Footie" Campaign.
Editor's note: APMA's Diabetes Campaign has launched! We have resources for you and your patients at http://www.apma.org/diabetes.
 
Walking is something many of us do to try and stay fit. But did you realize if you're not walking right, you might run the risk of an injury? 
 
Think you’re making the healthy choice choosing flat shoes over sky-high stilettos? Think again.
Editor's note: Encourage your patients to buy footwear with the APMA Seal of Acceptance/Approval.
 
Healthy feet are key to staying active. People often neglect to give their feet the best of care until they have painful foot problems that slow them down. 
 
Ankle sprains are the most common injury in soccer, accounting for nearly 20% of all soccer injuries.  Understanding ankle sprains, including prevention and rehabilitation strategies, can be incredibly helpful in minimizing the risk of being sidelined by an ankle sprain. 
 
Over half the physicians responding to a new survey said they either had not heard of MACRA or did not know much about it.
Editor's note: APMA has MACRA resources for members at http://www.apma.org/macra.
 
Clinical documentation improvement programs can help healthcare organizations with better ICD-10 coding and reimbursement accuracy, according to a new Black Book survey of more than 900 health leaders.
Editor’s note: See APMA's ICD-10 resources for all your coding needs.
 
It happens during many doctor appointments. A patient is sitting in the waiting room when a staff member or nurse asks why the person is there.
 
Commercial payers may need to catch up to CMS with regard to MACRA legislation and advanced alternative payment models.
Editor's note: APMA has all you need to know about MACRA, MIPS, and APMs at http://www.apma.org/macra.
 
You’re sitting in an exam room with a patient who’s been with you for years. 
 
Medicare Advantage health plans are leading the charge in adoption of alternative payment models in the healthcare industry, a report prepared for HHS says. 
 
BNA Burz North America American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants Ortho-Dynamics Orthotic Laboratory PAL Health Technologies
 
Disclaimer: Stories from sources other than APMA do not necessarily reflect APMA positions or policies. APMA does not endorse these stories. This content appears in the News Brief to enhance members' understanding of how media coverage shapes perceptions of podiatric medicine, and to educate members about what their patients, legislators and other healthcare professionals are seeing in the media.
 

 

Advertise

We would appreciate your comments or suggestions.
Your email will be kept private and confidential.