APMA News Brief

One year has passed since the Affordable Care Act became active. As the nation prepares for the second round of open enrollment in mid-November, few can argue that the ACA hasn’t changed the U.S. health care game.

Visit http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/national/2014/10/09/affordable-care-act-one-year-later/ to view the full article online.

New questions continue to be raised and concerns expressed about just how compliant the nation’s hospitals are on HIPAA. The current issue focuses on the inability of some providers and practices to see the version indicator field.

Visit http://icd10monitor.com/enews/item/1289-hipaa-5010-inability-to-view-version-indicator-fields to view the full article online.

eRounds offers physicians the opportunity to share photos of cases they have questions about, or ones where they're particularly impressed with their own work, and facilitate discussion with other physicians.

Visit http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/health-care/2014/10/the-doctors-social-network-health-it-startup-acts.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+industry_7+%28Industry+Technology%29 to view the full article online.

A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at some of the challenges facing health insurance marketplace assisters points to the frustrations and rewards of workers on the front lines of implementing federal and state health insurance exchanges over the past 12 months. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: Visit APMA's healthcare reform page for more resources and information on how the ACA affects the profession.

Pressures on the U.S. health care system coupled with evolving consumer expectations have fueled the appetite for funding of digital health care startups and have ushered in a new era of industry innovation.

Visit http://www.eweek.com/it-management/slideshows/10-ways-health-it-startups-are-evolving.html to view the full article online.

The Society for General Internal Medicine organized with the American College of Physicians and the American Association of Family Physicians to call on Congress to repeal the Medicare physician’s sustainable growth rate that mandates cuts to reimbursements. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Read APMA’s SGR repeal comments sent to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

The feet do a lot more than simply carry us from place to place. They can also provide important clues about our health, from showing us if we're dehydrated to pointing to bigger problems, like impaired circulation or lung disease.

Visit http://www.businessinsider.com/foot-pain-and-foot-problems-2014-10?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+businessinsider+%28Business+Insider%29 to view the full article online.

Have you looked down in a while? Your feet can be the "Check Engine" light going on in your car. Do you know the signs?

Visit http://www.nohoartsdistrict.com/gotta-dance/item/2596-dancer-health-facts-from-your-feet to view the full article online.

You’re not alone if you develop pain in your feet when the temperatures drop outdoors.

Visit http://www.buffalonews.com/life-arts/health/pay-attention-to-those-aching-feet-to-protect-your-mobility-20141011 to view the full article online.

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, a division of the National Institute of Health in the United States, says that Type 2 diabetes is steadily increasing in the United States.

Visit http://www.pratttribune.com/article/20141010/LIFESTYLE/141019901/10117/LIFESTYLE to view the full article online.

Garra rufa, sometimes even referred to as ‘doctor fish,’ eat away dead skin on the foot and expose new skin. Now, more than 10 states have banned the use of fish pedicures.

Visit http://www.kyforward.com/foot-health-theres-something-very-fishy-about-these-trendy-pedicures-so-beware/ to view the full article online.

The diabetes community’s grassroots campaign #WeAreNotWaiting calls for diabetes data and device interoperability.

Visit http://www.imedicalapps.com/2014/10/mobile-diabetes-companies-patient-data/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+iMedicalApps+%28iMedicalApps%29 to view the full article online.

A new state law that makes it easier for kids to get diabetes treatments at school, took effect Sept. 11.

Visit http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/summit-county/2014/10/10/new-law-helps-students-with-diabetes-at-school/17015211/ to view the full article online.

As with any kind of physical injury, wounds come in many forms and levels of seriousness. Some can easily be treated at home, but the more chronic ones need a doctor's attention.

Visit http://www.king5.com/story/entertainment/television/programs/new-day-northwest/2013/03/27/wound-care-do-s--don-ts/13235850/ to view the full article online.

WebMD's Symptom Checker has turned many a Web user into a hypochondriac, but Google wants to stop that. The search company is integrating links in search results in a pilot program that would connect users with medical experts via video chat.

Visit http://www.techtimes.com/articles/17796/20141013/google-health-remedy-features-live-doctor-video-chat.htm to view the full article online.

Hospital CEOs should care about ICD-10 implementation because that's how hospitals get paid. But many senior executives have limited knowledge of their organizations' preparedness.

Visit http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/why-hospital-ceos-should-care-about-icd-10-implementation/2014-10-13 to view the full article online.

The continued advancement of health IT adoption, health information exchange and the use of electronic health information are all important tools to improve the quality of healthcare in the nation. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss APMA’s Health IT resources on APMA.org.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued answers to some frequently asked questions regarding payment of the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance fee in Medicaid, with the main clarification being that it should be reimbursed by the states, in accordance with the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: See APMA’s Medicaid resources at APMA.org.

More than three scores of healthcare organizations are asking Congress to "provide clarity and certainty" regarding how to ensure patient safety and high-quality care delivery while at the same time fostering innovation in health information technology.

Visit http://ehrintelligence.com/2014/10/10/organizations-write-congress-to-address-hit-safety-oversight/ to view the full article online.

Improvement is both a process and state of being, and one leads to the other. We know that this is the essence of ICD-10. Yet, even in our improvement-driven society, we often are slow to initiate changes that will ultimately enhance our business, health, and lives. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: APMA’s ICD-10 Resources will help you prepare for the transition to happen Oct. 1, 2015.

With the advent of secure patient Web portals and the faith that online access has the potential to improve care, the medical industry is slowly catching up.

Visit http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-10-impact-patient-to-physician-messaging.html to view the full article online.

Daily Medicare coinsurance amounts will be $315 for days 61-90 of hospitalization in a benefit period. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Take advantage of APMA's Medicare resources at APMA.org.

When workers across the country crack open their annual employee benefits packages this fall, many are likely to feel immediate relief. Premiums for their employer-provided health insurance will be up, but not as much as in the past.

Visit http://www.dallasnews.com/business/personal-finance/headlines/20141010-higher-health-insurance-deductibles-giving-workers-pain.ece to view the full article online.

Attitudes and approaches to health insurance vary among small businesses. But to many, the requirements and resources outlined in the Affordable Care Act remain elusive, a newly released survey suggests.

Visit http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/nation/world/13877939-95/survey-suggests-small-businesses-unfamiliarity-with-health-reform to view the full article online.