APMA News Brief

Boston-based Physicians Foundation released its 2014 Watch List of five issues projected to impact physicians and patients next year, based on its Biennial Physician Survey.

Visit http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/5-concerns-for-physicians-and-patients-in-2015.html to view the full article online.

Who assigns the diagnosis codes that go on your HIPAA-CMS claim forms for purposes of reimbursement? Only ICD codes are allowed on claim forms, so someone, somewhere within your organization has been putting the ICD-codes on the claims.

Visit http://www.behavioral.net/blogs/lisette-wright/who-assigns-icd-10-and-dsm-5-codes to view the full article online.

CMS issues a Final Rule that removes the exclusion for reporting of continuing education payments to certain accredited organizations, while also clarifying previously existing parameters that may preclude reporting of these same payments. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss APMA’s Sunshine Act resources on APMA.org.

Despite a significant lobbying effort mounted by a small but very vocal minority within the healthcare industry, the implementation of ICD-10 is expected to proceed without further delay. 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.

The holidays are packed with so many great foods, but that could mean trouble if you're diabetic.

Visit http://www.ozarksfirst.com/story/d/story/diabetes-challenges-over-the-holidays/43091/1n1dv_KboEWQcj2vhDyQpQ to view the full article online.

From body sensing t-shirts to head bands that detect brain waves, what was long thought the stuff of science fiction is now becoming reality.

Visit http://globalnews.ca/news/1730553/wearable-technology-meant-to-improve-health-and-wellbeing/ to view the full article online.

The holiday season comes with little indulgences. But when you have gout, you must be smart to make sure those little indulgences do not turn into big flare-ups.

Visit http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/12/4-ways-to-control-your-gout-this-holiday-season/ to view the full article online.

That Urban Institute report is the first state-by-state look at how Obamacare is projected to decrease the uninsured rate by double-digits across different racial and ethnic groups: whites, Latinos, blacks, Asians/Pacific Islanders and American Indian/Alaska Natives.

Visit http://www.cnbc.com/id/102273339 to view the full article online.

A media arts and science team at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis has developed a mobile medical media application offering a more effective way for physicians to present patients with information in a global health care setting.

Visit http://news.iupui.edu/releases/2014/12/shahidi-app.shtml to view the full article online.

It’s winter and that means women everywhere will be pulling their favorite pair of boots out of the closet. While flat-heeled boots are fine, those with high heels may leave you doing some acrobatics.

Visit http://www.standard.net/Health/2014/12/16/Dangers-of-wearing-high-heeled-boots-in-the-winter.html to view the full article online.

A significant number of patients with diabetes are not receiving appropriate checks and appropriate advice about the risks diabetes poses to their feet, which could be putting them at increased risk of amputation.

Visit http://www.onmedica.com/newsarticle.aspx?id=cf96a236-d4a6-4247-bdbb-90959bcd12af to view the full article online.

With sandal season over and boot season well under way, you may be thinking it is time to do something about that large bump that juts out at the base of your big toe.

Visit http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/12/7-ways-to-ease-your-bunions-without-surgery/ to view the full article online.

Selecting the most comfortable, yet stylish party shoes in your closet can be a challenge for any women this holiday season.

Visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rosenberg/why-do-your-feet-hurt-whe_b_6313278.html to view the full article online.

In the first real-world trial of the impact of patient-controlled access to electronic medical records, almost half of the patients who participated withheld clinically sensitive information in their medical record from some or all of their health care providers. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: APMA provides HIPAA Privacy and Security Manuals for members on APMA.org.

This is being driven by coverages mandated by the ACA and the requirement that employers with companies of 100 or more employees now offer health benefits to all full-time staff under the Employer Mandate, which goes into effect on Jan. 1.

Visit http://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/2014/12/16/benestream-ceo-the-affordable-care-act-in-2015-profoundly-changes-health-care-o-a-579471.html#.VJHcsntfCYw to view the full article online.

The $1.1-trillion Omnibus Appropriations bill that passed on Saturday has many physicians more than a little upset because it lacks any fix to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula for physician reimbursement under Medicare.

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/physician-groups-displeased-by-11t-budget-bill/344158/ to view the full article online.

Approximately half of the accountable care organizations participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program earned bonuses during their first year. But the top ACOs in the MSSP have earned millions.

Visit http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/slideshow/10-acos-earned-largest-shared-savings-payouts-2014 to view the full article online.

CMS reconsiders $10 million bounties for reporting of regulatory violations.

Visit http://www.natlawreview.com/article/cms-final-rule-adds-more-arrows-also-demonstrates-restraint to view the full article online.

Risk adjustment is an actuarial tool used to predict healthcare costs and adjust payments to healthcare plans to cover expected relative costs for providing coverage to enrollees. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: Visit APMA's healthcare reform page to learn more about key provisions in the ACA for podiatrists and more.