APMA News Brief

As 2016 comes to a close, APMA wishes its members, partners and other podiatric medical professionals a safe and happy holiday season. We hope you enjoy this special "year in review" issue of APMA News Brief, with a look at the most-clicked content from 2016. Our regular publication will resume Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/apm-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=417356&issueID=46869 to view the full article online.

In small- to-medium sized practices, there are necessarily fewer resources available for implementing the policies and procedures that will insure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/security-risk-assessments-critical-regardless-practice-size to view the full article online.

Leaders from the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday sent a letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell urging the federal agency to be flexible with the looming rollout of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, or MACRA.

Visit http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/lawmakers-ask-hhs-be-flexible-macra-back-calls-delay-rollout to view the full article online.

Intensive management of type 2 diabetes can make a difference in how long and how well you live, even if you don't start until middle age, researchers report.

Visit https://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/diabetes-management-news-180/intensive-type-2-diabetes-treatment-can-extend-survival-study-714618.html to view the full article online.

Fewer doctors will need to report quality data to the government next year, and the requirements for those who do report will be more flexible under the final version of the rule implementing Medicare payment reform.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/more-small-practices-exempted-data-reporting-requirements-under-medicare-payment-reform-rule to view the full article online.

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act final rule is here. As industry experts begin to dig into the 2,400-page document released Friday, a few details are emerging that will be critical for providers who plan to practice fee-for-service medicine in 2017.

Visit http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/mips-breakdown-7-must-know-parts-of-the-macra-final-rule.html to view the full article online.

HHS released two metrics last week for evaluating "widespread interoperability" as required by the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/oncs-new-macra-required-interoperability-metrics-look-to-mitigate-reportin/422127/ to view the full article online.

In May of this year, President Obama and the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") released the long-awaited Final Rule revising the minimum salary requirement for an employee to qualify for the overtime exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"). All changes under the rule will take effect on December 1, 2016.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/what-new-rules-overtime-pay-mean-physician-practices to view the full article online.

As a contract and a tax attorney since 1984, I have reviewed many asset summaries of physicians late in their careers.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/10-steps-increase-financial-security-physicians to view the full article online.

On Feb, 12, 2016, CMS issued its final rule implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement that providers and suppliers report and repay overpayments from Medicare, known as the "60-Day Rule."

Visit http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/blog/how-60-day-repayment-rule-will-impact-you to view the full article online.

At the heart of the new Medicare physician payment plan, outlined in an April 27 proposed rule, is a key question for hospitals and physicians: "Which of the participation tracks makes the most strategic sense?" says AHA’s Akin Demehin, senior associate director of policy.

Visit http://www.hhnmag.com/articles/7260-which-macra-track-makes-strategic-sense to view the full article online.