APMA News Brief

As 2017 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 2017. Our regular publication will resume Thursday, Jan. 4, 2017.

A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would include podiatrists in the physician and dentist pay category within the VA.

Visit http://www.usmedicine.com/agencies/department-of-veterans-affairs/podiatry-bill-raises-issue-of-who-is-physician-at-va/ to view the full article online.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup of Ohio, a podiatrist, tended the wounds of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise after Scalise was shot while attending a baseball practice in Alexandria, VA.

Visit http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/14/health/brad-wenstrup-steve-scalise-alexandria-virginia-shooting-bn/index.html to view the full article online.

A number of factors determine which states face the greatest challenges in coping with federal Medicaid cuts and caps.

Visit https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/factors-affecting-states-ability-to-respond-to-federal-medicaid-cuts-and-caps-which-states-are-most-at-risk/ to view the full article online.

A report from the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 would lower Medicaid spending over the next twenty years.

Visit https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/cbo-senate-healthcare-bill-will-reduce-medicaid-spending-by-35-by-2036/446256/ to view the full article online.

In a June tweet, President Trump indicated that senate Republicans should vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, then replace it at a later time.

Visit https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare/trump-to-senate-republicans-kill-obamacare-now-replace-later-idUSKBN19L1F6 to view the full article online.

A proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, released in July, would exclude more physicians from the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System.

Visit https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/excluding-more-doctors-from-medicare-s-mips-a-step-backwards-says-author to view the full article online.

Tips for preparing for payment changes under MIPs include taking advantage of educational resources regarding MACRA and communicating with your practice's EHR vendor.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/5-ways-prepare-your-practice-mips-2018 to view the full article online.

According to a study, how much information a healthcare provider gives to patients depends on the health objective.

Visit https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/conveying-information-to-patients-too-much-or-not-enough to view the full article online.

Many physicians are now focusing more attention on the proper use of Hierarchical Condition Categories codes as federal enforcement officials scrutinize risk-adjustment practices.

Visit http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/physician-practices-examine-risk-adjustment-coding-wake-federal-lawsuits to view the full article online.

Although the Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill will not come before the Senate for a vote, members of Congress have expressed interest in working in a bipartisan way on issues related to healthcare reform.

Visit https://www.usnews.com/news/news/articles/2017-09-27/congress-at-crossroads-after-another-gop-health-care-failure to view the full article online.