APMA News Brief

With MedPAC set to formally recommend doing away with the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, a former CMS administrator is recommending that an alternative approach be tested right away.

Visit https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/893457 to view the full article online.

Health-care consumers are increasingly interested in closer electronic communication with their physicians, according to a new survey. 

Visit http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20180306/NEWS/180309946 to view the full article online.

At a recent town hall meeting, officials with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT indicated that the agency is focused on reducing the regulatory burden on physicians.

Visit http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/onc-leaders-call-fewer-regulations-not-more to view the full article online.

Patients paid significantly more out of pocket for their healthcare in 2017, and that trend could continue. 

Visit https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/out-of-pocket-healthcare-costs-up-11-in-2017/518537/ to view the full article online.

CMS has announced two new initiatives concerning electronic health records this week and signaled its intention to overhaul Meaningful Use.

Visit http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/technology/cms-unveils-patient-data-access-initiatives to view the full article online.

More than half of older American who responded to a recent survey indicated that they thought they had received unnecessary tests or treatment. 

Visit https://consumer.healthday.com/general-health-information-16/doctor-news-206/many-americans-think-docs-order-too-many-tests-meds-731488.html to view the full article online.

In negotiating value-based contracts with payers, physicians should evaluate the readiness of their practices and understand the elements that can be negotiated.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/3-tips-negotiating-value-based-contracts to view the full article online.

To reduce no-shows, it can help to educate patients on why it’s important to keep appointments and on how to reschedule and cancel. 

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/how-reduce-patient-no-shows to view the full article online.

Streamlining the demands of electronic medical records and other technology is key to helping reduce physician burnout. 

Visit http://nursing.advanceweb.com/avoiding-physicianclinician-burnout-the-role-of-the-emr/ to view the full article online.

Although telehealth continues to become more prevalent, misconceptions persist regarding a number of aspects of the practice. 

Visit https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/telehealth/fact-or-fiction-top-6-telehealth-myths-to-know.html to view the full article online.

Preventive treatment by a podiatrist can dramatically cut the risk of lower-limb amputation in diabetic patients.

Visit https://www.dariennewsonline.com/news/article/The-Running-Doctor-Diabetic-complications-12715414.php to view the full article online.

Daily foot inspections and proper footwear are keys for warding off foot problems among people with diabetes.

Visit https://communityjournal.net/tips-diabetics-put-best-foot-forward/ to view the full article online.

Determining the type of foot arch you have could help you better care for your feet. 

Visit http://www.womenfitnessmag.com/the-importance-of-knowing-your-foot-arch-type/ to view the full article online.

Sales of high heel were down by more than 10 percent last year, while sales of women's athletic shoes rose sharply.

Visit http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-high-heels-20180307-story.html to view the full article online.