When Congress passed the Affordable Care Act, it required health insurers, hospitals, device makers and pharmaceutical companies to share in the cost because they would get a windfall of new, paying customers. But with an $8 billion tax on insurers due Sept. 30 — the first time the new tax is being collected — the industry is getting help from an unlikely source: taxpayers.

The FBI has warned that healthcare industry companies are being targeted by hackers, publicizing the issue following an attack on U.S. hospital group Community Health.

A lack of financial viability, cited by some organizations as a reason for abandoning the program, does not surprise one longtime critic of the federal accountable care organization program. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: APMA provides information and resources on ACOs at APMA.org.

As the Affordable Care Act and moves by employers and private insurers emphasize lower cost medical care and increased quality, consumers need to closely examine their open enrollment information this fall for myriad changes. 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.

Consumers in the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace operated by the federal government will be able to automatically re-enroll in coverage for 2015 under a final rule issued Sept. 2 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

For people who may be headed for type 2 diabetes, regularly eating pistachios might help turn the tide, according to a new trial from Spain.

When anyone talks about problems with their feet, the "B" word (bunion) is usually part of the conversation.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, there are even better alternatives to COBRA for consumers who have lost employer-based health insurance coverage.

Just like the rest of our bodies, feet change as we age. Bunions, calluses, corns and heel pain can crop up and medical conditions like diabetes and lupus can exacerbate discomfort.

Patients with gout, particularly women, have increased risk for vascular disease, according to findings of a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

At her clinic on Park Avenue in New York, podiatrist Dr Suzanne Levine is explaining why increasing numbers of women are having their toes shortened or lengthened to make their feet look prettier. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Read APMA’s position statement on cosmetic foot surgery.

Dr. James P. Ioli, Chief of Podiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said wearing the correct shoe size is a good first step in preventing bunions.

If there is a big message for everyone, it is being involved with your health and the selection of your health insurance benefits.

From digitized patient files to paperwork and documents sent by email, the medical community is embracing a paperless lifestyle. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Review APMA’s EHR resources for more information on purchasing an EHR system.

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the U.S., and there’s a single biggest culprit to blame, found a new study. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: Studies prove care by a podiatrist helps prevent diabetes complications and saves healthcare dollars.

For patients with hypertension, finding the right course of treatment can be critically important especially when other health factors are taken into consideration.

Insurance executives and managers of the online marketplaces are already girding for the coming open enrollment period, saying they fear it could be even more difficult than the last.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had already spent $499 million on public health insurance exchange technology contracts by February, and it had incurred obligations to spend a total of $1.4 billion on exchange IT contracts.

The inability of the agencies to share electronic health records efficiently is one of several technology issues contributing to health-care and claims-processing delays within the VA. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Read about APMA’s ongoing lobbying efforts for VA parity on APMA.org.

Nearly 26 percent of hospitals have a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system, more than quintuple the figure from 2010, according to the AHA report. Click here to continue reading.

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

Healthcare organizations given another thirteen months to prepare after coming so close to doomsday might feel like they have already completed the bulk of their preparations, and that it might be all right to skip out on the three separate weeks of acknowledgement testing announced by CMS. But that may not be the wisest course to take. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss APMA’s ICD-10 Resources to help you prepare for the transition.

For seniors dealing with chronic conditions like diabetes, there's a specific type of healthcare coverage designed to do just that: the Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan (SNP).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is extending the deadlines for the review and dispute process for its Open Payments system to Sept. 10. It is the second announced delay in the past month. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Read more details about APMA’s Sunshine Act advocacy efforts on APMA.org.