APMA News Brief

Arizona's shifts in Medicaid coverage have affected how ill people became, even how long they lived. Click here to continue reading.

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

Researchers suspect a protein, which is already a hot therapeutic target for the prevention of obesity and diabetes, may be one as well for the disabling and potentially deadly endothelial dysfunction.

Visit http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-12-block-blood-vessel-dysfunction-diabetes.html to view the full article online.

Veteran Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin (Iowa) has a less-than-glowing review of the Affordable Care Act — which he helped write and pass in 2010 — and in his final days in Congress is suggesting that Democrats should have considered scrapping the bill altogether.

Visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/12/03/harkin-we-should-have-done-single-payer-health-reform/ to view the full article online.

The Internal Revenue Service needs to improve the security of the health care information submitted by health insurance providers and pharmaceutical makers and importers on information returns, according to a new government report.

Visit http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-watch/irs-faulted-for-security-of-health-care-information-72892-1.html to view the full article online.

When we talk about the Affordable Care Act as a life-or-death issue for many Americans, we tend to focus on the issue of access: families without coverage too often go without treatments, leading to easily avoidable, life-threatening ailments.

Visit http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/aca-saving-lives-more-ways-one to view the full article online.

The movement recently flared up again to counter a campaign by the Texas AMA asking members to lobby for a delay. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: APMA’s ICD-10 Resources will help you prepare for the transition currently scheduled for Oct. 1, 2015.

Technology has left an indelible imprint on healthcare delivery, improving the accuracy and accessibility of patient information, but what about the risks?

Visit http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2014/12/01/why-cyber-thieves-love-health-care--and-what-you-c to view the full article online.

Sugar doesn't cause diabetes, but being overweight is one risk factor for type 2 diabetes, so are genetics and your age. The older you are the higher your risk.

Visit http://www.wdbj7.com/video/signs-you-should-get-tested-for-type-2-diabetes/30027120 to view the full article online.

Is the pendulum swinging back? In what seems contrary to mainstream dietary advice, a small new study shows that doubling the saturated fat in a person's diet does not drive up the levels of saturated fat in the blood.

Visit http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/12/03/heart-disease-and-diabetes-risks-tied-to-carbs-not-fat-study-finds/ to view the full article online.

While premiums increased significantly in some counties, many others saw decreases.

Visit http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2014/12/02/heres-how-much-more-youll-pay-for-aca-health-plans to view the full article online.

The party season is almost synonymous with stilettos, just as the day after is traditionally marked by a pounding head and aching feet.

Visit http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/news/killer-high-heels-are-doing-more-damage-than-you-think-and-its-not-always-reversible/story-fngr8gwi-1227137934437?nk=7864b52f23228a7216fd61ae7412b942 to view the full article online.

Your feet can really take a beating from all the walking and standing at holiday functions.

Visit http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2014/11/27/health-tip-keep-your-feet-happy to view the full article online.

Dr. Allan I. Rosenthal, Ridgefield sports podiatrist, is once again testing out new tennis shoes for Tennis Magazine. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: Recommend APMA Seal products to your patients.

More than 75 percent of Americans will experience foot-health problems of varying severity at one time or another in their lives.

Visit http://www.app.com/story/life/wellness/2014/11/15/winter-foot-care/19625275/ to view the full article online.

The federal government is letting states choose a different essential health benefits (EHB) benchmark plan for 2017, and this news may re-ignite public debate about what types of services health insurance should cover in plans sold pursuant to the Affordable Care Act. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Read APMA’s policy brief on essential health benefits at APMA.org.

Newly diagnosed diabetics generally don’t take advantage of educational programs that could help them manage their disease, a new study suggests.

Visit http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/02/us-health-diabetes-patients-education-idUSKCN0JG2B520141202 to view the full article online.

Based on our learnings, what are the logical next steps for our work at Catalyst for Payment Reform (CPR), and for health care leaders’ efforts as they think about moving the needle on payment reform?

Visit http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2014/12/02/the-payment-reform-landscape-tying-it-all-together-2/ to view the full article online.

A forthcoming proposed rule includes a provision requiring MSSP ACOs to state their plans for leveraging health IT. Click here to continue reading.

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

The Affordable Care Act is expected to provide around $10 billion in subsidies this year to make health insurance affordable for low- and middle-income people. But a quirk in the law is denying subsidies to a significant number of low-income people, especially those with families.

Visit http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/12/02/367837115/obamacare-glitch-puts-subsidies-out-of-reach-for-many-families to view the full article online.

A study has shown wound healing of ulcers in people with diabetes is better with EpiFix’s amniotic-tissue product.

Visit http://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2014/dec/epifix-product-shown-to-provide-fast-healing-diabetic-ulcer-treatment-93066441.html to view the full article online.

Altogether, diagnosed cases of diabetes drives the spending of 10 percent of all healthcare dollars, representing about $245 billion a year in 2012, according to a new study in the journal Diabetes Care. Click here to continue reading.

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

HIMSS is seeking less stringent 2015 meaningful use reporting requirements while the Medical Society of the State of New York is petitioning for another ICD-10 delay.

Visit http://ehrintelligence.com/2014/12/03/new-calls-meaningful-use-reporting-changes-icd-10-delay/ to view the full article online.

The Connecticut Supreme Court’s recent decision in Byrne v. Avery Ctr. for Obstetrics & Gynecology, P.C., is the first published decision by a state’s highest court holding that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) does not preempt common-law claims for negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress against a health care provider. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: See APMA’s revised HIPAA Privacy and Security manuals at APMA.org.

About 50,000 people are alive today because U.S. hospitals committed 17 percent fewer medical errors in 2013 than in 2010, government health officials said.

Visit http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/02/us-usa-healthcare-errors-idUSKCN0JG19Z20141202 to view the full article online.