APMA News Brief

The insurance coverage provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are expected to cost roughly $100 billion less over the next decade than previously projected, according to the latest analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: Visit APMA's healthcare reform page for more resources and information on how the ACA affects the profession.

As the ICD-10 implementation date draws near, providers should not let cybersecurity fall to the wayside, according to industry experts. Because providers have been busy with projects like electronic health record system implementations and ICD-10, cybersecurity has "taken sort of a backseat."

Visit http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/why-icd-10-and-cybersecurity-must-go-hand-hand/2015-01-27 to view the full article online.

The findings by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services do not include every state that expanded Medicaid but they are the first federal effort to define how many enrollees are new to the program.

Visit http://kaiserhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/3-2-million-newly-eligible-adults-enrolled-in-medicaid-in-early-2014-cms-reports/ to view the full article online.

Despite rapid growth in the rate of adoption of health information technology (HIT), and in the volume of evaluation studies, the existing knowledge base for the value of HIT is not advancing at a similar rate. Click here to continue reading.

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

If you have diabetes, choosing shoes is far more than a matter of looks — it’s a vital part of your treatment plan. It may take some time and patience, and perhaps the advice of your podiatrist, but you can find footwear that’s both flattering and healthy for your feet.

Visit http://inhealth.healthgrades.com/tips-for-managing-diabetes/the-best-shoes-for-people-with-diabetes?did=t9_outrss1 to view the full article online.

Older people with diabetes are often told about the importance of keeping their blood sugar levels under control to prevent long-term complications, like cardiovascular disease or kidney damage. But studies are showing that some are actually controlling their disease too tightly, which is raising additional health risks.

Visit http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2015/01/27/Diabetes-in-the-elderly-safe-sugar-isn-t-simple/stories/201502020003 to view the full article online.

The University of California, San Diego, announced that nanoengineers at the NanoEngineering Department and the Centers for Wearable Sensors at the Jacobs School of Engineering had developed a noninvasive "temporary tattoo" that could be the key to needle-free glucose monitoring.

Visit http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/01/24/no-more-needle-pricks-potentially-game-changing-ne.aspx to view the full article online.

A debilitating condition called Charcot foot is often missed among the nearly 30 million Americans with diabetes, doctors say.

Visit http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2015/01/23/diabetes-related-foot-condition-often-missed to view the full article online.

Here are some simple resolutions to help women achieve healthier feet and a better quality of life.

Visit http://herald-review.com/blogs/professional/sigle/healthy-resolutions-for-women-s-feet-in/article_e747e355-c536-50f7-923d-d45bb012e349.html to view the full article online.

Going to the nail salon and treating yourself to a manicure or pedicure should be a pleasurable experience. However, in some cases uncleanliness at the salon can result into unexpected infections to consumers.

Visit http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/27895539/cleanliness-in-nail-salons-are-being-questioned to view the full article online.

Another Affordable Care Act reform is in the offing. Since its passage in 2010, the Obama administration has been designing new underwriting experiments to develop alternate payment methods. The goal? Better care and less expensive. Click here to continue reading.

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

In April 2014, ZirMed began its end-to-end testing efforts with commercial payers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. We continued testing with several government and commercial payers throughout 2014.

Visit http://icd10monitor.com/enews/item/1347-icd-10-end-to-end-testing-results-and-what-s-next to view the full article online.

Accelerating Medicare's drive to value-based payment and delivery models would boost care quality and generate enough cost savings to pay for "doc fix" reform, advocates say.

Visit http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/PHY-312577/SGR-Medicare-Reforms-Proposed-as-Funding-Offset to view the full article online.

Daniel Richardson is preparing to take a dive without having to get wet. Richardson’s dive will take place in a hyperbaric oxygen treatment chamber. Richardson’s decidedly nonaquatic goal: allowing hyper-oxygenated blood to circulate throughout his body to promote the healing of an ulcer on his foot.

Visit http://www.reviewjournal.com/life/health/hyperbaric-treatment-helps-wound-recovery to view the full article online.

The United States has entered a new era of health care reform. Until now, United States employers were generally not required to provide health care coverage to employees. But as of Jan. 1, 2015, under the Affordable Care Act’s ‘‘employer shared responsibility’’ mandate, employers of a certain size must either offer coverage to full-time employees, or risk paying a penalty.

Visit http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/2015-health-care-reform-compliance-check-76811/ to view the full article online.

Although we’ve heard "no more delays" from CMS before about the deadline for ICD-10 conversion only to see it postponed again, healthcare decision-makers should treat Oct. 1, 2015, as a set-in-stone launch date, industry analysts say. Click here to continue reading.

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

The plan for designating benefits that must be covered by most health plans in the individual and small group markets is set to expire at the end of 2015, so advocacy groups are starting to push for what they want to see the Department of Health and Human Services issue for plan years starting in 2016.

Visit http://www.bna.com/advocates-eyeing-aca-b17179922493/ to view the full article online.