APMA News Brief

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that one out of every two Americans will develop osteoarthritis in his or her lifetime, you can make an effort to prevent it or to manage the symptoms.

Visit http://www.everydayhealth.com/osteoarthritis-pictures/10-myths-about-osteoarthritis.aspx#01 to view the full article online.

The Health and Human Services Department released a draft guide to help advanced the use of electronic health systems, including digitized medical records, over the next three years and beyond. Click here to continue reading.

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

Despite ongoing media and political attack, Barack Obama’s health reforms are succeeding. Given the poor record of most major health legislation, what can we learn from this?

Visit http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/feb/03/obamacare-lessons-nhs-healthcare to view the full article online.

About 10 months have passed since ICD-10 implementation was delayed for another year, but the possibility for yet another delay still looms. 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.

Operating without a license has become the No. 1 violation reviewed by the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology.

Visit http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/iteam-dangers-uncovered-at-some-new-orleans-area-nail-salons/31054280 to view the full article online.

About 9 percent of adults in the U.S. have a diabetes diagnosis, and more than eight in 10 of these had contact with a doctor or healthcare professional in the last year, according to national survey data.

Visit http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Type1Diabetes/49845 to view the full article online.

The Affordable Care Act is one of the biggest changes to the tax code in 20 years. And we're only beginning to digest many confusing health-care-related tax rules that will directly hit 25 million to 30 million taxpayers.

Visit http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/tompor/2015/02/01/affordable-care-act-obamacare-taxes/22597355/ to view the full article online.

Feet are tough. Day after day, they transport bodies wherever they need to go. When they’re hurting, though, the whole body knows it, and two common ailments often send people to the doctor: Corns and bunions are conditions that podiatrists see almost every day.

Visit http://www.chieftain.com/life/health/3281339-120/corns-bunions-toe-shoes to view the full article online.

The average diabetes patient now spends $2,790 more per year than they did in 1987 — and more than half the additional spending is for medications.

Visit https://www.yahoo.com/health/the-cost-of-having-diabetes-has-doubled-in-two-109900790443.html to view the full article online.

If the end of the day spells foot pain for you, you’re either wearing the wrong shoes, there’s something wrong with your work environment, or you just need to find another job.

Visit http://www.health24.com/Medical/Feet/Common-foot-problems/How-your-job-could-be-affecting-your-feet-20150203 to view the full article online.

Advocates have two more weeks to find people who need care, lack insurance and haven’t realized they can get help. On Feb. 15, open enrollment for 2015 ends.

Visit http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/02/01/5487423/clocks-ticking-two-weeks-left.html#.VNFD5y6T3CY to view the full article online.

The good news is that CMS intends to relax the Meaningful Use reporting period for 2015 to 90 days. The bad news is that although the ICD-10 implementation deadline is on the horizon, the head of CHIME says he "wouldn't say it's 100 percent by any means."

Visit http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/TEC-312778/MU-Pressure-Eases-ICD10-Uncertainty-Continues to view the full article online.

Using mobile health technologies, these students hope to not only improve medical visits but also change overall health maintenance for the better.

Visit http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/article_2b85be1a-ab4e-11e4-aca3-a3977d658f4e.html to view the full article online.

A new poll from Concerned Veterans for America shows strong support for health care options outside of Veterans Affairs Department facilities, despite a new announcement from VA officials about plans to cut back on those programs.

Visit http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/veterans/2015/02/03/veterans-health-care-options-poll/22791005/ to view the full article online.

The Medicaid and CHIP health-care programs that cover the poor and children now have 10.1 million extra people covered since the period just before Obamacare insurance marketplaces launched in the fall of 2013, federal officials said.

Visit http://www.cnbc.com/id/102389159 to view the full article online.

While the nation’s many voices of authority increasingly are calling for modernizing all aspects of healthcare, meaningful progress will be inhibited by relics such as ICD-9 unless the new system, ICD-10, is implemented.

Visit http://icd10monitor.com/enews/item/1354-icd-10-21st-century-coding-vital-for-21st-century-cures to view the full article online.

Several lawmakers raised concerns over the current HealthCare.gov privacy measures, and whether or not the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is doing enough to make improvements after numerous reports of consumer privacy issues.

Visit http://healthitsecurity.com/2015/02/02/letter-to-cms-questions-healthcare-gov-privacy-measures/ to view the full article online.

Before you rush over to the Healthcare.gov site to snag a healthcare plan, we thought it would be a great idea to let you know the progress of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — by the numbers. 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.

Your ICD-10 implementation plan must include education and training. This is key to your success with the new code set.

Visit http://icd10monitor.com/enews/item/1351-planning-and-doing-making-icd-10-implementation-successful to view the full article online.