APMA News Brief

The medical information is being added to the company’s Knowledge Graph, which underpins Google’s instant search results and powers Google’s Now personal assistant and app. It will allow health questions to be answered directly, without a user having to click.

Visit http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/10/google-health-information-directly-into-search-results to view the full article online.

Accomplishing everything in the ICD-10 readiness plan may seem daunting. It’s not impossible, though, if providers leverage their internal knowledge, develop laser focus, and devote one of their most precious resources – time. Click here to continue reading.

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

ICD-10 preparation had always been a challenge for healthcare organizations, especially smaller facilities with fewer resources to spare for the complex transition. But new data from the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) indicates that the organizational changes necessary to embrace the new code set may not be as time-intensive or quite as costly as they might once have seemed.

Visit http://healthitanalytics.com/2015/02/10/icd-10-preparation-is-costing-45-5-hours-3400-per-provider/ to view the full article online.

Today's regulatory environment has led to an uptick in self-pay, and providers and their partners must be ready to meet the accompanying challenges.

Visit http://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/2015/02/09/the-rise-of-self-pay-accounts-a-592260.html to view the full article online.

Everyone worries about stolen credit cards or hacked bank accounts, but just visiting the doctor may put you at greater risk for identity fraud.

Visit http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/02/09/3630395_health-care-records-make-fertile.html?rh=1 to view the full article online.

Nobody wants to think about tax day, especially when it's still a few months away. But, this year, there's another tax-related deadline quickly approaching: Sunday, Feb. 15.

Visit http://www.ideastream.org/news/feature/be-well-for-aca-enrollees-tax-time-is-now to view the full article online.

Time is running out. If you're uninsured or under insured and you don't have affordable quality health insurance coverage, you need to act fast.

Visit http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/12-news/2015/02/09/12news-heathcare-aca-healthinsurance/23142311/ to view the full article online.

A new study published in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has found that women with type 1 diabetes have a 37 percent increased chance of death than men with the same condition.

Visit http://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahhedgecock/2015/02/10/why-do-women-with-type-1-diabetes-die-more-often-than-diabetic-men/ to view the full article online.

Although the American Diabetes Association recommends that adult patients with diagnosed diabetes visit a health care professional biannually to achieve and maintain glycemic control, a recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one in five younger diabetics have not done so in the past six months.

Visit http://www.pharmacytimes.com/condition-resources/type-2-diabetes/CDC-1-in-5-Young-Diabetics-Lack-Sufficient-Care to view the full article online.

Medical device maker Dexcom has been showing off iPhone and Apple Watch integration for its implantable diabetes glucose monitors for the past few weeks.

Visit https://gigaom.com/2015/02/09/an-apple-watch-app-is-coming-for-people-with-diabetes/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=gigaomapple&utm_term=gigaomapple to view the full article online.

International Medical University podiatrist Stella Chai shares some of common conditions our feet can be afflicted with.

Visit http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Health/2015/02/08/Walk-this-way/ to view the full article online.

The Affordable Care Act has been immensely controversial, but a provision that takes effect in 2017 may be embraced by both red and blue states. 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.

CMS and stakeholders appear to be on track to meet deadlines necessary to begin processing ICD-10 code sets by the Oct. 1 deadline, according to a new Government Accountability Office report, Health Data Management report. Click here to continue reading.

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

If high costs can be controlled, an opportunity presents itself to stimulate economic activity and make the American economy stronger than ever.

Visit http://seekingalpha.com/article/2902786-why-healthcare-cost-reform-could-be-the-greatest-stimulus-of-all to view the full article online.

Poor circulation is a cardiovascular condition that can be caused by clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis), peripheral artery disease, which leads to hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), diabetes, smoking, autoimmune diseases and other conditions.

Visit http://www.dallasweekly.com/health/article_2364e5b6-b0ae-11e4-a1c3-f33f675826e9.html to view the full article online.

A study from Vanderbilt University further suggests that mapping codes between ICD-9 and ICD-10 could be a problem. Click here to continue reading.

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

A new rule proposing sweeping changes to the Medicare accountable care model offers few incentives and could dissuade greater participation, 34 leading healthcare organizations and industry groups said in a joint letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Click here to continue reading.

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