APMA News Brief

The Supreme Court denied certiorari in Coons v. Lew, a constitutional challenge to provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) creating the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), an independent federal agency charged with responsibility for controlling the growth of health-care costs by constraining the growth of Medicare. 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.

Many taxpayers are concerned a chaotic and confusing tax preparation season lies ahead in the wake of the Obama administration admitting it sent inaccurate tax information to 800,000 people who enrolled in and received tax credits through federal and state health insurance exchanges.

Visit http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2015/03/31/irs-sends-wrong-obamacare-tax-information to view the full article online.

In order to prepare for the ICD-10 compliance deadline by Oct. 1, medical facilities will need to integrate revenue cycle and EHR systems that follow the new coding set.

Visit https://ehrintelligence.com/2015/03/30/state-hospitals-go-digital-for-icd-10-compliance-deadline/ to view the full article online.

Physicians will have at least another two weeks of lag time to account for processing before Medicare reimbursement cuts take place — or the SGR is repealed — according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Read APMA’s latest coverage of SGR Reform on APMA.org.

The law required that a broad swath of treatments be fully insured, thus deepening the moral hazard problems that have long plagued the American health insurance system.

Visit http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/03/30/aca-has-pushed-insurance-premiums-to-new-heights/ to view the full article online.

There is no shortage of interest in mobile health applications, which span everything from pedometers to Wi-Fi-enabled pacemakers, but what happens with all that data?

Visit http://www.cio.com/article/2903573/healthcare/what-happens-with-data-from-mobile-health-apps.html to view the full article online.

Better-informed patients are more likely to take better care of themselves, comply with prescription drug regimens and even detect early-warning signals of illness.

Visit http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/technology/the-healing-power-of-your-own-medical-data.html to view the full article online.

With warmer temperatures, bare feet and pedicures right around the corner, we’re all looking forward to ditching our boots for flats.

Visit http://www.bustle.com/articles/72668-funky-foot-smell-in-your-favorite-flats-bringing-you-down-here-are-7-painless-diy-tricks to view the full article online.

Feet are a part of the anatomy many exercisers ignore while pounding the treadmill or honing a headstand, but fitness experts say they are the very foundation of physical well-being.

Visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/30/feet-exercises_n_6968122.html to view the full article online.

Looking for a way to still wear your red bottoms and still be comfortable? Check out what the inventor of the Loub Job, Dr. Suzanne Levine of New York City, had to tell us about how to treat your feet. Click here to continue reading.

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

Diabetics are faced daily with the same exhausting questions. Why are there so many needles? Did I take insulin this morning? Luckily, medical companies have heard their woes and are creating new solutions to make the burden of diabetes a little bit lighter.

Visit http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/8-innovative-ways-to-make-living-with-diabetes-easier/ to view the full article online.

It’s a well-peddled story that women love shoes, but do they always love you back? Experts reveal how the wrong footwear could be damaging your health.

Visit http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/wellbeing/from-blisters-to-painful-bunions-10-expert-tips-for-keeping-your-feet-fit-11363970907220 to view the full article online.

We have a love-hate relationship with heels. According to a study published in 2014 by the American Podiatric Medical Association, 71 percent of American women surveyed said heels were the biggest culprit for their foot pain.

Visit http://www.thefashionspot.com/style-trends/564825-best-heels-for-standing-all-day/ to view the full article online.

Many healthcare providers are looking for ways to reduce the risks associated with the conversion to ICD-10 and prepare their organization for the impact to their systems, revenue cycle process, staffing and productivity. 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.

Medscape Medical News has created a paint-by-numbers portrait of the law, with its beauty spots and warts.

Visit http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/842300 to view the full article online.

The prospects of the U.S. healthcare system jumping straight from ICD-9 to ICD-11 could be considered analogous to the prospects of a precocious child jumping straight from fourth grade to sixth.

Visit http://www.icd10monitor.com/enews/item/1396-as-icd-10-looms-work-on-icd-11-quietly-continues to view the full article online.

Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy allows us to harvest and process the stem cells to reintroduce them to areas of the body that are in need.

Visit http://www.10news.com/home/regenerative-stem-cell-therapy-is-an-option-for-a-wide-range-of-injuries to view the full article online.

Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law in 2010, 48 rural hospitals have closed and nearly 300 more are on the brink of closure, according to the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/can-rural-hospitals-survive-in-a-post-aca-world/379440/ to view the full article online.

Congress needs to join employers and other health care stakeholders in efforts to accelerate the pace of improving patient safety. Click here to continue reading.

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

A new class of drugs could dramatically improve Type 2 diabetes treatment by spurring diabetics to excrete excess sugar through their urine. What’s more, the drugs, called SGLT2 inhibitors, boost overall health by promoting weight loss.

Visit http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Headline/diabetes-Type-2-SGLT2-inhibitors-sugar/2015/03/29/id/635154/ to view the full article online.

This brief provides an overview of recent trends in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment as of January 2015, based on data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) produced as part of its Performance Indicator Project. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: See APMA’s Medicaid resources at APMA.org.

Joint erythema, difficulty walking, and tophus were some of the key features that discriminated between gout and non-gout, according to results of a cross-sectional, multinational study.

Visit http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/50729 to view the full article online.

The C-suite is growing at healthcare provider organizations as technology requires the creation of new leadership positions – from chief technology officer to chief information security officers.

Visit http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/information-technologys-impact-hospital-c-suite-growth/2015-03-30 to view the full article online.