APMA News Brief

With the recent announcement of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) fix by Congress and the fact that the legislation did not contain any language on ICD-10 delays, the message is clear to the healthcare industry: we need to get ready now. 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.

Anyone hoping that the clock would keep ticking toward the Oct. 1, 2015 compliance deadline faster than Congress could say "ICD-10" might want to pay attention to the prodding some U.S. Senators gave Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell last week.

Visit http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/should-hhs-delay-icd-10-penalty-two-years to view the full article online.

This post will discuss the investigation needed to determine whether a breach has taken place, while the next post will discuss the necessary notifications in the event of a breach. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: APMA provides HIPAA Privacy and Security Manuals for members on APMA.org.

One million people poked around the 4.45 million public records that document financial relationships between healthcare providers and pharmaceutical and medical device companies last year. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Learn more about Open Payments on APMA.org.

In February 2015, the American Hospital Association (AHA), in conjunction with Executive Health Resources, launched its inaugural clinical documentation improvement (CDI) survey, "Emerging Trends for Clinical Documentation Improvement in 2015," to help determine the main barriers to CDI success.

Visit http://www.icd10monitor.com/enews/item/1414-cdi-survey-results-illuminate-challenges-opportunities-for-providers to view the full article online.

Regular or over-consumption of alcohol has been proven to be detrimental to health. Wine, which is considered to be healthy, is also associated with the occurrence of certain conditions.

Visit http://www.military-technologies.net/2015/04/28/a-new-study-reveals-that-wine-can-trigger-gout-flares/ to view the full article online.

The increasing digitization of health care has ushered in a wide array of technological options, pushing patients to read up on them and make good choices.

Visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/theres-lots-of-health-care-technology-out-there-how-do-you-choose/2015/04/27/a4f45c78-d7e2-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html to view the full article online.

Once you took medical questions directly to your doctor, who advised, tested and treated you. Today, not only are we turning to the Internet for everyday medical information, we’re also generating our own health data.

Visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/how-is-the-doctor-patient-relationship-changing-its-going-electronic/2015/04/27/a560fb60-cc18-11e4-8c54-ffb5ba6f2f69_story.html to view the full article online.

Ending years of last-minute "doc fixes," President Barack Obama April 16 signed legislation permanently changing Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate funding formula of how it pays doctors. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss APMA’s latest reporting on the SGR legislation.

New research shows that over time, stylish stilettos could cause you to walk like you're older than you really are.

Visit http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/the-cost-of-wearing-high-heels/?id=179209 to view the full article online.

A new study has demonstrated a drastic increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes — to the tune of 46 percent — in those taking statins to control high cholesterol levels, according to an article on Diabetes In Control.

Visit http://www.inquisitr.com/2045166/new-study-shows-type-2-diabetes-risk-drastically-increased-by-statins/ to view the full article online.

More than 400,000 diabetics are at risk of having an amputation because they do not get what are meant to be annual NHS checks on their feet, campaigners are warning. Click here to continue reading.

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

April is National Foot Health Awareness month and local podiatrists urge everyone to pay closer attention to their feet.

Visit http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/life/wellness/2015/04/25/foot-health-podiatry/26268905/ to view the full article online.

The medical sector is aimed at reaching the triple aim of healthcare by incorporating health IT systems and EHR technology. The triple aim focuses on improving patient care, lowering medical costs, and boosting population health outcomes. Click here to continue reading.

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

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently reminded state survey agency directors that it no longer will accept appeals through the U.S. mail from providers that disagree with actions imposed on their facilities.

Visit http://www.mcknights.com/cms-reminds-providers-about-new-survey-appeals-process/article/411401/ to view the full article online.

CMS saw a 47 percent increase in participation in the Physician Quality Reporting System from 2012 to 2013, but nearly half a million eligible professionals will be subject to a financial penalty this year, the first year such penalties exist. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss APMA’s PQRS and meaningful use resources on APMA.org.

With ICD-10 only a few months away, practices need to ensure that their electronic health record (EHR) vendor is ready for the transition.

Visit http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/10-important-icd-10-questions-to-ask-your-ehr-vendor.html to view the full article online.

Regardless of one's views on the Affordable Care Act, it has succeeded in placing long-overdue attention on improving management of patient transitions from one care setting to another, according to a leading health care policy analyst speaking today at the National Quality Summit.

Visit http://www.news-medical.net/news/20150427/ACA-incentives-driving-healthcare-transition-improvements-in-hospitals.aspx to view the full article online.

The ACA and potential changes to it are driving employers to reconsider the design and role of health care benefits. 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.

Technology is enabling consumers to take more control over their healthcare decisions, bypassing payers and searching out providers based on care and cost. To fully capitalize on the transformation, healthcare organizations need to change the very way they look at information technology.

Visit http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/Six-Ways-Innovation-Will-Change-Health-IT-Leaders-50390-1.html to view the full article online.

The Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio's project, part of the CMS Innovation Center's five-year Community-based Care Transitions Program, needed to rapidly enroll Medicare patients to keep its CMS contract.

Visit http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150428/NEWS/150429913 to view the full article online.

The healthcare industry awaits the possibility of great financial policy adjustment in the immediate future due to a continuous stream of announcements from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding various proposed rules on payment policy and Medicare physician fee schedules.

Visit http://revcycleintelligence.com/news/top-six-proposed-physician-fee-schedules-payment-policies to view the full article online.