APMA News Brief

In the first update to the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) since the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula was repealed in April, CMS has unveiled its proposed rule for implementing some of its major changes to the industry’s clinical quality reporting and value-based reimbursement frameworks.

Visit http://healthitanalytics.com/news/cms-details-macra-quality-reporting-payment-reform-proposals to view the full article online.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/icd-10s-financial-impact-and-after-oct-1?page=full to view the full article online.

Major changes to Stark law are ahead, including new exceptions for timeshare arrangements and employment of NPPs.

Visit http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/411946/Healthcare/CMS+Releases+2016+Physician+Fee+Schedule to view the full article online.

With Oct. 1, 2015, the final implementation date for ICD-10-CM, rapidly approaching, Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs), like all health care providers, should be in the final stages of preparation and training for the changes in coding requirements.

Visit http://www.icd10monitor.com/enews/item/1451-irfs-and-icd-10-know-the-codes-and-your-coders to view the full article online.

Tax season is a pain in the neck for millions of people, but many Americans this year may be getting a pass from unpleasant questions — or even an audit — from the Internal Revenue Service about their compliance with Obamacare.

Visit http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/14/obamacares-tax-audits-are-few-and-far-between.html to view the full article online.

Visit http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/13/us-health-diabetes-prevention-idUSKCN0PN2K720150713 to view the full article online.

Practically everyone gets fatter as they get older, but some people can blame their genes for the extra padding.

Visit http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-07-gene-fuels-age-related-obesity-diabetes.html to view the full article online.

Health Savings Accounts make a lot of sense, at least, on paper. For account holders, they provide a triple tax advantage. Money set aside, earned or withdrawn from the accounts to pay for medical expenses is all held out of Uncle Sam’s reach.

Visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/get-there/wp/2015/07/14/people-could-save-a-lot-of-money-on-health-care-if-only-they-knew-how-to-use-health-savings-accounts/ to view the full article online.

Athletes are not the only ones who need to be selective with their footwear.

Visit http://www.aikenstandard.com/article/20150712/AIK0107/150719869/1031/AIK04/poor-footwear-choice-can-cause-more-than-foot-pain to view the full article online.

You don't have to be overindulging on port and Stilton to suffer from gout. Men over 30 and women over 50 are particularly at risk.

Visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/goodlife/11632689/Pain-in-your-big-toe-You-might-have-gout.html to view the full article online.

With issues like rent control, funding for education and the property tax cap stealing the show this legislative session, the Senate failed to bring Lavern's Law to the floor for a vote.

Visit http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2015-07-13-92410.113122-Laverns-Law-would-give-victims-more-time-to-file-medical-malpractice-suits.html to view the full article online.

New innovations involving integrating electronics directly into the fabric of clothing could be the first step toward creating smart technology that could revolutionize remote health care; allowing more patients to live normal lives, reducing hospital administration and freeing up beds.

Visit http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/jul/14/the-future-of-remote-healthcare-could-be-woven-into-your-clothes to view the full article online.

Five years ago, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law. It is a landmark legislative achievement that brought us many steps closer to realizing a long-held principle: Access to health care is not a privilege, but a right.
Learn more...

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

How is the cultural demographic shift revolutionizing the health care business in the U.S.? Especially as an increasing percentage of individuals from fast-growing minority groups become insured and gain access to health care through the Affordable Care Act — at the same time that the ratio of those who are culturally competent enough to serve them is on the decline.

Visit http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2015/07/13/the-cultural-demographic-shift-is-changing-the-business-of-healthcare/ to view the full article online.

An alliance of medical professionals is trying to create a new program to ensure people have foot exams to head off treatable problems that can lead to severe infections, amputations and amputation-related deaths.

Visit http://www.reviewjournal.com/life/doctors-launch-program-help-people-keep-their-feet to view the full article online.

It's a situation that
occurs all too often: Someone goes to the emergency room and doesn't learn
until he gets a hefty bill that one of the doctors who treated him wasn't in
his insurance network.

Visit http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/07/15/422964973/states-make-laws-to-protect-patients-from-hidden-medical-bills to view the full article online.

In 1971, Republican President Richard Nixon proposed arguably one of the most liberal health care plans America had ever heard of to ensure quality insurance coverage. Compared to Democratic President Barack Obama, Nixon went far beyond the reaches of a radical liberal.

Visit http://www.medicaldaily.com/historical-perspective-health-care-how-does-obamacare-measure-former-president-342646 to view the full article online.

A coalition of K Street health giants are teaming up to fight the Obamacare tax on high-cost insurance plans known as the "Cadillac tax."

Visit http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/247672-k-street-coalition-launches-lobbying-blitz-against-obamacare-tax to view the full article online.

The costs of treating people newly covered under Obamacare's key Medicaid component are "substantially greater" than the costs of caring for people previously eligible for that health care program for the poor, and also much higher than had been previously projected, a new government report reveals.

Visit http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/13/higher-costs-for-obamacares-new-medicaid-patients.html to view the full article online.