APMA News Brief

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) established the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) to make recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on physician-focused payment models (PFPM)—and the PTAC is now preparing to accept proposal submissions.

Visit http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/ama-wire/post/payment-model-proposal-process-macra-begins to view the full article online.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has once again released its Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule for Calendar Year 2017 (the Proposed Rule).

Visit http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drug-topics/news/new-cms-proposed-rule-expands-medicare-reimbursement-telehealth-services to view the full article online.

Poor usability and lack of desired functionality are causing most physicians to be dissatisfied with their EHR technology, finds a new survey by Peer 60.

Visit https://ehrintelligence.com/news/ehr-vendors-still-seeing-low-physician-satisfaction-scores to view the full article online.

Unlike most professionals, financial advisers have a choice of operating under one of two professional standards: suitability or fiduciary.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/5-questions-every-physician-must-ask-their-financial-adviser to view the full article online.

One of the knottiest challenges facing medical practices today is protecting the security of electronic patient information.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/10-steps-strengthen-physician-practice-systems-safeguard-patient-data to view the full article online.

Boots may look great. But they should feel great, too.

Visit https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2016/10/which-boots-are-best-for-your-feet/ to view the full article online.

When most of us ponder the most pressing threats to our foot health, we typically think of the usual suspects: sweaty feet, blisters, corns, calluses, or maybe even mild pain caused by ill-fitting shoes.  

Visit http://thechronicleherald.ca/southshorebreaker/1404736-dangers-of-ingrown-toenails to view the full article online.

Corns and calluses are sometimes painful areas of thickened skin that develop on the feet due to repeated rubbing or pressure.  

Visit http://mtstandard.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/a-guide-to-coping-with-corns-and-calluses/article_d3554dcf-f8a4-5186-8c7c-155dc8007175.html to view the full article online.

Diabetes can affect every organ, but if there’s one part of the body that is particularly vulnerable, it is the feet.  

Visit http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/bH3EW20xsizCiRSrF45deM/The-importance-of-foot-care.html to view the full article online.

When it comes to shoes women tend to fall into two distinct camps. Heel lovers and heel haters.  

Visit https://ca.style.yahoo.com/this-is-why-some-women-cant-wear-heels-130035995.html to view the full article online.

Runners are the first to tell you that their feet take a beating and foot injuries are common.

Visit http://ecosalon.com/a-runners-guide-for-how-to-avoid-food-injuries/ to view the full article online.

The exit of a growing number of insurers from the Affordable Care Act marketplaces is having a trickle-down effect on physician practices.

Visit http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/three-steps-physicians-can-take-as-insurers-pull-out-aca to view the full article online.

Practices should double-check their Health Insurance Portability Act (HIPAA) compliance measures, as federal regulators have been cracking down on business associate agreements (BAAs) that fall short of current requirements. 

Visit http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/update-business-agreements-to-ensure-current-hipaa-compliance to view the full article online.

October is Health Literacy Month. In this blog post, IHI Executive Director Frank Federico describes what care providers should do to improve their communication with patients to help improve the safety and reliability of care. 

Visit http://www.ihi.org/communities/blogs/_layouts/ihi/community/blog/itemview.aspx?list=0f316db6-7f8a-430f-a63a-ed7602d1366a&id=35&utm_campaign=tw&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=35677843&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_TVbI2CnlJBMZsz9EMysZTWLwfOMnvhXlUJ6ach to view the full article online.

Commentary appearing this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine has raised debate over the ACA's requirement that insurers cover preventive health care services without co-pay if they are declared by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to meet the criteria for an A or B recommendation. 

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/physicians-question-mandated-coverage-for-preventive-care/428061/ to view the full article online.

By the end of the month, healthcare providers may get a chunk of information they need: The final rule for implementing the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.  

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/how-cms-hopes-to-make-meaningful-use-more-meaningful/427777/ to view the full article online.

With more than half of American physicians experiencing burnout, researchers with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., conducted a comprehensive review of research literature to identify effective interventions to address physician burnout, according to a recent study published in The Lancet.  

Visit http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/researchers-identify-successful-interventions-for-physician-burnout.html to view the full article online.