ChartLogic, Inc.

APMA News Brief

American Podiatric Medical Association

National News
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell turned a routine enrollment briefing into an impassioned plea Monday to preserve the Affordable Care Act, which has not only been a pillar of outgoing President Obama's legacy, but of HHS as well.

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/hhs-secretary-burwell-obamacare-now-woven-into-the-fabric-of-our-nation/430372/ to view the full article online.

 
While downside risk does not incentivize providers to take part in value-based care reimbursement policies, data-driven technology and a combination of financial motivations may encourage physicians to transition to alternative payment models, according to a survey from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.

Editor’s note: Read Dr. Christina’s message about value-based reimbursement and the future of health care.

Visit http://healthpayerintelligence.com/news/how-to-favorably-manage-risk-in-value-based-care-reimbursement to view the full article online.

 
Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises to repeal the Affordable Care Act, industry experts say value-based care initiatives will likely continue under the new White House administration. 

Visit http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/finance/value-based-care-will-likely-continue-under-trump-administration to view the full article online.

 
IMPROVED OUTCOMES = INCREASED REVENUES
Medical Wave, LLP
Increase patient satisfaction & create new revenue streams with the gold standard in Pressure Wave technology Storz. With a 91% success rate as per clinical studies reported outcomes for heel, foot & ankle pain are extraordinary. Improve your patient outcomes and start creating new revenue streams today! 1-800-595-0577
https://www.medicalwaveus.com
Advertisement
I don’t pretend to be a political writer; there are much smarter people than I who are doing a fantastic job talking about the social aspects of a new term under Mr. Trump. 

Visit http://www.hcplive.com/physicians-money-digest/contributor/passive-income-md/2016/11/3-ways-a-trump-presidency-could-affect-doctors-financially to view the full article online.

 
The growth of smartphone usage is giving physicians new ways to stay connected with patients and improve their care, and evidence shows that communication outside of the office setting is acceptable and can help improve outcomes. 

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/staying-connected-patients-beyond-office-visit to view the full article online.

 
Physicians have pledged to retire or leave Medicare as a result of burdens placed on them by the recently finalized payment rule.

Editor’s note: APMA is your source for MACRA resources.

Visit http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20161110/NEWS/161119995 to view the full article online.

 
Risk Placement Services, Inc.
Claims being paid too slowly?
ABILITY Network
Podiatrists deserve better than one-size-fits-all software. Get paid fully, quickly and fairly with ABILITY. Use our secure web-based tool to connect with thousands of payers. Check eligibility and correct claim errors on the spot. Fast set-up – nothing to install. View our no-cost on-demand webinar!
Learn More Here
Advertisement
What Patients are Reading
If you want to know the state of your health, try looking down. 

Visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/7-foot-problems-that-can-be-serious_us_5824cfece4b034e38990958e to view the full article online.

 
If your feet have ever hurt from standing for a long period of time or shoes that just don’t fit right, you may have considered getting inserts for your shoes or even orthotics.

Visit http://www.mcall.com/health/inspirehealth/tips/mc-inspire-health-all-orthotics-aren-t-created-equal-story.html to view the full article online.

 
Anyone who knows that hot, itchy feeling in their hands and feet after a trip outdoors in the cold will already be dreading winter – AKA chilblain season.

Visit http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/health/health-concerns/chilblains-what-you-need-to-know-about-this-pesky-winter-affliction-11364007650277 to view the full article online.

 
During National Diabetes Awareness Month, health professionals are trying to get the message out about a serious complication that often comes with the disease – diabetic foot ulcers, or DFUs.

Editor’s note: Check out APMA’s Diabetes Campaign tools. Also, the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) welcomes podiatrists as physician members.

Visit https://portsmouth-dailytimes.com/news/11907/experts-warn-of-foot-troubles-caused-by-diabetes to view the full article online.

 
Studies on the long-term effects of habitual barefoot walking or running are scarce, and there is only limited evidence for more foot problems and no evidence for higher injury rates among people who are often barefoot, according to a new review.

Editor's note: See APMA's position statement on barefoot running.

Visit http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/11/14/little-evidence-for-risks-or-benefits-habitual-barefootedness.html to view the full article online.

 
With 2017 just around the corner, that means data collection for the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) implementation program – the Quality Payment Program – is about to begin.

Editor’s note: Learn more about MACRA, MIPS and APMs at http://www.apma.org/macra.

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/diving-into-the-mips-timeline-performance-categories-scoring/430409/ to view the full article online.

 
Patient satisfaction is becoming a more valued measure than it ever has been in the past. 

Visit http://www.hcplive.com/physicians-money-digest/contributor/heidi-moawad-md/2016/11/the-key-factors-that-determine-patient-satisfaction to view the full article online.

 
Value-based pricing has the potential to reduce prescription drug spending in the U.S. 

Visit https://wire.ama-assn.org/ama-news/physicians-back-steps-toward-value-based-drug-pricing to view the full article online.

 
Running a physician practice is a lot different—and substantially more challenging—than it used to be. 

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/outsourcing-key-solving-physician-burnout to view the full article online.

 
BNA Burz North America American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants Ortho-Dynamics Orthotic Laboratory PAL Health Technologies
American Podiatric Medical Association, Inc.
11400 Rockville Pike, Suite 220, Rockville, MD 20852
PH: 301-581-9200
info@apma.org | www.apma.org