APMA News Brief

As we approach 2017, physician practices are being challenged on all fronts. 

Visit http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/blog/top-trends-physician-practices-2017 to view the full article online.

Lawmakers returned to Washington and wasted no time getting to work on the repeal of Obamacare.

Visit http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/03/508074966/republicans-take-the-first-step-to-repeal-obamacare to view the full article online.

The Medicare agency deserves a pat on the back for laying the groundwork for doctors’ new quality-based payment system, but it still needs to tackle two main areas in the new year, a government report said Dec. 21. 

Visit https://www.bna.com/new-doctor-payment-n73014449178/ to view the full article online.

Along with health insurers, more and more providers are expected to transition to alternative payment models (APMs) especially due to MACRA’s Quality Payment Program.  

Visit http://healthpayerintelligence.com/news/communication-key-for-transition-to-alternative-payment-models to view the full article online.

Let's face it. The real reason you have to check your bag is shoes.

Visit http://www.10best.com/interests/travel-gear-and-technology/happy-feet-10-best-womens-shoes-for-traveling-the-world/ to view the full article online.

Stop for a second and appreciate your heels. 

Visit http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2016/dec/30/tmh-living-well-heel-pain-it-might-be-plantar-fasc/ to view the full article online.

San Antonio has a diabetes problem and that’s what’s causing people to have a lot of other problems too.

Visit http://www.ksat.com/news/sa-doctors-leading-way-in-fixation-of-charcot-foot-syndrome to view the full article online.

Ankle injuries are common in most sports, but there is a predominance in basketball.

Visit http://www.dariennewsonline.com/news/article/Ankle-Injuries-10822677.php to view the full article online.

Many health conditions – conditions that you didn’t know you had – can be identified by an examination of your feet.

Visit http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/lifestyle/health_and_wellness/article_86135b1e-cec7-11e6-8ace-9b739d46cc1d.html to view the full article online.

If you have diabetes, foot care is an extremely important component of self-managing your condition.

Visit http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/taking_care_of_your_feet_during_the_winter_time to view the full article online.

Paper or plastic? Debit or credit? Netflix or Amazon? These are the kind of choices we are asked to make everyday.  

Visit https://www.managedcaremag.com/voices/crossroads-which-reimbursement-pathway-best-suited-your-practice to view the full article online.

Everybody’s talking about value-based care, but what does that mean? 

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/the-optimism-and-challenges-for-putting-the-value-in-value-based-care/431882/ to view the full article online.

Over the years, practices have developed many policies about how co-payment and deductibles are collected from patients. 

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/danger-waiving-co-insurance to view the full article online.

Disappointment. That’s the word Ralph Nobo, MD, uses to describe physician attitudes towards health information technology (IT) and its related costs.

Visit http://www.mdmag.com/physicians-money-digest/columns/financial-health-check-up/01-2017/physicians-wrestle-with-the-high-cost-of-health-it to view the full article online.

Electronic health records systems should be the springboard from which clinicians perform an elegant forward dive, with 3 1/2 somersaults in the pike position, enabling a classy entry into the pool of data. 

Visit http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/opinion/four-critical-ways-to-improve-ehrs-in-2017 to view the full article online.

Industry experts say there is no crisis; top Republicans see medical malpractice threatening U.S. health care.

Visit http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/experts-republicans-clash-existence-malpractice-crisis to view the full article online.