APMA News Brief

A new survey conducted by medical technology company Kareo found that 84 percent of independent physicians and staff aren't sure what MACRA's Quality Payment Program will require of their practice, yet 85 percent said they would participate in it to the best of their ability.

Visit http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/nearly-85-independent-physicians-unsure-macra-requirements-look-participate to view the full article online.

CMS has announced a glitch in the quality reporting measures brought upon by the changes in the ICD-CM (Clinical Modification) and ICD-PCS (Procedural Coding System) updates that went into effect Oct. 1.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/everything-doctors-should-know-about-icd-10-glitch to view the full article online.

The Department of Health and Human Services released a final rule late last week updating the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations. 

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/hhs-finalizes-substance-abuse-patient-record-sharing-rule/434054/ to view the full article online.

As the Trump administration officially begins later this week, a new HealthLeaders Media survey shows that healthcare industry leaders support changes to the existing law rather than replacing it.

Visit http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/leadership/aca-changes-favored-2-1-healthcare-leaders-over-repeal-and-replace to view the full article online.

Physicians who obstruct government audits or fail to provide investigators with prompt access to medical records can face exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid.

Visit https://www.bna.com/hhs-expands-ability-n73014449746/ to view the full article online.

Physicians generally billed uninsured or out-of-network patients several times what Medicare would have deemed appropriate, researchers found, with anesthesiologists topping the list of specialists racking up the most in excess charges.

Visit http://www.medpagetoday.com/practicemanagement/reimbursement/62567 to view the full article online.

Future financial support as part of MACRA implementation will have a positive effect on small practice health IT adoption and use, according to new research published in the Annals of Family Medicine.

Visit https://ehrintelligence.com/news/macra-incentives-likely-to-increase-physician-health-it-use to view the full article online.

With the health care system in the midst of change, a rowdy election behind us and many unknowns still in the air, former Utah governor and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt detailed the true nature of this transformation and why physicians need to lead the way.

Visit https://wire.ama-assn.org/ama-news/former-hhs-head-long-term-reform-requires-physicians-wheel to view the full article online.

Physicians and other healthcare practitioners know all too well that they live in a highly litigious society. 

Visit http://www.mdmag.com/physicians-money-digest/personal-finance/3-personal-asset-protection-tools-for-physicians to view the full article online.

Value-based reimbursement success rests on providing clinicians with convenient and increased access to meaningful data, the leaders of the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) and CMS stated in a recent official CMS blog post.

Visit http://revcycleintelligence.com/news/cms-providers-need-data-access-for-value-based-reimbursement to view the full article online.

What do you get when a former podiatric surgeon with an innate sense of style launches her own shoe collection bridging luxury and wearability perfectly? You get Marion Parke shoes. 

Visit http://www.forbes.com/sites/meggentaylor/2017/01/13/marion-parke-podiatrist-turned-designer-has-created-the-ultimate-game-changer-in-luxury-shoes/#7c637a8c7baf to view the full article online.

When I was looking at my Facebook feed this morning I noticed that a friend had posted this question: How do you get rid of foot fungus?

Visit http://catchinghealth.bangordailynews.com/2017/01/11/q-and-a/how-do-you-get-rid-of-foot-fungus/?utm_campaign=After+the+Couch&utm_source=health-widget to view the full article online.

From broken bones to frostbite, you're at extra risk for foot and ankle injuries during winter. But you can protect yourself, according to a surgeon who specializes in podiatry. 

Visit http://tucson.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/protecting-ankles-feet-from-winter-s-assaults/article_e88af516-cf01-5759-b1b6-1d9e79a92598.html to view the full article online.

Poor circulation and nerve damage leave people with diabetes at increased risk for potentially serious foot problems, especially during the cold weather, a foot and ankle specialist warns. 

Visit http://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2017-01-12/cold-weather-foot-care-key-for-diabetics to view the full article online.

Nia Dennis could tell something was wrong as she began her tumbling routine during a gymnastics event.

Visit https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-01-achilles-tendon-injuries.html to view the full article online.

Bunions—those bony protrusions that can develop over the first metatarsal bone or big toe joint—remain a bit of a mystery.

Visit http://wtop.com/medstar-washington/2017/01/preventing-and-treating-bunions/ to view the full article online.