APMA News Brief

Providers that want to thrive under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act will need to use the remainder of this year to ensure that their IT infrastructures will truly enables physician practices to advance quality, control cost and improve clinical performance.

Visit https://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/urgency-rising-as-providers-map-transition-to-macra to view the full article online.

As small practices grapple with a plethora of issues affecting their ability to collect payments from patients and health insurers, Bird Blitch, chair of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Revenue Cycle Improvement Task Force, said practice leaders can expect greater difficulties ahead. 

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/five-steps-improve-practice-s-revenue-cycle-management-system to view the full article online.

Marc D. Price, DO, with Family Medicine of Malta in New York State, is happy with his electronic health record (EHR) software but admits he has complaints.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/top-questions-ask-when-selecting-new-ehr to view the full article online.

At a time when many areas of the country are facing a physician shortage, some foreign-born doctors who want to work in the U.S. are in limbo because of changes that the Trump administration has made to the visa program. 

Visit http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/as-feared-foreign-born-doctors-left-limbo-by-trump-s-changes-to-visa-program to view the full article online.

ACO. MACRA. CJR. CIN. These are just some of the acronyms now common in the vernacular of hospital and health system executives nationwide. 

Visit http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/hospitals/hospital-impact-how-providers-can-put-clinical-integration-motion to view the full article online.

Physicians can now take the first step if they want to participate in a new Medicare shared-savings model designed to make the program more attractive to small practices.

Visit https://wire.ama-assn.org/practice-management/new-medicare-shared-savings-model-friendlier-small-practices to view the full article online.

President Donald Trump’s proposed $4.1 trillion budget includes a $610 billion cut to Medicaid along with a 20% cut to the Children’s Health Insurance Program, among other health-related funding reductions. 

Visit http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/trump-budget-calls-for-steep-cuts-to-medicaid-public-health-programs/443373/ to view the full article online.

Podiatric surgeon Dr. Jacqueline Sutera explains all the ways that wearing high heels can destroy your feet. 

Visit http://www.businessinsider.com/podiatrist-explains-how-high-heels-destroy-feet-jackie-sutera-2017-5 to view the full article online.

Podiatric surgeon Dr. Jacqueline Sutera explains what could happen to our feet if we run too much and over-train for that next half marathon. 

Visit http://www.businessinsider.com/podiatrist-explains-what-happens-feet-run-too-much-stress-fractures-plantar-fasciitis-heel-spurs-2017-5 to view the full article online.

Warmer months inevitably bring the desire to wear lighter shoes. But while aesthetically they might be pleasing, your arches might not be as happy. 

Visit http://www.heraldstandard.com/healthy_living/foot-pain-linked-to-lack-of-arch-support-summer-sandals/article_7e85a10e-6fb8-54be-afb0-a7de2ccc5d72.html to view the full article online.

Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. 

Visit http://herald-review.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/ease-the-pain-of-ingrown-toenails/article_7052cc70-66ef-536b-8976-e4a2b1f3a2dc.html to view the full article online.

When my editor asked me to wear heels to work for two straight weeks, I was not thrilled. 

Visit http://thisisinsider.com/wearing-heels-every-day-risks-2017-5 to view the full article online.

We love a weekday mani-pedi special from the salon around the corner as much as the next woman, but the reality is that most establishments—particularly those of the janky whirpool persuasion—aren't giving your feet the medical-grade TLC they really need. 

Visit http://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/a27207/medical-pedicure-benefits/ to view the full article online.

Doctors are aware that they can’t control all patient outcomes, and they focus on the things they can control to produce the best results. 

Visit http://www.mdmag.com/physicians-money-digest/personal-finance/focus-on-the-4-investing-factors-you-can-control to view the full article online.

Thought leaders from Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania and the Association of American Medical Colleges sparred over the existence of a physician shortage in opposing viewpoints published by JAMA last week. 

Visit http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/jama-is-there-really-a-physician-shortage.html to view the full article online.

Medical necessity denials are encountered for many reasons—a cloak of many colors. 

Visit http://urologytimes.modernmedicine.com/urology-times/news/how-your-practice-can-avoid-medical-necessity-denials to view the full article online.

The Texas House tentatively approved a bill that will eliminate Maintenance of Certification requirements for physicians, according to a report from The Texas Tribune. 

Visit http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/texas-may-eliminate-moc-requirements.html to view the full article online.