APMA News Brief

In November, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will pass a final rule regarding how physician practices will need to shift to become compliant with a new quality-based reimbursement program.

Visit http://healthcare.dmagazine.com/2016/09/20/becoming-macra-compliant-this-is-what-physician-practices-face/ to view the full article online.

To get more doctors to embrace value-based payments, the CMS wants to team up with states to launch multi-payer efforts that could qualify as alternative payment models under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). But some state officials may see the initiative as too closely linked to the Affordable Care Act. 

Visit http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160915/NEWS/160919948 to view the full article online.

Gone are the days of doctor house calls, when the family physician knew each patient’s personal medical history by heart. 

Visit http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/opinion/why-provider-success-hinges-on-connecting-with-the-patient to view the full article online.

Sneakers may just be one of the most important pieces of sports equipment you can buy for your young athlete. 

Visit http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/neighborhoods/2016/09/19/healthy-feet-proper-sneakers-important/89585234/ to view the full article online.

The beginning of fall is just a week away, kicking off the official start of boot season. While these closed-up looks offer protection from the elements, they can also impact everyday foot health and comfort. 

Visit http://footwearnews.com/2016/focus/uncategorized/tips-to-keep-feet-protected-in-fall-winter-257198/ to view the full article online.

Dr. Richard Jacoby had the routine of a podiatrist set. He knew what he'd be treating, and he knew how it would work. 

Visit http://www.azcentral.com/story/sponsor-story/scottsdale-neuropathy-institute/2016/09/19/scottsdale-neuropathy-institute-valley-doctor-leading-sugar-fight/90705354/ to view the full article online.

Women are being told by their bosses to put on more make-up, and wear high heels and short skirts to work, research has found.

Visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/20/women-are-told-by-their-bosses-to-wear-more-make-up-and-put-on-h/ to view the full article online.

Physicians can sometimes be hesitant to begin hosting video visits because they are weary about just how effective the technology can be when treating patients. 

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/top-7-reasons-physicians-should-consider-telemedicine?page=0,0 to view the full article online.

The transformation required of healthcare practices seeking to improve care quality while containing costs could benefit from the application of "lean" management thinking, according to a recent study.

Visit http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/lean-principles-help-spur-practice-transformation to view the full article online.

Doctors are trying to find some new solutions to the age-old problem of patients who don’t show up for appointments. 

Visit http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/three-ways-practices-are-tackling-patient-no-shows to view the full article online.

The AMA's time-motion study released last week quantified a major complaint about EHRs, concluding that for every hour physicians spend with patients, they spend another two hours interacting with their electronic medical records systems.

Visit http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/physician-leaders/3-tips-ehr-efficiency-solo-practitioner to view the full article online.

As the number of people covered by high-deductible health plans soars, some insurers and employers are easing the strain on consumers’ wallets by covering certain benefits like doctor visits or generic drugs before people have reached their plan’s deductible. 

Visit http://khn.org/news/hitch-keeps-many-high-deductible-plans-from-covering-chronic-care-up-front/ to view the full article online.

The presence of fungi within wounds can be associated with longer healing times and poor health outcomes, according to a new study. 

Visit http://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2016/sep/fungi-associated-with-delayed-healing-in-diabetic-foot-ulcers,-says-study-99831639.html to view the full article online.

Although the number of large physician practices is growing, the choice of whether to care for patients in a small or a large practice remains in the hands of individual physicians. 

Visit http://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20160919smallpractices.html to view the full article online.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission ("MedPAC") met in Washington, DC, on September 8-9, 2016. The purpose of this and other public meetings of MedPAC is for the commissioners to review the issues and challenges facing the Medicare program and then make policy recommendations to Congress. 

Visit http://www.natlawreview.com/article/top-five-takeaways-medpac-s-meeting-medicare-issues-and-policy-developments to view the full article online.

If you hadn’t already noticed, the title to this article is a not-so-subtle allusion to the New York Times Bestseller How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less. 

Visit http://www.hcplive.com/physicians-money-digest/contributor/passive-income-md/2016/09/how-to-make-patients-like-you-in-90-seconds-or-less to view the full article online.