APMA News Brief

Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has announced that the agency has exceeded its goal of 90 percent participation in MIPS among eligible clinicians in year one of the program.

Visit https://www.healthcare-informatics.com/news-item/payment/cms-hits-mips-participation-goal-year-one to view the full article online.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' patient relationship categories and codes, which were created as required by MACRA, could become more important as value-based reimbursement advances.

Visit http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/what-providers-should-know-about-cms-patient-relationship-category-codes to view the full article online.

One percent of physicians account for nearly a third of all paid malpractice claims.

Visit https://www.medicalbag.com/business/managing-malpractice-claims/article/770681/ to view the full article online.

Tips for successfully negotiating value-based contracts with payers include having a good understanding of the state of your practice compared to others in your area and deciding beforehand what is and isn't on the table.

Visit http://www.medicaleconomics.com/value-based-reimbursement/3-tips-negotiating-value-based-contracts to view the full article online.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Medicare Part D spending rose sharply from 2011 to 2015. 

Visit http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/medicare-part-d-drug-spending-spikes-77 to view the full article online.

physicians who feel that they have the tools and resources to do their job effectively have much lower rates of burnout than other physicians. 

Visit https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/organizational-flaws-compound-doctor-burnout-report-says/524804/ to view the full article online.

Flip-flops are a poor option for heavy use, and they aren’t the only type of footwear to use sparingly or avoid in the summer months.

Visit http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-summer-shoes-foot-health-guidelines-20180530-story.html to view the full article online.

Some simple steps can help ward off various common foot conditions. 

Visit http://www.womanandhome.com/health-and-wellbeing/key-foot-problems-treatment-279598/ to view the full article online.

A number of factors, including lack of stretching and improper footwear, can lead to Achilles tendonitis in runners. 

Visit https://www.newcanaannewsonline.com/news/article/The-Running-Doctor-Achilles-Tendonitis-12954202.php to view the full article online.

Tips for making wearing high heels more bearable include alternating between wearing shoes of different heel heights and not "breaking in" new shoes by wearing them for a long period of time. 

Visit https://www.yourtango.com/2018313797/how-make-heels-comfortable-10-hacks-for-pain-free-stiletto-wearing to view the full article online.

Home remedies for smelly baby feet include using cornstarch and rotating baby shoes. 

Visit https://www.romper.com/p/5-smelly-baby-feet-remedies-because-theres-nothing-cute-about-that-odor-9262678 to view the full article online.

More than a third of the patients in a recent study indicated that what their physician was wearing actually affected their level of satisfaction with their care. 

Visit https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/physician-attire-is-important-most-patients-say.html to view the full article online.

A large majority of adults over 40 are open to using some form of telehealth, according to a new survey. 

Visit https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/poll-seniors-ready-skype-docs-worry-care-quality-55552073 to view the full article online.

Payer–provider partnerships are at their highest level in years, with many of the new partnerships consisting of joint ventures. 

Visit https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/payer-provider-partnerships-on-record-pace/524852/ to view the full article online.