APMA News Brief

Opposition to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed changes regarding evaluation and management reimbursement continues to grow, with comments on the rule due by Monday, September 10.

Visit https://www.medpagetoday.com/practicemanagement/reimbursement/74830 to view the full article online.

According to a new survey, the greatest percentage of surprise bills were for physician services.

Visit http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20180830/TRANSFORMATION01/180839993 to view the full article online.

According to a new study in Health Affairs, the increase in hospital acquisition of physician practices has coincided with an increase in prices.

Visit https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/healthcare-consolidation-california-leading-higher-prices-finds-new-health-affairs-research to view the full article online.

The director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation said that assuming risk under value-based care would remain voluntary for physicians.

Visit https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/cmmi-director-says-agency-wont-force-all-providers-to-assume-risk/531333/ to view the full article online.

In addition to potential changes to evaluation and management coding, changes to the Quality Payment Program could be on the way.

Visit http://www.medicaleconomics.com/business/4-ways-doctor-reimbursement-could-change-next-year to view the full article online.

The complexity of interoperability regulations and the potential cost of new technology present challenges to smaller physician practices that want to remain independent.

Visit https://www.hcanews.com/news/interoperability-and-tech-death-of-the-small-practice to view the full article online.

Annual checkups with a podiatrist are a good idea for children, as are shoe-shopping considerations such as having both feet measured and shopping later in the day.

Visit https://www.prweb.com/releases/make_a_visit_to_the_podiatrists_office_the_first_stop_in_back_to_school_shoe_shopping/prweb15729655.htm to view the full article online.

Wearing socks when trying on shoes someone else might have worn, checking for wounds and washing feet regularly are ways to help reduce the risk of acquiring an infection.

Visit https://www.health.com/condition/skin-conditions/dangers-shoes-without-socks-podiatrist to view the full article online.

Wearing shoes that don't fit can lead to any of a number of foot problems.

Visit https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/this-celebrity-shoe-trend-is-a-podiatrist-s-nightmare-20180830-p500pi.html to view the full article online.

Taking preventive action can help reduce the risk of common foot problems such as blisters and heel pain.

Visit https://www.brit.co/healthy-feet-tips/ to view the full article online.

Serious conditions often first spotted due to changes in the feet include diabetes, melanoma and peripheral arterial disease.

Visit https://www.medicaldaily.com/these-6-changes-your-feet-could-indicate-health-problems-427282 to view the full article online.

Signs of potential burnout include an increase in cynicism toward patients and a noticeable decrease in energy level.

Visit https://wire.ama-assn.org/life-career/how-recognize-and-respond-burnout-fellow-physician to view the full article online.

Prioritizing administrative tasks and taking an orderly, standardized approach can help to ease the burden of paperwork.

Visit http://www.medicaleconomics.com/business/getting-handle-healthcare-paperwork to view the full article online.

Rather than taking advantage of telehealth as an alternative to treatment in the emergency department, health-care consumers increasingly are turning to urgent care centers and retail clinics.

Visit https://mhealthintelligence.com/news/consumers-are-avoiding-the-er-but-not-in-favor-of-telehealth to view the full article online.