APMA News - November/December 2011 - (Page 42)

Reimbursement A Full Slate at 1 Annual CAC-PIAC Joint Meeting 1th APMA’s 11th Annual Joint National Podiatric Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee (CAC) and Private Insurance Advisory Committee (PIAC) meeting was held November 4–5 at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Washington, DC. The meeting consisted of two days of focused sessions on public and private insurance matters of immediate interest to APMA members. More than 70 state component representatives attended, with a sprinkling of state executives. These members, along with Health Policy and Health Systems Committee members, represent a vast “nerve system” of public and private insurance experts who engage daily visory Co Ad with Medicare and carrier contacts. m m er They also are responsible for quickly • • conveying critical information from each state to APMA to resolve devel& oping issues before they escalate. su View a sample video from the ra y nce or Advis CAC-PIAC Joint Meeting, or review the written presentations at www.apma.org/ CAC/PIAC. You also can read more about last year’s meeting in the January 2011 issue of APMA News at www.apma.org/ publications. Shantanu Agrawal, MD, chief medical officer for CMS’ Center for Program Integrity, provided the keynote at this year’s CAC-PIAC meeting, speaking about CMS initiatives, including those targeted at fraud and abuse. Henry Desmarais, MD, MPA, former acting director of HCFA (now CMS) and APMA consultant, then described how these CMS initiatives affect podiatrists. Dr. Desmarais also covered other pending reform activities APMA should continue to follow. Dan Risku, Esq., chief Washington counsel of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, changed the focus to private insurance matters and presented “Understanding the Blues,” which highlighted how APMA members can work most collaboratively with the Blues health plans. Representatives from the law firm of O B E R | K A L E R in Baltimore covered the topics “ACO Preparation: What Members Need to Do” and “Medicare Contracting and Compliance Issues.” Representatives heard about ICD-10 preparation from Annie Boynton, director of ICD-10 communications, UnitedHealth Group. Following these presentations, APMA Directors Peter Stein (Legislative Advocacy) and James R. Christina, DPM (Scientific Affairs), updated participants on APMA’s efforts on Capitol Hill and with health information technology and meaningful use. In the Friday evening break-out sessions, participants shared information and issues related to public and private insurance matters to foster a more collaborative approach to problem solving. On Saturday, Kelli Back, Esq., from the Law Offices of Mark S. Joffe, discussed emerging issues in private insurance. Back is Annie Boynton, director, ICD-10 Communications, United Health Group, discusses Transitioning to ICD-10-CM/PCS, Its Challenges & Opportunities. CAC PIAC i it rr te Ca e a private insurance consultant for APMA and frequent contributor to our communications efforts. In addition, Seth Rubenstein, DPM, APMA trustee, discussed RUC hot topics, and Paul Kessleman, DPM, from APMA’s Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Subcommittee, spoke about DME issues affecting podiatric practice. Other discussion topics included the 2012 CMS Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, provider contracting, and APMA initiatives. The meeting closed with Ed Prikaszczikow, DPM, the CAC chair and representative from Iowa, moderating a session on how to be an effective advocate for members as a CAC or PIAC representative. Last year’s meeting highlighted a number of pressing issues facing podiatrists at the time, including accountable care organizations (ACO); e-prescribing, Physician Quality Reporting System, and electronic health record (EHR) (meaningful use) incentives under Medicare; provider contracting; and APMA’s work on the Therapeutic Shoes for People with Diabetes (TSD) documentation issue. In response to information presented at the 2010 meeting, APMA has instituted an ACO Task Force (initiated by HOD Resolution 14-11), educated members through APMA News, and commented on the ACO proposed rule to CMS. APMA has conducted webinars on provider contracting and created a series for APMA News titled “Can They Really Do That?” APMA has presented numerous webinars on meaningful use and EHR (available on the members’ website at www.apma. org/webinars) and shared information through APMA News and the APMA News Brief. With respect to the TSD program, APMA also met with and corresponded numerous times with DME Medicare administrative contractor carrier medical directors to resolve the repayment audit and claim denial issues related to TSD documentation. APMA plans to do much more in these areas, as well as in the areas highlighted above. APMA News will follow up with more details on the 11th Annual CAC-PIAC Joint Meeting in an upcoming issue. Look for more information at upcoming state meetings as well. n 42 APMA News November/December 2011 C om mit Privat tee e In http://www.apma.org/yourpractice/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1282&navItemNumber=606 http://www.apma.org/yourpractice/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1282&navItemNumber=606 http://www.apma.org/workingforyou/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1371&navItemNumber=702 http://www.apma.org/workingforyou/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1371&navItemNumber=702 http://www.apma.org/Education/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1101 http://www.apma.org/Education/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1101

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - November/December 2011

APMA News - November/December 2011
Help Your Patients Get Up and Dance with APMA’s Diabetes Awareness Campaign
President’s Message
Contents
Special Section: Corporate Partners and Members Make a Difference
State Advocacy Case Study: NYSPMA Puts Thomson Reuters Data in the Spotlight
Reimbursement
Federal Advocacy Forum
APMAPAC Chair Report
IT Consultant
Can They Really Do That?
Members Who Know Media
Technofile
Young Voices
Small Business 101
APMA All Stars
In Short
APMA Out and About
Worthy of Note
Affiliates Corner
List of Affiliated Organizations
Insurance Advisor
New Members
Death Notices
APMAPAC Update
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Resolutions Submissions
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions

APMA News - November/December 2011