APMA News - November/December 2011 - (Page 66)

In Short APMA Testifies before HHS on Essential Health Benefits James R. Christina, DPM, APMA director of Scientific Affairs, provided testimony on October 18, 2011, to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on essential health benefits. HHS is receiving input from all stakeholders, including states, patients, providers, employers, legislators, insurers, and others interested in developing the essential health benefits package. Dr. Christina’s testimony highlighted the importance of foot and ankle care being an integral part of any essential health benefits package and stressed the value of care provided by podiatrists, particularly to people with diabetes. HHS will eventually issue a proposed rule on essential health benefits, and APMA will provide written comments on the proposed rule when it is released. Read Dr. Christina’s full testimony at http://members.apma.org/Members/ReimbursementIssues/ Correspondence/Essential-Benefits.aspx?FT=.pdf. APMA has been monitoring the work of the Institute of Medicine on essential health benefits and has been in touch with HHS through the office of the secretary for several months. APMA Working for You: CIGNA Meeting APMA had a successful and productive meeting with CIGNA in late October. As part of the Health System Committee’s (HSC) private insurance outreach initiative, HSC reinforced APMA’s position on anti-fee discrimination and fee parity and presented as support the results of the Thomson Reuters study, which underscores the value of care by podiatrists in saving limbs and lives. The collaborative meeting also focused on working to resolve member issues related to outsourcing of durable medical equipment and physical therapy benefits. HSC established contacts with CIGNA and plans to have further discussions. As part of these ongoing efforts, HSC meets with Aetna in November at APMA headquarters in Bethesda, MD. APMA also is collaborating with the New York State Podiatric Medical Association in November to educate insurers in New York about the Thomson Reuters study (see more in the State Advocacy Case Study on page 38). APMA will continue to have constructive dialogue with insurers about member issues and keep members updated on its progress. Pre-med Advisor Luncheon at The National Over the years, APMA has made strides in creating awareness among students and pre-med advisors about careers in podiatric medicine. APMA’s concerted efforts continued during the 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting (The National) in Boston. APMA invited advisors to a luncheon and tour of APMA’s exhibit hall and scientific lectures at the Hynes Convention Center. Participants included APMA staff, nine Boston-area pre-med advisors, and Jeffrey Bowman, DPM (TX); Emily Cook, DPM (MA); Jeremy Cook, DPM (MA); Matthew Garoufalis, DPM (IL); Kevin Lutz, DPM (OH); and Erik Sims, DPM (NY). This “lunch and learn” event gave advisors an in-depth view into podiatric medicine; they learned about challenges and the future outlook for the profession, research opportunities, and—most importantly—numerous reasons for their students to choose podiatric medicine as a career. After lunch, advisors toured APMA’s exhibit hall, the largest in podiatric medicine. They viewed the types of products and services used by most podiatrists and met with representatives from the colleges of podiatric medicine. Several advisors also took advantage of the opportunity to listen to scientific lectures. The successful luncheon armed advisors with knowledge they can use to promote podiatric medicine. Stephanie Ripley, pre-med advisor at Tufts University, summed up the event by saying, “I had a good time and learned a lot of information to take back to my students.” APMA Joins NDEP APMA has joined the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a partnership among the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than 200 other organizations. NDEP translates the latest science and spreads the word that diabetes is serious, common, and costly, yet controllable and, for type 2, preventable. APMA Trustee Dennis Frisch, DPM, will join the NDEP Strategic Directions Group, which serves as NDEP’s think tank to help develop strategies and goals. 66 APMA News November/December 2011 http://www.apma.org/files/secure/index.cfm?FileID=6385 http://www.apma.org/files/secure/index.cfm?FileID=6385

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