APMA News - July/August 2012 - (Page 14)

Health Policy & Practice Committees Meet to Address Issues Facing Podiatrists T he Health Policy & Practice (HP&P) committees met May 10–12 in Arlington, VA, to discuss a variety of payment and reimbursement concerns facing podiatric physicians. The assembled group laid out a course of action to tackle these issues in the coming year. The committees bring together podiatric physicians from across the country who have volunteered their services for the benefit of all APMA members and been confirmed by the APMA Board of Trustees. Together, the HP&P committees cover the gamut of private insurance, public insurance, and general medical regulatory issues that affect podiatric medicine. Each group meets annually in person and frequently via phone to discuss current issues and help guide APMA resources where they are needed most. Together, the HP&P committees cover the gamut of private insurance, public insurance, and general medical regulatory issues that affect podiatric medicine. The Coding Committee, chaired by Paul Kinberg, DPM, met on May 10 and made plans to continue educating the general APMA membership about the impending ICD-10 roll-out. The role of the committee is to evaluate coding policy as it affects podiatric medicine and educate the membership on current coding issues and available resources. The committee also weighed coding issues related to an arthroereisis implant, addressed follow-up items related to February’s Young Physicians Coding Forum, and discussed the possible expansion of the materials available in the APMA Coding Resource Center (www.apmacodingrc.org). The group spent a great deal of time discussing the upcoming conversion to ICD-10. Although the implementation date has been pushed back to October 1, 2014, it still is imperative for DPMs to take time to acclimate to the new system—the change is inevitable (a resource page for APMA members is available at www.apma.org/ICD10Resources). The committee is preparing and refining a series of webinars 14 APMA News July/August 2012 that will be available for all members, as well as presenting seminars at APMA events across the country (visit https:// www2.gotomeeting.com/register/672285586 for webinar information). Podiatric physicians should use the additional extension to make the eventual transition as smooth as possible for their practice. Meanwhile, APMA will work toward simplifying the new coding system through the appropriate channels at Health and Human Services. For an example of how the new coding system compares with ICD-9, see the article on page 32. The Health Systems Committee, chaired by Kirk Geter, DPM, came together on May 11 to develop tactics to resolve concerns with private insurance companies. The committee is tasked with positioning DPMs as the recognized foot and ankle care specialists within health-care systems, hospitals, HMOs, PPOs, employers, insurance carriers, and alternative health-care delivery systems. Chief among the issues the committee tackled were fee discrimination, Medicare advantage audits, recoupment, and how APMA members can help educate payers about the podiatric medical profession. Fee discrimination continues to be at the forefront of the committee’s agenda. Members discussed strategies for dealing with these issues and encouraged APMA members to use the Model Fee Parity Project, available at www.apma.org/model laws. The purpose of this project is to provide podiatrists and their state associations with: • • • a range of strategies to obtain non-discriminatory reimbursement; information to assist podiatrists and their representatives in determining which strategy is appropriate for the particular circumstances in their state; and a discussion of practical issues related to implementing the strategies. The Health Systems Committee also encourages members to fully understand their contracts with payers so they can better negotiate the terms of the contracts. The APMA Private Insurance Resource Guide, available at www.apma.org/pirg, provides tips for negotiating with payers. The Health Systems Committee also lauded an APMA advocacy victory that occurred the day before its meeting when CMS unveiled the final rule that will amend the hospital Con- http://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/672285586 http://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/672285586 http://www.apma.org/modellaws http://www.apma.org/modellaws http://www.apmacodingrc.org http://www.apma.org/pirg http://www.apma.org/ICD10Resources

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - July/August 2012

APMA News - July/August 2012
President’s Message
Contents
Innovative, Intuitive, Inventive
Health Policy & Practice Committees Meet to Address Issues Facing Podiatrists
MPMA Instrumental in Uncovering Health-care Fraud
Does the Media Still Matter?
Introducing APMA’s ACO Workgroup
APMA By the Decade
The US House of Representatives Recognizes APMA’s 100th Anniversary
2011 Podiatric Practice Survey
Profiles in Progress
Reimbursement
Federal Advocacy Forum
List of Cosponsors to the Equity and Access for Podiatric Physicians Under Medicaid Act
APMAPAC Chair Report
IT Consultant
Technofile
Get 2012 Annual Scientific Meeting Coverage
Annual Scientific Meeting Preliminary Program
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
APMA All Stars
In Short
CPME Invitation for Comments
Worthy of Note
Call for Committee Nominations
Affiliates Corner
List of Affiliated Organizations
Insurance Advisor
Bylaws Propositions Due
New Members
Death Notices
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions
Your APMA
100th Anniversary Commemorative Section

APMA News - July/August 2012