APMA News - July/August 2021 - 30

APMAPAC Chair
By Randy K. Kaplan, DPM
Support Your APMAPAC
I don't have
the money!
What have you
done for me?
I hope everyone is healthy and has been vaccinated. Now
that the pandemic numbers seem to be declining, I hope you
are enjoying your practice and family as we slowly settle into
a new normal.
I want to take this month's column to speak directly to everyone
who has not yet supported APMAPAC with their contributions.
We often hear questions about what value
APMAPAC provides in return for a contribution. I hope that
after reading this article, you will understand the value of
supporting APMAPAC and choose to make an investment in
your future and that of the profession. In reality, you can't
afford not to give.
How Your Donations Help Members and Patients
* At the end of this year, the 2-percent across-the-board reduction
in Medicare fees, known as sequestration, comes
back into effect. Also at the end of the year, a 3.75-percent
positive adjustment to E/M reimbursements is set to expire.
Podiatrists could be facing a total 5.75-percent cut to Medicare
fees between the return of sequestration and the reduction
in E/M reimbursements. APMA is engaging with
Congress to ensure policymakers know our positions and
availability to discuss solutions.
* APMA is working to fix the definition of " physician " used
by Tricare, which we believe will address the problem
members continue to have with ordering PT/OT services
and resolve issues with ordering imaging.
* APMA supports the Amputation Reduction and Compassion
(ARC) Act-a bill to reduce the incidence of peripheral
arterial disease through a public health education aware30
APMA News July/August 2021
ness campaign and to prohibit reimbursement for
amputations without prior arterial testing in the hope of
finding alternate treatment pathways.
* APMA advanced the VA bill to clarify the position of the
Director of Podiatry (renamed " Podiatric Medical Director " ).
The bill passed the US House of Representatives in
June.
* APMA supports the SafeStep Act-a bill that would modify
the way step-therapy works. The bill has potential to help
our patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
* APMA continues to track several bills dealing with diabetes
awareness and medical nutrition programs, all beneficial to
our patients with diabetes.
* APMA is also tracking numerous bills dealing with telehealth.
Our goal is to expand access and ensure fair reimbursement
for telehealth visits and to ensure telehealth
continues after the COVID-19 public health emergency.
* APMA is also tracking bills dealing with negative pressure
wound therapy devices.
It only takes a moment to ensure we can continue to
monitor these issues on behalf of members and the
profession. If you love this profession, visit www.apma.
org/donate and pledge your support to stop a potential
5.75-percent Medicare fee cut, ensure regulatory parity,
fight back against fee discrimination, and work for parity
with other physician specialties.
Don't wait for a crisis; be proactive. Join your many colleagues
who are already contributing regularly to
APMAPAC to benefit and protect the profession and your
own practice. n
Why should I
support APMAPAC?
http://www.apma.org/donate http://www.apma.org/donate
APMA News - July/August 2021

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