News Archives

APMA is excited to offer its resident members the opportunity to complete their annual didactic instruction requirements as outlined in CPME 320 through the APMA Online Learning Center. The "Resident Essentials" learning path includes six courses which match required topics on which residents must receive training once per year.

The APMA Center for Professional Advocacy (CPA) is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the next installment in our Mini Summit Series, “Negotiating Contracts.” This smaller, more focused offering was born out of the CPA and its committee members, after hearing feedback from the virtual forum attendees in 2022. It will take place via Zoom on July 16, 8–9:30 p.m. EDT. Registration closes on July 12.

CMS added nine items to the Required Prior Authorization List of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies, a list of items that require prior authorization as a condition of payment.

On May 29, APMA submitted comments to CMS in response to the institution’s request for information (RFI), “Medicare Program; Request for Information on Medicare Advantage Data; CMS–4207–NC.”

Members are being offered the opportunity to submit their questions or issues for our committees to discuss.

Thanks to APMA and others' advocacy on your behalf, CMS is now allowing providers impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack to apply for a hardship exception from MIPS participation in 2024!

Following advocacy by APMA and others, Congress has decreased the 2024 physician pay cut by about half.

On May 6, APMA and Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) representatives from Palmetto Jurisdiction states met with Palmetto GBA to discuss recent changes to their Local Coverage Article (LCA) related to at-risk foot care.

APMA's Center for Professional Advocacy (CPA) invites state component leaders to apply for 2025 grants via the CPA Financial Assistance Grant and Innovation Grant programs. The deadline for both applications is September 15.

Over the past couple of weeks, APMA has been coordinating with our Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) representatives to address challenges brought about by proposed skin substitutes/ cellular and/or tissue-based products (CTPs) for Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) and Venous Leg Ulcers (VLU) Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) released in April.

Register now for APMA's webinar, “MIPS PY 2024: Townhall & Open Q&A," taking place on May 7.

Effective April 1, HCPCS J1020, J1030, and J1040 have been deleted from the HCPCS code set, which is managed by CMS. A new code has replaced these deleted codes.

On April 19, APMA leadership met with Acumen, LLC to discuss our ongoing and significant concerns with the non-pressure ulcer cost measure under development, previously shared with Acumen via comment letter.

The CAC Engagement Coalition has arranged a face-to-face meeting with CMS on May 17 to express its ongoing frustrations and concerns regarding the current implementation of local coverage policies.

On Tuesday, April 16, APMA and NYSPMA met with NGS to address their concerns about policy changes to allow reimbursement for Registered Nurses performing at-risk foot care under the supervision of a physician.

APMA’s April Foot Health Awareness Month campaign is now live! This public education campaign is designed to educate the public, particularly younger consumers, about the importance of understanding their foot type, gait, and any underlying conditions before they purchase expensive shoes or orthotics.

New findings published in JAMA suggest that, for individuals with kidney failure on dialysis, receiving foot and ankle care by podiatrists before the onset of diabetic foot ulcers may be associated with improved outcomes.

The Foot and Ankle Health (FAH) Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) put together an exciting week of activities for members!

APMA President Lawrence Santi, DPM, and Senior Medical Director Dyane Tower, DPM, MPH, MS, CAE, participated in a recent Clinician Expert Workgroup meeting with Acumen, LLC, a third-party entity contracted by CMS to develop episode-based cost measures for potential use in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).

Paul K. Kesselman, DPM, chair of APMA’s DME Advisory Group and DME Subcommittee, recently attended Medtrade 2024, an essential meeting of the medical equipment industry. He also regularly represents APMA at DME Council meetings.