2023

National Public Health Week (NPHW) is April 3-9. The American Public Health Association (APHA) Foot & Ankle Health (FAH) Section is celebrating with educational webinars covering a different facet of public health each day.

The CMS PIMMS team was receptive to APMA’s feedback on better communication about measure information and indicated interest in collaborating with APMA on a path forward for a meaningful MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) for podiatric physicians.

APMA has heard from numerous members regarding the recently released guidance about the updated one-time training requirements for any DEA-registered practitioners on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders: the Medication Access and Training Expansion Act, or MATE Act.

The APMA Center for Professional Advocacy (CPA) is again offering the Young Physician Advocate Scholarship for a young physician member to attend.

Under the new policy, providers must submit office notes with claims submitted with E/M CPT® codes 99212, 99213, 99214, and 99215 and a 25 Modifier when a minor procedure is billed.

The APMA House of Delegates convened in person in Washington, DC, on Saturday. Guest speakers addressed the house, bearing greetings from our physician peers and messages of thanks for the work of the house.

On Saturday, March 18, Sylvia Virbulis, DPM, was installed as APMA president by Carroll D. Kratzer, DPM.

APMA was largely supportive of the proposed improvements, suggesting a number of recommendations and qualifications.

APMA submitted to the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Workgroup its Principles of Sound Local Coverage Policies and consensus answers to questions raised by CMS and the Workgroup. APMA has been working with its Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) Engagement Coalition to reach these consensus positions.

The team shared information and consulted with subject matter experts (including APMA’s Clinical Practice Advisory Committee [CPAC]) and partners outside the profession to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

In our ongoing collaboration with MGMA, we are delighted to announce that MGMA launched two new surveys.

APMA is pleased to announce that podiatric physicians will soon be included in the list of covered providers for Wyoming Medicaid patients.

APMA members can earn 1.0 CECH by attending the webinar, "Coding for Biopsies," on March 9.

APMA members now have exclusive access to a new complimentary on-demand CECH course (1.0 CECH), “The Role of Podiatrists in Geriatric Falls Prevention.”

APMA’s trusted partner, PatientPop, has put together a checklist of online marketing strategies to help streamline office work and give APMA members more time to focus on their patients.

CPT codes should be selected based only upon choosing the code(s) that most accurately reflect the service(s) provided.

APMA submitted comments to CMS on February 13, expressing our significant concerns about the limitations of MIPS measures available to podiatrists.

APMA submitted two comment letters on behalf of members on February 13. The first was to the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee, at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA, advocating that it reduce the burden in acquiring naloxone. The second comment letter was to CMS, largely supporting CMS’ proposals related to addressing MAOs abuse of utilization management tools.

APMA representatives participated in the CPT® Editorial Panel meeting February 1-3, in San Diego, CA.

APMA is saddened by the passing of former ACFAS Executive Director Chris Mahaffey, MS, CAE, FASAE. APMA worked with Mahaffey during his nearly two decades of service to the college and appreciates the impact he has made on our mutual members and the profession as a whole.