We are asking all podiatrists to help to promote podiatry to the next generation.
To help facilitate this process, APMA has created a webpage, Step Into Podiatry, that provides excellent resources for high school and undergraduate students. Included on the website are flyers, videos and a customizable PowerPoint presentation for prospective students, which can be used when speaking with student groups or individuals.
APMA is delighted to announce that the enrollment portal for its health insurance options for small groups (two or more participants) will open July 1.
APMA has partnered with The Ark Group, a national insurance brokerage with more than 100 years of experience, to provide plans for small groups. While Noveta will continue to support large-group offerings, The Ark Group will provide outstanding service and options for small groups.
APMA deeply appreciates your patience and the patience of its members over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and other delays as we worked to launch health insurance solutions for small groups. APMA understands these delays may have caused frustration and inconvenience for some members. Rest assured that APMA will follow up directly with those small groups that had already expressed interest in small-group options to ensure they receive the highest level of service and support.
In response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designation of the Texas Severe Winter Storm as a national disaster, CMS has determined that the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy will apply to Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians in FEMA-identified Texas areas.MIPS eligible clinicians in these areas will be automatically identified and receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2023 MIPS payment year. During the data submission period for the 2021 performance period (January 3, 2022 to March 31, 2022), all four performance categories for these clinicians will be weighted at zero percent, resulting in a score equal to the performance threshold.
However, if MIPS eligible clinicians in these areas choose to submit data on two or more performance categories, they will be scored on those categories and receive a 2023 MIPS payment adjustment based on their 2021 MIPS final score.
The automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy will not apply to MIPS eligible clinicians participating in MIPS as a group, virtual group, or APM Entity.
For More Information
Please reference the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Overview section on the MIPS > About Exception Applications page and review the fact sheet.
Contact the Quality Payment Program at 1-866-288-8292 or by e-mail at: QPP@cms.hhs.gov. Customers who are hearing impaired can dial 711 to be connected to a TRS Communications Assistant.
Under President Biden’s direction, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expanded the class of medical professionals and health-care students who may serve as vaccinators to include licensed doctors of podiatric medicine, recently retired podiatric physicians, and podiatric medical students. Read full article here, https://www.apma.org/News/NewsDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=44262
If you are interested in volunteering to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas you can register with the DSHS here, https://www.texasdisastervolunteerregistry.org/index.php.
As a result of APMA’s advocacy efforts, the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) updated Chapter I of the NCCI Policy Manual for Medicare Services in Section E.1.d.(3), Example #2, to reflect a prior determination by CMS specifying that use of Modifier 59 or X[ESPU] is acceptable if the procedures described by CPT® 11720 and 11055 are conducted on lesions that are anatomically separate from one another—even if on the same digit.
Effective January 1, 2021, the NCCI Policy Manual Chapter I now includes an example that reads as follows:
Example 2: The Column One/Column Two code edit with Column One CPT code 11055 (Paring or cutting of benign hyperkeratotic lesion (eg, corn or callus); single lesion) and Column Two CPT code 11720 (Debridement of nail(s) by any method(s); one to five) should not be reported together for services performed on skin distal to and including the skin overlying the distal interphalangeal joint of the same toe. Modifiers 59 or –X{EPSU} should not be used if a nail is debrided on the same toe on which a hyperkeratotic lesion of the skin on or distal to the distal interphalangeal joint is pared. Modifiers 59 or –XS may be reported with code 11720 if 1 to 5 nails are debrided and a hyperkeratotic lesion is pared on a toe other than 1 with a debrided toenail or the hyperkeratotic lesion is proximal to the skin overlying the distal interphalangeal joint of a toe on which a nail is debrided.
This victory ensures the NCCI Policy Manual language is consistent throughout and accurately reflects CMS policy.
APMA’s 59 Modifier Workgroup was formed last year to address this discrepancy and develop a Routine Foot Care and -59 modifier toolkit. The toolkit includes educational materials and resources to help members when Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, or other commercial plans deny covered nail care (CPT® 11720/11721) when callus care (CPT 11055-11057) is provided on the same date.
The workgroup is pleased with this victory and will now work toward the coverage of nail debridement without any restrictions related to callus paring or cutting.
For more information visit www.apma.org/59toolkit.
Effective January 1, 2021, CMS will be changing the way providers bill for office/outpatient E/M codes. The changes begin with reducing the documentation requirements for the history and exam components, placing the emphasis on the level of medical decision making (MDM) and total time spent in caring for the patient. See below for informational resources.
Texas Podiatric Medicine magazine article
Office / Other Outpatient Evaluation and Management Changes for 2021 training webinar: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/720310261709592588
Getting Ready: Documentation for E/M Coding in 2021 training webinar: https://www.apma.org/Events/CalendarEventDetail.cfm?EventID=121159
Overview of the changes: https://www.apma.org/em2021
APMA will do another webinar on December 17, 2020, to show examples on how the new E/M rules should be applied. More information on this webinar will be coming soon.
Pursuant to House Bill 2059, certain health care practitioners are required to complete an approved human trafficking prevention training course in order to renew their license beginning September 1, 2020. The training course must be approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and is required for each license renewal submitted on or after the effective date.
The following TDLR license types are impacted by HB 2059 and will be required to comply with the new training requirement:
· Podiatric Physician
· Podiatric Temporary Residency
· Podiatric Medical Radiological Technician
HHSC has already approved one training course and posted it on their website. Additional courses will be posted as they are approved. You can find more information on HHSC’s Texas Human Trafficking Resource Center webpage.
Dear member,
As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Texas Podiatric Medical Association wants to share some important information with you and guidance for your practice during this challenging time. Below are some links that we hope will help you deal with the current situation.
Many podiatrists are searching for answers about how to address COVID-19 in their practices and personal lives. TPMA/APMA is here to help by directing you to the most authoritative and timely news and tools. These resources are available on APMA’s COVID-19 resource page at www.apma.org/covid19 as well as an FAQ page.
PODIATRISTS CAN PROVIDE E/M SERVICES REMOTELY
A resource that may be of interest to you are APMA-developed resources on providing telehealth services. You may need to provide Telephone Services and Online Digital Evaluation and Management Services during this time. CMS has announced major changes to services that podiatrists can furnish remotely under the 1135 waiver authority and Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. This waiver allows Medicare to pay for office, hospital, and other visits furnished via telehealth. This change means podiatrists can submit CPT 99201–99215 when these services are provided remotely. Watch APMA’s webinar for guidance on coding, compliance, and documentation for these service types. As of today, telehealth can be provided for Medicare Part B (Fee for Service) and Medicare Advantage plans only. Rules and Regulations change from day to day so stay tuned for updates.
Additionally, there may be upcoming issues with patients requiring “covered routine foot care” (RFC) and/or diabetic therapeutic shoes (DTS). With regard to the RFC and DTS it is APMA’s understanding that, “DME CMD’s suggest that CMS is having discussions with all the CMD’s on many of the policy issues given that it is not possible for most folks to get into their PCP offices right now. Priority for ill patients not for those who need to be certified for shoes or routine foot care must be given.
Some coders have also suggested that if possible (based on the patient’s history, physical finding, diagnoses and the Novitas Solution’s LCD on RFG) to use non-asterisk (*) diagnoses as these do not require the patient to be seen by their attending within the past six months. This is just a suggestion and may not be appropriate for every patient’s situation. There is also the possibility that these patients can be scheduled farther out after the virus situation and the social distancing is no longer a problem.
THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW ON MARCH 18, 2020
In the coming days and weeks, federal regulatory agencies, including the Department of Labor (DOL) and Health and Human Services (HHS), will provide guidance on how to execute or implement the new requirements. In the meantime, employers and advisors must rely on a good faith interpretation of the act’s text. View the Families First Act
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY & MEDICINE
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES
TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION
CYBERSECURITY
Stay well and safe,
Melinda Daise
Executive Director
Steven P. Brancheau
Chief Medical Officer
It is Novitas Solutions’ priority to keep you informed of updates addressing the Coronavirus (COVID-19). They have developed a dedicated Coronavirus webpage that can be easily accessed from their website home page banner and a red alert box at the top of the page. Stay informed and subscribe to the Novitas Solutions’ eNews to learn the latest Medicare news and other time-critical information.
The 2020 MEDPARD (Medicare Participation Physicians/Suppliers Directory) is now available! As in the past, there will be no hardcopy distributions. Beneficiaries can use the Internet or contact 1-800-MEDICARE for assistance in locating a participating supplier near their home. Also, the beneficiary’s local Social Security Office(s), the Area Administration on Aging office(s) and other beneficiary advocacy organizations may be able to assist as well.
JH MEDPARD includes:
To access the directory, use the arrow pull-down windows to select a specific state, county and specialty. Click “Submit” and the supplier choices will display in alphabetical order.
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