Joseph L. Starr, DPM
1918-2019
Joseph L. Starr DPM, 100, of West Hartford, formerly of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Del Ray Beach, Florida, died on June 10, 2019, just a few days shy of his 101th birthday.

Joe graduated from Brooklyn College and the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II, and then was a podiatrist in Bridgeport, where he practiced almost 40 years. He was a past president of the Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association.

Joe was active at Rodeph Sholom in Bridgeport where he was on the Board and later was a minyanaire in Temple Anshei Shalom in Delray Beach. He was an avid golfer, playing past his 99th birthday. The son of Harry Starr and Gussie Derman, Joe is survived by his wife of 70 years, Selma Brown Starr and his two sons Gary S. Starr (Leigh Newman) and Martin G. Starr (Sandra). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Joshua Starr, Jessica Starr Praskin (Alexi Praskin) and Alexander Starr and by his great-grandson, Noah Praskin.

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Anthony R. Aceto Jr. DPM 

 1929 - 2019

Anthony was born in New Haven on January 3, 1929. He graduated from New Haven High School, Providence College and Temple University School of Podiatry in 1952, where he was awarded a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree and served as Class President for three years. He was in private practice until 1998 and was beloved by all of his patients.

Anthony established the Podiatry Clinic at the Hospital of St. Raphael and was its Director until his retirement in 1998. He consulted to numerous organizations, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Travelers Insurance, and served as an officer of the New Haven County and Connecticut Podiatric Medical Associations. In 1977, he was recognized as the Connecticut Podiatrist of the Year. 

He leaves his beloved wife of 67 years, Lillian DeCerbo Aceto; his children: Valerie (James) Greco and Anthony R. (Elizabeth) Aceto III; and his treasured grandchildren: James P. Greco, Samuel A. Greco and Alexandra L. Aceto.

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Linda Kowalski, The Kowalski Group

The 2019 Legislative Session is history with adjournment occurring at midnight on Wednesday, June 5. There were a number of significant issues addressed this year while some business was left unfinished. A Special Session has been called by the leadership of the General Assembly to address a number of unresolved issues such as school construction and bonding. It is expected that the Governor will also issue his own call for a Special Session that will include tolls, transportation infrastructure enhancements and economic development.

Most importantly, the General Assembly passed a two-year, $43 billion budget that eliminates a projected $3.7 billion deficit with a combination of spending cuts and tax increases. The new revenues include extending the sales tax to parking, dry cleaning and other items; a one percent tax on prepared foods and a so-called “mansion tax” of one percent on sales of homes over $2.5 million.

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From Physician's Sense - Lifestyle Blog

If you think you can handle private practice, here are 10 things you’re going to need to worry about if you’re starting a practice of your own.

https://www.mdlinx.com/physiciansense/10-things-to-worry-about-when-starting-a-practice/

The latest legislative update from the CPMA Lobbyist and a clean copy of the podiatry provisions in HB5163 as enacted are available in the Members Only area. 

Visit here for the most recent news.

Looking for Early Career Advice?

Have you checked out the Young Physician Transition Series (YPTS) yet? Visit this APMA member-exclusive online tool today to get resources specific to each stage of your career. If you have suggestions for other topics to be covered in the YPTS, contact Tiffany Kildale, APMA career development manager.

On July 12, CMS released a proposed rule [CMS-1693-P] that, if finalized, would require podiatrists to use different E/M codes than all other Medicare physicians. Those podiatry-specific codes would reimburse at a significantly lower rate. 

Write to CMS to Oppose Unfair and Discriminatory Proposed Rule

Proposed Rule

In an attempt to reduce physician burden, CMS is proposing to reform documentation requirements for E/M services in the following manner:

1. First, CMS would consolidate reimbursement for office-based and outpatient E/M visit levels 2 through 5 (i.e., CPT codes 99202 through 99205 for new patients and CPT codes 99212 through 99215 for established patients) into a singular flat-rate payment for new patients and established patients, respectively, regardless of which code is billed. Documentation requirements would be the same as they currently are for level 2 codes (99202 or 99212, as applicable).
2. Second, while these payment changes would apply to all other Medicare physicians, CMS has singled out podiatric physicians with new separate “podiatric E/M codes” developed by CMS. These codes would require the same documentation and reimburse at a significantly lower rate, despite being the same evaluation and management services that your allopathic and osteopathic colleagues furnish.

APMA's Position

APMA strongly opposes these proposed changes and is urging CMS to continue allowing podiatrists to bill using the same E/M codes that all other providers use, at the same rates of reimbursement. Podiatrists are recognized as physicians under the Medicare statute, and the same billing standards should apply to the critical foot and ankle care podiatric physicians provide. To value the exact same service differently is discriminatory and punitive. 

Read APMA's Issue Brief for More Information

Take Action

APMA urges all members to log on to the APMA eAdvocacy website and write to CMS. If you have not previously used APMA's new eAdvocacy site, you must register using either your Facebook account or by manually entering the information requested. A sample letter is provided for you, and APMA encourages members to customize the letter and include personal experiences or examples. Don't delay—take action today. CMS will not accept comments after September 10! 

After you take action, ask your patients, office staff, family, and friends to write to CMS using the template letter drafted from the patient perspective!

APMA's comprehensive campaign to ensure this discriminatory proposal is not finalized includes:

• submitting its own comment letter to CMS;
• meeting with CMS directly;
• engaging congressional allies and external stakeholders; and
• facilitating submission of comment letters by component and affiliate societies.

Comments or questions about the proposed rule may be directed to the APMA Health Policy and Practice Department at healthpolicy.hpp@apma.org.