Sharon Diaz will step down as president and chief executive officer of Samuel Merritt University (SMU) in Oakland, CA, by January 2019. In 2002, Diaz was instrumental in bringing about the merger of SMU and the California College of Podiatric Medicine, now called the California School of Podiatric Medicine. Diaz was the first president of SMU and has been a leader in education for 45 years.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law April 4, 2018 the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (House File 2425). The compact is an agreement between member states to improve access to physical therapy services by increasing the ability of physical therapists to work in multiple states.

The American Podiatric Medicine Association (APMA) registry is accepting 2018 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting data from MIPS eligible practitioners. The 2018 performance period score will impact 2020 Medicare payments, with a positive, neutral, or negative payment adjustment.

A New York State Podiatric Medical Association (NYSPMA) survey, initiated in late 2017, has found that expanding podiatry’s role in health care may lead to reduced hospitalizations, long-term health care costs, and opioid prescription in 4 target groups: diabetes, obesity, substance abuse/back pain, and fall prevention. Improvement in health care in these conditions aligns with New York’s Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment program health goals.

A study recently published in the April issue of Journal of General Internal Medicine has found that primary care physician referrals to physical therapists for musculoskeletal conditions declined by nearly half over a 12-year period, while referrals to specialists during that time increased by a similar rate.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) posted on May 18 the official packet of motions to be considered by the 2018 House of Delegates when it meets June 25-27 in Orlando, FL. Packet I with Background Papers contains 57 motions includes 4 bylaws amendments that are coming before the 2018 House of Delegates. Contact APTA’s Cheryl Robinson with any questions.

The Foundation for Physical Therapy is accepting applications for the 2018 Florence P. Kendall Doctoral Scholarships and the 2018 Research Grants. The Kendall Post-Professional Doctoral Scholarships assist physical therapists and physical therapist assistants with outstanding potential who are in their first year of post professional doctoral degree studies.

An initial Target, Probe, and Educate (TPE) audit for Jurisdiction D conducted by Noridian Healthcare Solutions has found an improper claim payment rate of 19% for 4 HCPCS codes: L4360, L4361, L4386, and L4387. The codes relate to walking boot style orthoses.

In the spring, physical therapy and podiatric medicine students from Des Moines University in Iowa partner with patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD) for weekly evenings of dancing, singing, and other forms of mild exercise.

Magali “Maggie” Fournier, DPM, a sports medicine podiatrist in LaCrosse, WI, has been elected president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine (AAPSM). Originally from Quebec, Dr Fournier moved to the United States to study at New York College of Podiatric Medicine. She graduated in 2001. Also elected were Clint Laird, DPM, Port Charlotte, FL, as vice president; Howard Osterman, DPM, Washington, DC, as secretary-treasurer.

Michael Dillon, PhD, of La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, has completed his project, “Evaluating outcomes of dysvascular partial foot and transtibial amputation: a systematic review for the development of shared decision making resources.” The review was funded by the American Orthotic Prosthetic Association.