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PMNews
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| PM News | |
The Voice of Podiatrists
Serving Over 21,108 Subscribers Daily
May 27, 2026 #8,278  Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD
A partner of Podiatry Management® https://podiatrym.com
E-mail us by hitting the reply key.
COPYRIGHT 2026- No part of PM News can be reproduced without the
written permission of Barry Block
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| PM NEWS QUICK POLL |
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How much time do you schedule for a new patient? |
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| PODIATRY MANAGEMENT FUTURE STARS | |
Nominations Open for 2027 PM Future Stars
In 2027, Podiatry Management Magazine will be publishing the continuing series highlighting young practitioners. We are asking readers to nominate potential candidates who are making a difference. PM invites you to send us the name of a young practitioner (graduated 2017 or later) and explain why s/he should be recognized. Simply write to bblock@podiatricnews.com
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| PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS - PART 1 | |
TX Podiatrist Provides Advice on Getting Feet Summer-Ready
As temperatures climb across North Texas, Greater Texas Foot & Ankle Specialist is seeing a familiar seasonal pattern: a steady rise in patients dealing with the foot conditions that flare up the moment sandals come out of the closet. Board-certified foot and ankle surgeon Dean Kim, DPM is reminding patients that the most common summer foot problems are highly treatable, and most no longer require surgery, anesthesia, or downtime.
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Dr. Dean Kim |
Dr. Kim also reminds patients that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and that melanoma of the foot – including the soles and beneath the toenails — is often missed because the area is rarely examined. Any new mole, dark streak under a nail, or non-healing sore on the foot is worth a quick evaluation.
Source: EIN Presswire [5/20/26]
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| PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS - PART 2 | |
MD Podiatrist Discusses At-Home Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Most people notice plantar fasciitis hurts in the morning. That’s because the band of tissue tightens as your foot relaxes during sleep. When you suddenly load it with your full body weight, it can feel like “a knife stabbing into your heel,” says Mikel Daniels, DPM. So don’t be so quick to hop out of bed if you’re having a flare-up. Here’s what to do instead.
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Dr. Mikel Daniels |
Stretch the plantar fascia. Sit up in bed, straighten your leg, and bend your achy foot toward you until you feel your calf gently stretch. Maintaining that stretch, “grab the toes and gently pull them back until you feel a stretch along the arch of your foot,” says Dr. Daniels. “Hold it for about 20 to 30 seconds. Repeat gently a few times.” You’ll loosen the band of tissue, and it should feel much better when you stand. Afterward, you can roll your foot on a frozen water bottle to soothe any inflammation, he adds. It’s a crucial at-home plantar fasciitis treatment.
Source: Allison Nemetz, Woman's World [5/22/26]
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| PRACTICE MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY | |
6 Ways to Cut Denials at Your Practice
Most claim denials are preventable. Master these six strategies to stop revenue leaks, speed up payments, and keep your staff focused on patient care.
4. Code with precision and keep current
Coding errors represent a major denial source, particularly as the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code set now exceeds 78,000 codes with 331 additions in 2023 alone. The best way to reduce coding denials is coding to the highest level of specificity, often to the fifth digit.
Common coding mistakes include:
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Using outdated codes from old codebooks.
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Duplicate billing when claims are accidentally resubmitted.
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Unbundling services that should be reported together.
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Missing modifier requirements, especially Modifier -25.
Practices should ensure their chargemaster contains Current Procedural Terminology, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, and ICD-10 codes.
Source: Keith A. Reynolds, Physicians Practice [2/26/26]
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| FINANCIAL TIP OF THE DAY | |
6 Retirement Must-Knows for 2026
Higher retirement plan contribution limits, changes to Social Security benefits, a new senior deduction, and more.
5. Social Security payouts are getting an inflation adjustment this year of 2.8%.
If you’re someone who is delaying Social Security, or you’re not yet taking Social Security, the good news is that your eventual payout that you’ll receive will also receive these inflation adjustments that happen along the way. So if you’re someone who is looking to delay Social Security because you want to enlarge your eventual benefit, but you see these really nice inflation adjustments coming through, never fear, you are partaking of them, even if you’re not currently getting payments from Social Security.
Source: Christine Benz and Margaret Giles, Morningstar
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| SOLE PURPOSE BY SAVANNAH SANTIAGO, DPM | |
Stress Fractures
Here are some valuable tips that have aided Savannah Santiago, DPM in navigating her experiences as a student and a resident:
1. Look at the red flags
Stress fractures are not something that should “just happen”—even though many of us were told exactly that in high school and college running. More often than not, they’re a signal that something bigger is going on. BMI can be helpful, but it’s far from the full picture. One of the most important questions to ask is whether a female athlete is having regular menstrual cycles. If she isn’t, that’s a red flag for low energy availability — whether from overtraining, underfueling, or both. It needs to be said clearly: it is not normal to lose your period. It’s not a badge of honor, and it’s not safe.
It’s also important to ask about prior injury history. A previous stress fracture increases the risk of another by up to five times. And zooming out, female athletes already carry a higher baseline risk—about 3.5 times greater than their male counterparts. These aren’t small details; they’re critical pieces of the story that should guide how seriously we evaluate and intervene.
Source: This series is adapted from and courtesy of PRESENT eLearning Systems.
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| CODING & BILLING Q&As FROM CODINGHELPLINE.COM | |
Query: Denials from CareFirst MA for At-Risk Foot Care (CPT 11055-7)?
CareFirst Medicare Advantage has always paid for this in the past. Our primary Dx was a systemic code but we were using L84 as a 2nd code and sometimes B35.1 as the 3rd code. The EOB states service is not covered under the patient's current benefit plan. I thought they must follow CMS guidelines? Has something changed?
Codinghelpline com Subscriber
Response from Codinghelpline.com: We are hearing this from many providers across the country and your region of Maryland. You should not be using the L84 diagnosis code as you are in the Medicare region of Maryland where Novitas (the MAC) has a specific billing policy. As the BCBS Medicare advantage plan, they should follow the local Medicare carrier policy as it does exist. Only the systemic code should be used.
When you appeal, provide the Novitas policy showing how its covered, reference each page that has coding information that you use that is covered as to what you are using and how your chart reflects this covered information. The key with your appeal to get them to pay usually depends on using right diagnosis code and proper documentation.
David Freedman, DPM, Silver Spring, MD
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| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND AI) | |
RE: When Will AI Replace Podiatrists?
From: Dieter Fellner, DPM
Out of curiosity (and perhaps mild professional self-preservation), I recently asked ChatGPT how long it thought it would be before AI and robotics replace podiatrists and surgeons. The response was interesting. AI will likely become extraordinarily powerful in diagnostics, pattern recognition, documentation, workflow optimization, and decision support over the next 10–20 years. No great surprise there.
But when it comes to hands-on procedural medicine? The estimate became much longer. AI pointed out something that is often overlooked by Silicon Valley enthusiasts: medicine is not merely information processing. Even the mundane task of trimming toenails is, in reality, an extraordinarily complex physical interaction. What appears to the casual observer as, “clip nail” actually involves continuous subconscious processing of...
Editor's note: Dr. Fellner's extended-length letter appears here.
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| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (HEALTHCARE NEWS) | |
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
For many years, we have employed the use of dermatoscopes in our practice, and yes it can make a life or death difference for patients. Several years ago, a patient came into my office for care of mycotic toe nails. He asked me to look at a black lesion on his belly. I was quick to let him know that it is totally out of scope for me. He replied that he just came from his dermatologist who looked at it with his naked eyes and said it was nothing. After prodding, I looked at the lesion with my dermatoscope and noted that it had asymmetric borders and different colors, and, as some experts would say, "It was an ugly lesion." I sent him back to his dermatologist immediately with my findings. Three months later, the patient returned to my office and gave me a big hug. The dermatologist did a biopsy and it was indeed a melanoma. The dermatologist told him that his podiatrist saved his life.
To buy a dermatoscope, do a search on Amazon and you will find dermatoscopes ranging from low to high prices. To learn the cardinal signs of how to determine if a lesion is a melanoma or a non-malignant nevus, I highly recommend attending lectures on the topic given by Dr. Steve McClain from McClain labs, and/or read some of the literature on the Internet. You can also attend seminars given by Ashvin Margoob, MD, a world authority on dermatoscopy. The Academy of Continuing Podiatric Medical Education often has Dr. Margoob and Dr. McClain lecture, online, on this very topic.
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY
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| YOU CAN'T MAKE THESE THINGS UP | |
RE: Outrageous Shoe of the Day
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What a harpist wears? |
Source: Breno Cintra Pugliesi via Virtual Shoe Museum
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MEETINGS & WEBINARS
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NEED CME CREDITS FAST?
PODIATRY MANAGEMENT'S AFFORDABLE ONLINE CME
You can earn over 43 Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) Online
Earn 15 CECH only $299 (NOTE: TOKENS EXPIRE 12/31/2027)
podiatrym.com/cme.cfm
All required credits can be taken online for AL, AK, AR, CA, CO, DE, HI, IN, KS, LA, MA, ME, MI, MS, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, UT, VA, VT, WV, and WI
Partial required credits can be taken online for AZ, FL, GA, ID, KY, IL, ID, IA, MD, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NY, NC, OK, PR, TN, TX, WA, and DC
Choose any or ALL from 25+ CECH Category-1 articles posted
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| CLASSIFIED ADS - ASSOCIATE AND FACULTY POSITIONS, AND FELLOWSHIPS |
PM NEWS CLASSIFIED ADS REACH OVER 20,000 DPMs AND STUDENTS
Whether you have used equipment to sell or are offering an associate position, PM News classified ads are the fastest, most-effective way of reaching over 20,000 subscribers. For details, click here or write to: bblock@podiatricnews.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details.
WOUND CARE FELLOWSHIP – NEW YORK
CPME APPROVED 12 month fellowship, located at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Queens, New York. Hospital and clinic environment, with onsite hyperbaric medicine. The wound care fellowship position pays a 6 figure salary for the year, with benefits. Please contact or jtfootcare@gmail.com. EOE employer.
ASSOCIATE POSITION - SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Seeking full time associate podiatrist San Francisco Bay Area. East Bay location with 2 offices. Established, multi-office practice seeks full-time DPM to join a growing practice. Seeking highly motivated doctor with excellent patient skills. Must be board qualified / certified. Practice has a strong mix of office based minimally invasive surgery, surgery center, hospital. Competitive base salary + percentage, with large upside potential. 401k + benefits. Partnership track potential. Beautiful Bay Area locations. New grads welcome. Email CV to office@bayareapod.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – GOODYEAR, AZ (PHOENIX METRO)
Busy, modern podiatry practice seeking associate to join our growing team. Goodyear offers 350+ days of sunshine and excellent quality of life for families. Strong clinical volume with multiple ancillaries: EPAT/shockwave, MLS laser, DPMX, UltraMIST wound therapy, SWIFT, vascular/neuro testing, and on-site OR. Traditional MIS-trained surgeon strongly preferred. Interest in regenerative medicine a plus. Partnership opportunity available. Owner plans on retiring in 4-5 years. Email CV to: azpodiatrist@gmail.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – CALIFORNIA
Largest group in the Central Valley is seeking associate in Visalia/Hanford. Must be highly motivated with good patient skills and personality. Must be board qualified or certified salary excellent with all paid benefits/incentives including malpractice/401k and profit sharing, and will help with student loan repayment. Compassionate and well-trained for immediate position. Office based, Surgery Center and hospital-based with no rest homes. Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred. Offering a permanent position in a multi-million dollar hi-tech practice. Please e-mail CV and short bio to acampos@wetreatyourfeet.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – HUDSON VALLEY, NY
Busy podiatry office seeking full or part-time surgically-trained podiatrist. Office and wound care-based practice with hospital in and outpatient settings and surgery center affiliation. Located in the Hudson Valley, 50 minutes north of NYC near major highways. Competitive salary depending on experience. Please forward resume to Office@cappapodiatry.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - ORANGE COUNTY, CA
Seeking associate position as part of a multi-location practice providing care in Orange County, CA. Must be motivated, honest and hard working. The practice is well rounded with all aspects of foot and ankle care. Base salary with bonus structure. Send CV to rjspencer11@gmail.com
OPPORTUNITY FOR SURGEONS – ILLINOIS
Join an established, highly successful ambulatory surgery center specializing in podiatry procedures with available OR block time in Illinois. Credentialed physicians have the unique opportunity to grow their practice in a proven, efficient surgical environment — with the potential to become a part-owner. Benefit from an efficient, patient-focused setting designed for clinical excellence, operational efficiency, and physician partnership. If interested, please contact me at jkazygarey@algonquinsurgerycenter.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - LAS VEGAS, NV
Full-time Podiatrist position with well-established practice in Las Vegas. Any experience level is welcome. Guaranteed $150k with benefits and a bonus structure. No mandatory call required. Text (847) 830-7378. E-mail CV to: citadeljones@gmail.com
PT AND FT MOBILE POSITIONS - ORLANDO, TAMPA, FT. MYERS, JACKSONVILLE, PANHANDLE
Responsible DPM/NP/PA team players. Home visits, ILF/ALF/Rehab. Paid travel. No call. No ER. Half days or 9-5. Weekends optional. Autonomy. Potential commission up to $230K+/yr based on availability and performance. Serious FL licensed applicants email contact@PodiatristAtHome.com
PODIATRY ASSOCIATE – ALBUQUERQUE, NM
Foot & Ankle Specialists of New Mexico has an exciting, immediate full-time position open for a board qualified or board-certified foot and ankle surgeon. You can view our website at footanklenm.com. Spanish speaking and Fellowship are a plus but not a requirement. Billing/coding experience is preferred. Compensation is a competitive salary plus a percentage bonus structure to start. 10k sign-on bonus for provider that starts before by September 1, 2026. Please email CV and cover letter to ACharlie@footanklenm.com
ASSOCIATE POSITIONS - FL, WA, TEXAS, VIRGINIA, NEW JERSEY, WASHINGTON DC, NORTH CAROLNA
Podiatry positions available for immediate hire in Nursing Facilities in Tampa Florida, Spokane Washington, Central and Northwestern Virginia, Houston and South of Austin Texas, New Jersey, and Washington DC. Send CV and Cover letter to office@easternpodiatrypllc.com
PODIATRIST (NON-SURGICAL) | FLEXIBLE · REMOTE + FIELD VISITS · FULL TIME OR PART TIME
POD Health is seeking an entrepreneurial Podiatrist for a flexible hybrid role (home visits, clinic, events, telehealth). Choose full-time or part-time (2–3 days/week) with a schedule tailored to you. Join a fast-growing organization entering a new market, deliver exceptional patient-centered care, and shape an innovative service line. Learn more and apply now: https://podhealth.bamboohr.com/careers/430
ASSOCIATE POSITION – PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS
Well established and busy practice seeking full-time associate physician for multiple office locations in the Philadelphia suburbs (Mainline, Chester, Delaware County). Seeking a hard-working podiatrist with a collaborative and comprehensive approach to patient care. Must be comfortable in all aspects of foot and ankle care from routine care to forefoot, rearfoot, and ankle surgery. Board Qualified/Certified preferred. Competitive salary, production bonuses, and benefits included. Please email CV to Randi Williams: randi@hmfaa.com
IMMEDIATE ASSOCIATE POSITION - FOOT HILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA
Position is available for a provider who currently holds or is in the process of acquiring an NC license. Our practice covers forefoot, rearfoot, ankle, and wound care. Hospital privileges at two local hospitals and an ambulatory center, as well as access to an in-office OR. We offer a competitive package including: Salary with a bonus structure - Malpractice and health insurance - 401K - Paid holidays and vacation. Enjoy small-town living conveniently located just 40 miles from Charlotte, NC. If you are interested, please contact me at mauney.jeff@gmail.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – TEXAS
Amazing opportunity for the right individual! Seeking an energetic, self-motivated, and personable Physician who is a team player. Three Houston-area locations with diverse patient base and professional and extremely well equipped atmosphere. Exceptional bedside manner with kindness and professional drive required. Competitive salary. Immediate availability! office@louettafootandankle.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION PART TIME – FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY
Well established busy group practice seeking a part-time associate 2-3 days a week, with full-time potential, in Freehold, NJ. Applicant must have a current NJ License, Board Certified/Qualified, and at least 1 year experience as a rendering provider. Please send letter of interest and CV to cherylm@njpodiatrygroup.com
ASSOCIATE POSITIONS – AL, AZ, CO, GA, IA, KS, MO, NE, OK & TN
Aria Care Partners is seeking Mobile Podiatrists to work 1-2 days/week in skilled nursing facilities. You will have autonomy and focus on clinical care while we take care of all scheduling and billing. Guaranteed daily base rate plus competitive compensation. Electronic charting and all equipment provided. Make a true difference in an under-served population. New graduates or experienced practitioners are welcome! Email CV to: kcampbell@aria.care
FULL-TIME PODIATRIST - NORTH SCOTTSDALE/SUN CITY, ARIZONA
An established podiatry practice in the North Scottsdale and Sun City area is seeking a full-time, motivated, and compassionate podiatrist to join our team. Great prospect for experienced Doctors as well as new Associates. To apply, please submit your CV to: manager@arcadiafootandankle.com
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| CLASSIFIED ADS - PRACTICES FOR SALE OR WANTED, EQUIPMENT FOR SALE | |
PM NEWS CLASSIFIED ADS REACH OVER 20,000 DPMs AND STUDENTS
Whether you have used equipment to sell or are offering an associate position, PM News classified ads are the fastest, most-effective way of reaching over 20,000 subscribers. For details, click here or write to: bblock@podiatricnews.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details.
PRACTICE FOR SALE - BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Busy, modern and successful. 80 new patients/ month and totaling 6500K visits/year. 2150 ft2. Established 1985. Near hospitals, surgery and wound care center. Digital x-ray, certified EHR, laser. DMEs, in-house billing. Accepting all insurances. Great opportunity and growth potential. Owner is willing to stay as long as necessary. Contact drwaw54@aol.com
PRACTICE FOR SALE - KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
Thriving practice located on hospital campus with strong referrals and loyal patient base. Fully equipped and turnkey set-up. Priced to sell - below appraisal! Open Monday to Thursday but plenty of patients for five-day work week. Kansas City has a low cost of living. We have a bank contact and realtor available to help. Great for a podiatrist wanting to own your own practice or wanting to expand. Contact mcrosby518@gmail.com
PRACTICE FOR SALE - OKLAHOMA CITY
Oklahoma City Long standing practice in OKC for sale. Opportunity to have a strong practice from day 1. Office strategically located to referral sources and facilities. Ability to purchase real estate. Contact: MCrosby518@gmail.com
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
A power MTI 526 Podiatry Chair, Ritter Midmark 204 Treatment table - drawers, reclines flat, plug in to outlet. Ritter by Midmark M9 UltraClave: Steam autoclave. Will help facilitate shipping from FL. All in EXCELLENT condition. Phuxctf@gmail.com or text 646-267-1075.
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| Disclaimers |
Acceptance and publication by this newsletter of an advertisement, news story, or letter does not imply endorsement or approval by Barry Block or Kane Communications of the company, product, content or ideas expressed in this newsletter. Podiatric Medical News does not represent the views, and is a separate entity from Podiatry Management® Magazine and Podiatry Management® Online. Any information pertaining to legal matters should not be considered to be legal advice, which can only be obtained via individual consultation with an attorney. Information about Medicare billing should be confirmed with your State CAC.
THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR
ENTITY TO WHICH IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS
PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE.
If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an
employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the
intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please
immediately notify me and you are hereby instructed to delete all
electronic copies and destroy all printed copies.
DISCLAIMER: Internet communications cannot be guaranteed to be
either timely or free of viruses.
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