Cue the people who will cite “California’s cost of living” as a reason for the difference in offered salary. Starting salaries for nurse practitioners with no experience are at $120,000/year all day long. The same offers podiatry graduates are getting all day long. In short, less schooling, less debt, less time, wider specialty options, and equal (often higher) pay compared to podiatry. And people think it’s a mystery why no one is applying to podiatry school.

—Taylor Woodward, DPM

To add your own thoughts to this discussion, email [email protected].

A recent question on the universe’s most reliable source (Facebook) asked if their biller was correct in using the KX and GA modifier on the same claim. 

One rather interesting response advised the questioner to investigate what else their biller was doing wrong. Let’s look inside this question to determine the correct answer.

—Paul Kesselman, DPM

To read this entire post, click the button below. To submit a question or response, email [email protected].

I still think of gout as an older person's disease more often than I should, and a recent global analysis is a good reminder that this assumption is out of date. Researchers analyzing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study found that gout cases in people between 15 and 39 years old rose substantially between 1990 and 2021, with incidence in that age group climbing faster than in the population as a whole. High body mass index was identified as the leading driver, alongside broader shifts in diet and lifestyle.

Source: Dana Figura, DPM, Yahoo Creators

For the past decade, private equity’s physician practice strategy has followed a relatively consistent formula in which firms buy a platform practice, add regional practices, and sell within three to five years. 

In corporate practice of medicine states, that often means operating through management services organizations. Heading into 2027, the formula is under pressure from lawmakers and the market at the same time.

Source: Becker’s ASC Review

When Doug Richie, DPM, enrolled at the California School of Podiatric Medicine in 1976, his cohort was the first class after podiatry schools returned to a four-year program structure from three years. “Why did they eliminate the three-year program?” asks Dr. Richie, who now serves as a clinical associate professor at the school, which is part of Samuel Merritt University’s College of Podiatric Medicine. “It was simply that the students felt it was just too hard of a grind.”

But with the cost of a podiatry degree now averaging $300,000, and podiatric salaries lagging behind some other medical specialties, Dr. Richie thinks students may be open to returning to the earlier time frame. “I think today with the financial pressure they’re under, they wouldn’t mind the grind,” he says.

Kevin Wotring, DPM, a podiatrist with St. Luke's Podiatry in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, pushes back on the idea that foot pain is just an unavoidable part of getting older. On this Community Connection, Dr. Wotring walks through the most common conditions he treats, from plantar fasciitis and tendonitis to diabetic foot complications, explains when it's time to stop toughing it out and make an appointment, and shares why patients almost universally say they wish they had come in sooner.

Source: WFMZ.com

You’re now receiving the podiatry sector’s newest source of timely and reliable information about everything from medical breakthroughs to practice management strategies. Share PM Pulse with your colleagues, and let us know how we can keep improving by emailing:

Madelin Ramil, DPM, and Dean of Barry University shares her thoughts on APMA and our 2027 meeting in our nation’s capitol. Watch the full video at this link and get ready to lead the future of podiatry.

Source: David Schweibish, APMA

CMS has announced funding initiatives in Texas and Delaware targeted at chronic illnesses such as diabetes. These investments will support a variety of services and technologies, particularly in rural areas.

Source: CMS

PM Pulse wants to hear from you! Submit your questions, concerns, and opinions to [email protected] to share and receive feedback from your colleagues and peers about all aspects of the podiatry sector. All submissions must meet our standards for professionalism and decorum, and submissions may be edited for length and clarity. Still have questions? Send us an email.

Southern California Podiatrist Opportunity

Podiatry Management Solutions is seeking a motivated podiatrist to provide regional coverage across Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Inland Empire. Join a growing multi-site practice treating personal injury, workers' compensation, Medicare, and HMO patients, with opportunities for office-based procedures, surgery, and expansion into partner facilities. Applicants must hold or be eligible for a California license and be board certified or board eligible. Flexible W-2, PSA, 1099, per-diem, and productivity-based arrangements are available. Compensation varies by experience and structure.

Apply: [email protected]

Southern California Nurse Practitioner Opportunity

Podiatry Management Solutions is seeking a nurse practitioner to provide podiatry and wound care across Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, and the Inland Empire. Responsibilities include diabetic foot and wound care, routine podiatric services, follow-up visits, and pre- and postoperative care in clinics and partner facilities. Candidates need active California RN and NP licenses, national certification, a furnishing number, and DEA registration. Relevant clinical experience is preferred. Flexible W-2, PSA, 1099, per-diem,
and productivity arrangements are available. Compensation ranges from $130,000-$175,000 annually or $600-$850 per day, depending on experience and structure.

Apply: [email protected]

Full-Time Chair—Department of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery

The Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine is seeking a full-time chair for the Department of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery. The chair will lead faculty, drive academic excellence, and oversee clinical experiences in a collaborative environment. Generous benefits! ($120K–$140K)

Contact: [email protected] or apply at https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/employment/

For more information about submitting a classified ad, click the button below, or email [email protected].

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