APMA Urges Congress to Pass Bipartisan Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act

Landmark legislation would help improve health outcomes for many of the nearly 1 in 3 Medicare patients and 1 in 7 Medicaid patients living with Diabetes

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 19, 2026- The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), the nation's leading professional society for foot and ankle physicians and surgeons, has announced its strong support for the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced in the House on March 13 and in the Senate on March 17.

APMA appreciates the leadership of the lead bill sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives-Reps. John Joyce, MD (R-PA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Mike Rulli (R-OH), Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA), Mike Kennedy, MD (R-UT), and Darren Soto (D-FL)-and Senate- Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

"The Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act removes outdated administrative burdens and other barriers that prevent patients with diabetes from receiving timely foot care," said Patrick DeHeer, DPM, APMA President.

"By modernizing the Medicare therapeutic shoe benefit and removing restrictions that limit Medicaid patients' access to podiatrists, this legislation enables all physicians caring for patients with diabetes to treat patients more promptly and help prevent serious lower extremity complications," Dr. DeHeer said.

On March 17, the APMA Legislative Conference brought over 100 podiatrists from across the country to Capitol Hill to advocate for their profession and the patients they serve, particularly those impacted by burdensome and outdated Medicare and Medicaid policies. The Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act featured prominently in more than 200 meetings with congressional offices, 25 of which were at the member level. Earlier in the week, APMA presented its new Distinguished Legislator Award to Rep. Joyce for his championing of physician-patient relationships, and to Rep. DeGette for her tireless commitment to fighting for patients with diabetes.

The Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act:

• Cuts red tape by replacing a cumbersome paper documentation process for certifying medical necessity of diabetic shoes in Medicare with a simplified, attestation-based framework;
• Strengthens self-referral safeguards related to prescribing, fitting, and furnishing diabetic shoes; and
• Recognizes doctors of podiatric medicine as "covered physicians" under the Medicaid program, aligning Medicaid's physician designation with Medicare and ensuring Medicaid beneficiaries access to podiatrists across the country.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is the nation's leading professional organization for today's podiatrists. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) are qualified by their education, training, and experience to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and structures of the leg. APMA has 53 component locations across the United States and its territories, with a membership of more than 12,500 podiatrists. All practicing APMA members are licensed by the state in which they practice podiatric medicine. For more information, visit www.apma.org.