House Appropriations Committee Moves Forward With Key Podiatry Priorities

On June 9, members of the House Appropriations Committee unanimously supported an amendment in the FY 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill that would block funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) WISeR Model. The 2026 program piloted prior authorization requirements for Medicare Fee-For-Service in Arizona, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, New Jersey, and Washington. The House amendment also requested CMS to provide an update in the FY 2028 funding justification relating to the program's selected states and patient impacts. The bill now heads to the House floor for a vote.

APMA has long advocated against the expansion of prior authorization requirements. In 2025, APMA endorsed HR 5940/S 3480, the Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act of 2025, which would repeal the WISeR Model.

The FY 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill also included important report language on peripheral artery disease (PAD) education, screening, and amputation prevention. The language directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other relevant agencies to explore appropriate screening for high-risk populations.

APMA has long advocated for strengthening early access to PAD-related services that preserve limbs and lives. In March, APMA submitted written testimony to the Senate Committee on Appropriations requesting the inclusion of Fiscal Year 2027 report language that would require various agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) education program.

To help strengthen APMA's PAD-related advocacy efforts, head to the eAdvocacy Center to urge your lawmaker to support HR 307, the ARC Act of 2025, which would reduce PAD screening test cost sharing for at-risk patients in Medicare and Medicaid.