Diabetic Shoes Update
Following sustained advocacy CMS confirmed that co-signed notes are not required for coverage of diabetic shoes/inserts when other specific documentation standards are met. APMA also requested that CMS publicize this confirmation, which it did with a newly published article.
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Big Advocacy Wins for Kentucky and Maryland!
APMA is pleased to share two recent state advocacy victories that reflect the impact of both direct APMA financial assistance and broader advocacy and grassroots engagement. Kentucky became the 13th state and US territory to adopt DPM authority to supervise physician assistants. Maryland became the first state to adopt the Interstate Podiatric Medical Licensure Compact!
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Reform Medicare and Medicaid Policies
APMA submitted a letter responding to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for a hearing on "Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the U.S. Provider Landscape." The letter highlighted opportunities to reduce regulatory burden, reform physician payment, and improve access to Medicare and Medicaid services by podiatrists.
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New Resource: Diabetes Foot Health Act Web Page
Congressional champions recently introduced the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act, which would modernize outdated Medicare documentation requirements that cause significant delays in care for therapeutic shoes and establish Medicaid coverage parity for podiatrists. To help support the advancement of this priority legislation and facilitate member advocacy, APMA created a new web page where all resources and updates will be published.
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Support for New Legislation
APMA sent letters of support to congressional champions for two important pieces of legislation that would strengthen patient access to foot and ankle care: the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act and the Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act.
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Medicare Physician Payment Reform
Representatives Greg Murphy, MD, (R-NC) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) introduced HR 8163, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, which provides the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with more flexibility to adjust physician payment while capping the volatility of year-to-year rate change
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New Diabetes Modernization Bill
April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, and the best way to advance foot care awareness is to urge your member of Congress to cosponsor the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act. This bipartisan legislation would modernize outdated Medicare documentation requirements that cause significant delays in care for therapeutic shoes and establish Medicaid coverage parity for podiatrists.
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Tennessee Scope Modernization
APMA would like to congratulate the Tennessee Podiatric Medical Association (TPMA) on a major legislative victory after its scope of practice modernization bill passed both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support.
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APMA-Aetna Quarterly Meeting
APMA advocacy staff met with Aetna leadership to discuss prior authorization, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools in coverage and payment decisions, and ongoing questions related to skin substitute coverage and review processes.
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NGS Changes Name to Wellpoint Federal
National Government Services (NGS) is one of the seven Part B Medicare Administrative Contractors in the US. NGS will begin operating under a new name on April 1: Wellpoint Federal. Wellpoint reported that this change should have no impact on claims processing or the timing of payments.
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2026 Legislative Conference
During APMA's Legislative Conference, more than 100 podiatrists met with elected officials and congressional staff to address critical issues facing the profession, especially the burden of outdated Medicare and Medicaid policies. The recently introduced Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act took center stage, driving conversations in more than 200 meetings with congressional offices, including 25 directly with members of Congress.
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