APMA has the resources you need to help you through every step of your career. With detailed information about MIPS and recent coding trends along with compliance guidelines and practice marketing materials, APMA has you covered whether you are just getting started in practice, preparing for retirement, or anywhere in between.
Today's podiatrist has the necessary education and training to treat all conditions of the foot and ankle and plays a key role in keeping America healthy and mobile while helping combat diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Your feet are excellent barometers for your overall health. Healthy feet keep you moving and active. They are quite literally your foundation. In this section, learn more about APMA Seal-approved and accepted products, proper foot care, common foot and ankle conditions, and how your podiatrist can help keep you and your feet healthy.
APMA is the only organization lobbying for podiatrists and their patients on Capitol Hill. As the voice of podiatric medicine to your legislators and regulators, APMA is active on a variety of critical issues affecting podiatry and the entire health-care system.
This interim final rule with comment period revises the requirements that most Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. CMS states that changes are necessary to help protect the health and safety of residents, clients, patients, PACE participants, and staff, and reflect lessons learned to date as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The revisions to the requirements establish COVID-19 vaccination requirements for staff at the included Medicare- and Medicaid- certified providers and suppliers.
Q: To which provider and supplier types does this apply? A: The staff vaccination requirement applies to the following Medicare and Medicaid-certified provider and supplier types: Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Community Mental Health Centers, Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Critical Access Hospitals, End-Stage Renal 2 Disease Facilities, Home Health Agencies, Home Infusion Therapy Suppliers, Hospices, Hospitals, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Clinics, Rehabilitation Agencies, and Public Health Agencies as Providers of Outpatient Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Organizations (PACE), Rural Health Clinics/Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Long-Term Care facilities.
Q: Would a physician with admitting privileges in a hospital be covered under this requirement? A: Yes, a physician admitting and/or treating patients in-person within a facility subject to the CMS health and safety regulations and included as a part of this requirement must be vaccinated so that the facility is compliant.
Q: Is a physician who acts as a physician DME supplier in their private practice considered a covered facility (and therefore all staff as well) under this requirement? A: No. But these employees may still be covered under OSHA's Healthcare Emergency Technical Standards issued in June 2021.
Q: Are there any exemptions for this mandate? A: CMS requires facilities to allow for exemptions to staff with recognized medical conditions for which vaccines are contraindicated (as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA]) or religious beliefs, observances, or practices (established under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964). Providers and suppliers should establish exceptions as a part of its policies and procedures and in alignment with Federal law. CMS believes that exemptions could be appropriate in certain limited circumstances, but no exemption should be provided to any staff for whom it is not legally required (under the ADA or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) or who requests an exemption solely to evade vaccination.
Masks
Members have asked APMA about mask requirements and face coverings in podiatric offices in light of recent (May 16, 2021; updated September 16, 2021) CDC guidance for those fully vaccinated. APMA recommends that podiatric offices comply with state or local jurisdiction rules regarding face-covering requirements as they apply to businesses and health-care settings.
You should encourage your unvaccinated patients to follow recommendations on How to Protect Yourself and Others. APMA also recommends that podiatric physicians encourage eligible patients to get vaccinatedand receive booster shots, as appropriate.
APMA is not providing legal advice and encourages members to speak with a duly licensed attorney in their jurisdiction.
Advocacy and Policy Positions
To support members and podiatric offices, APMA has engaged state and federal policymakers on the administration of vaccinations and following are recent examples of successful efforts:
APMA also requested that residency directors advocate for podiatric medical students rotating in clinical experiences to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
APMA’s House of Delegates has adopted the following policy propositions regarding vaccinations:
APMA encourages doctors of podiatric medicine to be routinely immunized, especially when safe and effective vaccines are available, and especially for diseases that have potential to become epidemic or pandemic (e.g., influenza or SARS-CoV-2). Vaccines are essential for protecting individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks. Vaccine-preventable diseases can be a threat to our health and vaccines can provide population-wide protection against disease. Notwithstanding, APMA recognizes and respects that some doctors of podiatric medicine may be unable to take certain vaccinations for medical reasons or because of firmly held religious beliefs, and APMA encourages such individuals to take appropriate precautions in effort to avoid spreading communicable diseases.
APMA supports including podiatric physicians, and podiatric residents, and podiatric medical students in the pool of professionals who can administer vaccines, especially when called upon in times of need for a disease that has potential to become epidemic or pandemic (i.e., influenza or SARS-CoV-2). Podiatric physicians and surgeons undergo education and training like their allopathic and osteopathic physician colleagues and possess more than enough experience to administer vaccines. Doctors of podiatric medicine are licensed, independent practitioners, and as such, APMA urges federal, state, and local governments to authorize podiatric physicians and podiatric residents to administer vaccines without any supervision requirements.
General Vaccine Information
APMA's regulatory consultant, Hart Health Strategies Inc., has prepared a COVID resource document on the topic of COVID vaccines.
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has a COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Center, which features a collection of resources on COVID-19 vaccines, including frequently asked questions, continuing medical education, published research, and commentary.
Vaccine Administration
CMS provides information related to COVID-19 vaccine administration to ensure the vaccine is covered and available free of charge for every American. CMS also has a tool kit regarding vaccine administration specifically for health-care providers.
Clinical resources from the CDC are available for administration, storage and handling, patient education, and more for COVID-19 vaccine.
Administer the vaccine with no out-of-pocket cost to your patients for the vaccine or administration of the vaccine
Vaccinate everyone, including the uninsured, regardless of coverage or network status
You also can't:
Balance bill for COVID-19 vaccinations
Charge your patients for an office visit or other fee if COVID-19 vaccination is the only medical service given
Require additional medical or other services during the visit as a condition for getting a COVID-19 vaccination
FAQ
Q: Can podiatrists prescribe and/or administer vaccines for COVID-19?
On March 11, HHS made an amendment to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act Declaration to allow more qualified professionals to prescribe, dispense, and administer COVID-19 vaccinations, including podiatrists, recently retired podiatrists, and podiatric medical students. HHS has determined that the PREP Act clearly preempts state law. Therefore, regardless of scope of practice restrictions, DPMs, retired DPMs, and students may serve as vaccinators so long as they meet certain conditions.Ultimately, states and territories may choose which qualified persons to use for vaccinations in their jurisdiction. Read more: Biden Administration Authorizes DPMs, Students to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine.
Several states have already authorized podiatrists to administer vaccines, and as of April 1, 2021, APMA is aware of nine states that have taken action:
State requirements that do not effectively prohibit qualified persons, such as additional training, are not preempted by the PREP Act. You will need to contact the state department of health for more information or to ask questions.
APMAencouragesmembers to contact their state health department or licensing board for more information.
Q: Can podiatrists require their office staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccination?
Generally, you can require your employees to get vaccinated if by not getting the vaccine they pose a direct threat to customers or other employees. In the context of a physician's office, it is probably easy to demonstrate that employees would pose a direct threat to patients if the employee was not vaccinated.
Search
Login
Contact Us 
