March 16, 2021

In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, APMA urged the president and his administration to take several significant regulatory and administrative actions to lessen paperwork burdens, promote ready access to foot and ankle care, and reduce long-standing health disparities.

APMA recommendations fell into three priority areas:

• Prevent and treat complications from diabetes including reducing burdens related to the furnishing care under the Medicare Therapeutic Shoes Program for Persons with Diabetes, and piloting a demonstration to test coverage and payment for a comprehensive diabetic lower extremity evaluation/examination
• Provide funding to physician practices for expenses related to COVID-19 and reimburse physicians for personal protective equipment and other office expenses incurred as a result of the public health emergency
• Ensure patient access to medically necessary DMEPOS by directing CMS to implement important policy and operational challenges related to the Medicare “same or similar” policy for replacement DMEPOS items.

APMA also reminded the administration that doctors of podiatric medicine are physicians and surgeons and are the nation’s premier foot and ankle providers.