March 14, 2022

APMA is pleased to announce victory on HR 2545, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to further clarify the role of doctors of podiatric medicine in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill was signed by the president today. This win is yet another example of APMA’s tireless effort to protect and defend podiatric medicine.

The bill was designed to address an oversight in the MISSION Act passed in 2018. That bill updated the pay authority for DPMs to be the same as that of their MD/DO colleagues but neglected to cover the position of Director of Podiatric Services. As a result, the director has not been included in pay updates. With the passage of this bill, the director’s title will be changed to Podiatric Medical Director, and the position will be placed in the same pay authority as other medical director positions at the VA Central Office. With the passage of this bill, the VA will fully treat all DPMs within the Veterans Health Administration as physicians.

APMA gratefully acknowledges the support of Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), who shepherded the bill through the Senate, as well as Rep. Brad Wenstrup, DPM (R-OH), and Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-IN) for their leadership in sponsoring the bill and ushering it through the House of Representatives.