American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Hosts Congressional Briefing in Support of the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act
WASHINGTON – The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), which represents the more than 15,000 licensed podiatrists, also known as doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs) or podiatric physicians and surgeons, in the United States, hosted a congressional briefing on April 23 titled, Early Intervention Saves Limbs: The Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act.
The event brought together legislative, physician, and patient perspectives to discuss the clinical importance of timely access to diabetic shoes and the current barriers to prescribing and furnishing them for Medicare patients with diabetes. It also served as an important opportunity to educate congressional staff on the need to advance H.R. 7905/S. 4070, the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act (Diabetes Foot Bill). Representative Darren Soto (D-FL), House Co-Lead of the Diabetes Foot Bill, provided opening remarks centering on the importance of passing the bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve timely access to diabetic care that prevents complications like infection and amputation.
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Speakers Underscore Importance of Diabetic Footwear and Need for Reform:
Moderated by APMA President, Dr. Patrick DeHeer, the diverse group of speakers discussed the urgent need to reform documentation requirements in the Medicare diabetic shoe benefit to lessen regulatory burden, improve patient outcomes, and reduce federal healthcare spending.
David Steury, Health Policy Director, Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO): David Steury spoke on behalf of House Co-Lead Representative DeGette’s longstanding commitment to advance crucial reforms to the diabetic shoe Medicare benefit. A champion for podiatric medicine, she has introduced every past iteration of the Diabetes Foot Bill.
Dyane Tower, DPM, Vice President, Clinical Affairs & Medical Director, APMA: As a board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Tower highlighted how timely access to diabetic shoes through Medicare is critical in preventing foot ulcers, infections, and lower-extremity amputations among patients with diabetes. She explained how delays or barriers in delivery can lead to worsened clinical outcomes, increased hospitalizations, and significantly higher long-term healthcare costs.
Priya Parthasarathy, DPM, President, Maryland Podiatric Medical Association: As a practicing podiatrist, Dr. Parthasarathy explained how the burdensome documentation requirements for diabetic shoes in Medicare led her practice to stop furnishing diabetic shoes altogether. She highlighted the administrative barriers that create significant challenges for podiatrists and their patients accessing diabetic shoes. Her personal testimony emphasized the crucial need to reform the Medicare diabetic shoe benefit and strengthen timely access to care for diabetic patients.
Ed Hickey, JD, President, American Association of Kidney Patients: As a representative of the broader kidney disease community, Ed Hickey explained the vital role of diabetic shoes in protecting patients with both diabetes and kidney disease, who often face heightened risks of poor circulation, neuropathy, and foot complications. He emphasized that timely access to properly fitted diabetic footwear can help prevent ulcers, infections, and avoidable hospitalizations in this particularly vulnerable patient population that he represents at the American Association of Kidney Patients.
Chad Appel, JD Vice President, Advocacy, APMA: Chad Appel explained how the targeted reforms in the Diabetes Foot Bill improve patient outcomes, cost-savings, and regulatory relief. His testimony underscored the call to action for attending congressional staff to have their bosses cosponsor the legislation.
The Urgent Need to Pass the Diabetes Foot Bill
With over 40 million Americans living with diabetes and 1.5 million new cases diagnosed each year, timely access to diabetic shoes prescribed by podiatrists is critical for improving health outcomes, health spending, and overall patient mobility. Patients with diabetes, particularly at-risk Medicare beneficiaries, face increased foot complications such as ulcers, diabetic neuropathy, and vascular disease, all of which can lead to lower extremity amputations. Sixty percent of nontraumatic lower limb amputations accompany a diabetic foot ulcer. Furthermore, patients who have minor or major diabetes-related amputations face a 46.2 and 56.6 percent risk of death in a five-year period, respectfully.
Podiatrist-prescribed diabetic shoes with custom orthotics are crucial in improving blood flow, reducing friction, deformities, and overall trauma that leads to diabetic ulcers. Studies show that access to diabetic footwear significantly reduces the risk of diabetic foot ulceration, which can lead to amputation by over 50 percent.
APMA surveyed members in December 2025 to understand the clinical impact of documentation requirements on patient access. Out of the 265 podiatrists who responded, 58 percent of APMA-member podiatrists reported waiting one month or longer to receive documentation paperwork from managing physicians. In addition, 45 percent of members reported that documentation delays prevent them from prescribing diabetic shoes to at least 30 percent of their patients who need them. Delayed access to care regularly leads to infection and amputation, all of which increases Medicare spending. These delays have also prompted many podiatrists to stop prescribing diabetic shoes through Medicare altogether, reducing access to preventive, cost-effective care for patients with lower extremity complications from diabetes.
By strengthening podiatrists’ role in the documentation process and replacing burdensome manual paperwork with a streamlined attestation framework, the Diabetes Foot Bill would significantly reduce current the months-long delays for Medicare patients seeking diabetic shoes, saving limbs and federal healthcare dollars.