Recent Advocacy Victories

2025 Advocacy Impact Report

Read our 2025 APMA Advocacy Impact Report to learn more about APMA's advocacy activities over the past year and the impact they have had for members and the profession at large! 

DEA Mate Fix

Congress passed HR 2483, the SUPPORT Act. As a direct result of APMA’s advocacy, the legislation included a technical fix to the DEA MATE Act, which allows podiatry organizations to provide mandatory training on the treatment and management of patients with substance use disorders. 

2026 Medicare Payment Increase 

Congress passed HR1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, in July, which included a 2.5-percent Medicare physician payment increase for 2026. Thanks to APMA’s advocacy, the Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, released in October 2025, results in a total 4-percent payment increase for podiatric physicians and surgeons in 2026.  

Great Toe Arthrodesis CPT Code Valuation 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized increases to the work RVUs for both great toe arthrodesis CPT codes—adopting the recommendations advanced by APMA and the AMA/RUC. This is a direct APMA advocacy win that reinforces appropriate valuation for podiatric surgery. 

Optum Classification of Podiatrists 

Optum reversed its decision to reclassify podiatrists. This reversal means that Optum recognizes that podiatrists are independently licensed physicians who undergo specialized education and training and reaffirms the vital role podiatrists play in advancing clinical outcomes and caring for their patients. 

Podiatry MVP

A Podiatry Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathway (MVP) was added to the MIPS MVP Inventory. APMA has long advocated for more meaningful podiatry-specific measures. This MVP is reflective of APMA’s continuous engagement with CMS to provide more meaningful measures for our members, while ensuring that care is correctly attributed only to appropriate practitioners.