Decision on ACGME
In response to outreach from individual members of the podiatric community, ACGME agreed to explore the possibility of offering accreditation to podiatric medicine, if there was interest from the podiatric community. APMA gathered feedback on the pros and cons of participating in an exploratory process with ACGME and determined that this question requires significantly more input from the profession and would ultimately need to be vetted by our House of Delegates.
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Physician Fee Schedule
APMA submitted comments to CMS in response to the proposed MPFS. APMA expressed appreciation for some of CMS' proposals, including an estimated 4 percent payment increase for podiatry. APMA expressed strong opposition to several proposals related to skin substitute payment policy and a proposed efficiency adjustment.
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State Advocacy Forum
APMA is co-hosting the State Advocacy Forum with the Massachusetts Foot and Ankle Society (MFAS) in Boston on September 18–19. This signature event convenes component leaders from across the country for two days of learning, collaboration, and strategy-building on issues affecting states, from scope of practice to payer challenges.
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AAOS Editorial
The president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) recently published an editorial in which he exhorts his colleagues to engage with hospital credentialing committees as well as lawmakers and health-care leaders about the differences between orthopedic and podiatric training “to prevent scope creep.” The article is riddled with misleading messages, exaggerations, and outright falsehoods. APMA responded and set the record straight: Podiatry is not just protecting musculoskeletal care—it is advancing it.
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Payer Advocacy
APMA submitted a letter to Cigna calling on it to withdraw its Evaluation and Management Coding Accuracy Policy (R49), scheduled for implementation on October 1, 2025. The new policy would automatically downcode higher-level E/M claims based on diagnosis codes instead of physician documentation. This would directly conflict with federal rules and AMA CPT guidance.
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Scope Modernization
The American Public Health Association's Foot and Ankle Section recently submitted a strong letter of support urging Massachusetts lawmakers to advance House Bill 2407 and Senate Bill 1542. This endorsement underscores the critical role of podiatrists in preventing diabetes complications, reducing amputations, and expanding access to high-quality foot and ankle care.
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August Recess
While Congress was away for August recess, APMA's government affairs team spent the month laying the groundwork with congressional staff to make sure podiatric priorities are front and center in September.
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House Democrats and WISeR
Following the release of the new Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model by the CMS, APMA promptly engaged with CMS to share the association's concerns and provide its recommendations. Now, House Democratic lawmakers, led by Representatives Susan DelBene (D-WA-01) and Ami Bera, MD (D-CA-06), have sent a letter seeking further information on WISeR from CMS as well.
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APMA on Medicare Advantage
APMA recently submitted comments to the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means to highlight ongoing challenges faced by podiatrists with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and offered concrete solutions for Congress to address them.
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Clinician Expert Workgroup
Two APMA members participated in the Clinician Expert Workgroup (CEW) for the Non-Pressure Ulcers episode-based cost measure last week: APMA Coding Committee Chair David Freedman, DPM, and APMA Vice President, Clinical Affairs and Medical Director Dyane Tower, DPM, MPH, MS, CAE. Dr. Tower serves as Co-Chair for the CEW.
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MPFS Analysis
As APMA previously shared, CMS released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2026 proposed rule. A summary of the proposed rule and further analysis conducted by APMA is now available online.
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ASM Abstract Competition Winners
APMA is pleased to announce the winners of the APMA 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstract Competition. The winners in each category were selected by a panel of judges appointed by the Education Committee.
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