Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill officially recognizes podiatrists (doctors of podiatric medicine) as physicians under Medicaid, which means Medicaid patients can more easily see foot specialists for care. Currently, podiatrists are recognized as physicians under Medicare but not under Medicaid, creating a gap in coverage.
• For Medicare patients with diabetes, the bill simplifies the documentation process for getting therapeutic shoes. Instead of requiring a managing physician and a separate certifying doctor, a single physician (including a podiatrist) can document the patient's condition and attest to the need for diabetic shoes.
• The Medicaid changes would apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, while the Medicare therapeutic shoe documentation changes take effect on January 1, 2028. States that need to change their own laws get extra time to comply.
• The bill has bipartisan support, introduced by Rep. Joyce of Pennsylvania along with five cosponsors from both parties. It was referred to two House committees: Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.
• The bill also adds therapeutic diabetic shoes to an exception list under Medicare's physician self-referral rules, making it clearer that doctors can prescribe and document the need for these shoes without running into anti-kickback concerns.