Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill officially recognizes podiatrists (foot doctors) as physicians under Medicaid, giving diabetes patients easier access to specialized foot and ankle care without navigating extra bureaucratic hurdles.
• The bill simplifies Medicare documentation for diabetic shoes by letting any physician (including podiatrists) document a patient's foot health conditions and certify their need for therapeutic footwear, rather than requiring separate certifications from different providers.
• The Medicaid changes would apply to services starting in 2026, but states that need to pass their own laws get extra time — until the end of the next regular legislative session after enactment.
• The updated Medicare rules for therapeutic diabetic shoes — including extra-depth shoes with inserts and custom molded shoes — would take effect on January 1, 2028.
• The bill is bipartisan, introduced by Sens. Young and Warnock, and aims to prevent serious complications like foot ulcers, infections, and amputations that are common among people with diabetes.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.