APMA News - November/December 2021 - 36

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
Federal Advocacy Forum
As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day.
Getting
legislation passed through Congress is likewise an arduous
and lengthy process. Since its inception in 1912, APMA has
fought to advance our profession. Over the past 100+ years,
APMA has won countless legislative victories that have expanded
podiatrists' scope of practice, increased our reimbursements,
and allowed us to manage our patients both
medically and surgically. Our profession has also grown in
membership from 200+ chiropodists in 1912 to an estimated
15,000 practicing podiatrists today. We have nine colleges of
podiatric medicine, with the development of additional
schools on the horizon. We have accomplished a great deal,
and we recognize and thank our dedicated staff and APMA
members for their efforts.
Despite that vast progress, we still have significant legislative
goals to tackle to secure our rightful place at the table with our
MD and DO counterparts: physician recognition and passage
of the Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric
Physicians (HELLPP) Act (HR 2972/S 2769). The HELLPP Act
would recognize podiatrists as physicians under Medicaid and
eliminate the option for states to deny access to the services we
provide to our patients. Successful passage of the HELLPP Act
would ensure all Medicaid patients would have access to premier
lower extremity medical and surgical care provided by
podiatric physicians.
Recognition of podiatrists as physicians would lead to
greater access to care by a podiatrist and, as a result, decreased
amputation rates and hospitalizations resulting from
lower extremity infections. As podiatrists, we are vital players
on our patients' team of physicians. We are a voice for our
patients and aid in coordinating care with other medical colleagues
including, among others, vascular surgeons, cardiologists,
primary care physicians, and endocrinologists. We
must continue to be advocates for our patients. The passage
of the HELLPP Act is key.
Physician recognition remains APMA's highest priority.
There is still much legislative work to be done to achieve this
goal. The Medicare statute has long recognized podiatrists as
physicians. Medicare physicians include MDs/DOs (medical
and osteopathic doctors), DDSs/DMDs (dentists and dental
surgeons), DPMs (podiatric physicians and surgeons), ODs
(optometrists), and DCs (chiropractors).
Despite our recognition as physicians, we remain unable to
independently perform diabetic foot examinations and dispense
shoes and inserts. The exam must be certified by the
36 APMA News November/December 2021
MD or DO responsible for treating the diabetes, which delays
ordering and dispensing.
Working for change is an uphill, often-frustrating battle,
but we all must stand united and steadfast. Please join your
colleagues across the nation by logging on to APMA's eAdvocacy
website (www.apma.org/eAdvocacy) to make your voice
heard as an advocate for your Medicaid and Medicare patients.
Our patients deserve the best lower extremity foot and
ankle care. Passage of the HELLPP Act will be a landmark
victory
and
will
catapult
our
profession
to
parity
(MD=DO=DPM).
Let's rally together to ensure everyone has access to premier
foot and ankle care provided by podiatric physicians
and surgeons. n
By William S. Long, DPM
Visit the APMA
eAdvocacy site now
to contact your
legislators.
http://www.apma.org/eAdvocacy
APMA News - November/December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - November/December 2021
