Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026

This bill would require state Medicaid programs to treat doctors of podiatric medicine (foot and ankle doctors) as physicians when covering physician services, starting with services on or after January 1, 2026. States that need to pass a state law to make this change would get extra time, until after their next regular legislative session. The bill would also rewrite Medicare's rules for covering extra-depth or custom molded shoes with inserts for people with diabetes. A physician, which under Medicare's definition includes podiatrists, would document the person's foot condition and attest to the diagnosis, care plan, and need for the shoes. The shoes would be fitted by a physician or another qualified person, such as a pedorthist or orthotist. These Medicare changes would apply starting January 1, 2028.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Todd Young Republican sponsor
• 6 cosponsors