Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Joyce (PA)
Introduced
Summary
Expand access to foot care for people with diabetes. This bill would treat podiatrists as physicians under Medicaid and clarify when Medicare covers therapeutic shoes and inserts for diabetes.
Show full summary
- Medicaid beneficiaries and podiatrists: The bill would recognize doctors of podiatric medicine as physicians for Medicaid physician services. That recognition applies to services furnished on or after January 1, 2026.
- Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes: The bill would allow coverage of extra‑depth shoes with inserts or custom‑molded shoes with inserts when a qualifying physician documents peripheral neuropathy, prior ulceration, deformity, prior amputation, or poor circulation and affirms a comprehensive plan of care. That coverage would apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2028.
- States and suppliers: States that need new state law to update their Medicaid plans get a transition window tied to their next regular legislative session, and qualified fitters such as pedorthists or orthotists can fit and furnish covered shoes.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Medicaid to treat podiatrists as physicians
If enacted, Medicaid would treat doctors of podiatric medicine as physicians for Medicaid physician services. This would let State Medicaid programs pay for more podiatry care for enrollees. The change would apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2026. If a State needs to change its laws to meet the new rule, the State would not be found out of compliance until the first day of the first calendar quarter after the close of the State's next regular legislative session that begins after enactment. For States with two-year sessions, each year is treated as a separate regular session for that timing rule.
Medicare coverage for diabetic shoes
If enacted, Medicare would cover extra-depth shoes with inserts or custom-molded shoes with inserts for people with diabetes who meet specific medical documentation. A physician (as defined in Medicare law) would need to document peripheral neuropathy, or a history of pre-ulcerative calluses or other foot ulceration, foot deformity, previous lower-extremity amputation, or poor lower-extremity circulation. A physician would also need to attest the person has diabetes, is under a comprehensive plan of care for the diabetic condition, and needs the shoes. The shoes would have to be fitted and furnished by a physician or another qualified supplier (for example, a pedorthist or orthotist) as the Secretary establishes. This would apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2028.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Joyce (PA)
PA • R
Cosponsors
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rulli
OH • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Kennedy (UT)
UT • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in