Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Todd Young
Introduced
Summary
Recognizes doctors of podiatric medicine as physicians under Medicaid. This bill would also clarify Medicare rules about who qualifies for therapeutic diabetic shoes and who may fit and furnish them.
Show full summary
- People with diabetes: Extra-depth shoes with inserts or custom molded shoes with inserts would be covered for individuals when a physician documents peripheral neuropathy or other listed foot problems, confirms a diabetes diagnosis and a comprehensive care plan, and attests the patient needs the shoes.
- Podiatric physicians: Doctors of podiatric medicine would be treated as physicians for Medicaid purposes, affecting services furnished on or after January 1, 2026. States that need new laws get a limited delay until the first regular legislative session after enactment.
- Medicare providers and suppliers: The law would add extra-depth and custom molded shoes with inserts into the cited Social Security Act provision and clarify documentation and fitting requirements for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2028.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Medicare coverage for diabetic shoes
If enacted, this bill would let Medicare cover extra-depth shoes with inserts or custom molded shoes with inserts for people with diabetes who meet certain clinical tests. A physician as defined in the statute would have to document peripheral neuropathy (including altered foot sensation, weakness, or diminished motor control), or a history of pre-ulcerative calluses or foot ulceration, foot deformity, prior lower-extremity amputation, or poor circulation. The physician must also attest the person has a diabetes diagnosis, is under a comprehensive diabetes plan of care, and needs the shoes. The shoes would have to be fitted and furnished by a physician or another qualified individual (for example, a pedorthist or orthotist) as the Secretary defines, and coverage would apply to items furnished on or after January 1, 2028.
More Medicaid coverage by podiatrists
If enacted, this bill would make doctors of podiatric medicine count as physicians for Medicaid. The change would apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2026. If a State Medicaid plan needs new State law to implement the change, the plan would not be treated as failing to comply solely because it delays until the first day of the first calendar quarter after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after enactment. For States with two-year legislative sessions, each year would be treated as a separate regular session for that timing rule.
Medicare safe-harbor for diabetic shoes
If enacted, the bill would add "extra-depth shoes with inserts or custom molded shoes with inserts" to the enumerated items in the Medicare anti-kickback safe-harbor list. That would clarify that payments and arrangements involving these shoe items fall within the listed safe harbor. The excerpt does not specify a separate effective date for this insertion.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Todd Young
IN • R
Cosponsors
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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