# 119-s-4070: Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026

119-s-4070, Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (R-IN); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-26).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4070
- As of: 2026-09-26
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4070
- Congress: 119
- Title: Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-12
- Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (R-IN)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-26

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (6)

- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2026-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV] (R-WV), 2026-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2026-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (R-IA), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Medicare coverage for diabetic shoes: benefit, medium. 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,…
- More Medicaid coverage by podiatrists: benefit, medium. 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…
- Medicare safe-harbor for diabetic shoes: benefit, low. 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 do…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.

## Sources
- [119-s-4070 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4070)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1261)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4070 (as of 2026-09-26).