H.R. 7905: Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026, aims to enhance access to foot and ankle care for individuals with diabetes, specifically through changes to Medicaid and Medicare regulations.

Recognition of Podiatric Physicians

The bill proposes to amend the Social Security Act to officially recognize doctors of podiatric medicine as physicians within the Medicaid program. This change would allow podiatric physicians to provide services that are considered essential for Medicaid beneficiaries, thereby increasing their access to appropriate foot and ankle care.

Key points include:

• Podiatric physicians would be recognized as qualified providers under Medicaid, allowing them to offer services that may have previously been inaccessible to patients.
• The amendments would take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2026, with certain provisions allowing gradual compliance for states needing to modify their plans to accommodate this change.

Medicare Changes for Therapeutic Shoes

The bill also intends to clarify the documentation requirements under Medicare for therapeutic shoes prescribed to individuals with diabetes. These changes are aimed at ensuring that patients receive the necessary footwear to prevent complications associated with diabetes.

Details regarding therapeutic shoes include:

• Medicare would cover extra-depth shoes with inserts or custom molded shoes, provided certain conditions are met. This includes documentation by a physician that a patient has specific foot conditions related to diabetes.
• The physician must attest that the patient is diagnosed with diabetes and is under a comprehensive care plan related to their condition.
• This amendment would become effective for items and services provided on or after January 1, 2028.

Overall, the bill aims to improve foot care access for diabetics by ensuring that podiatric services are covered and that necessary footwear is available under Medicare guidelines.

Relevant Companies

• HOFT - Hooker Furniture Corporation: This company may be impacted if it produces therapeutic footwear or related products that could see increased demand due to the expanded coverage under Medicare.
• SHOO - Steven Madden, Ltd.: A company involved in footwear that may need to adjust its offerings or marketing strategies in light of increased demand for therapeutic footwear due to new Medicare coverage.