News Archives

All seven Part B Medicare Contractors have finalized local coverage determinations (LCDs) that will govern the provision of skin substitute grafts/cellular and tissue-based products to Medicare Part B beneficiaries when used for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers. On April 11, 2025, CMS announced implementation of these finalized LCDs would be delayed until January 1, 2026.

APMA formally endorses HR 657, The VA Continuing Professional Education Modernization Act, sponsored by Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA). The bill would give Continuing Medical Education allowances for VA podiatrists and other health-care clinicians.

On April 1, the DME MACs provided guidance that clarifies replacement of compression garments used to treat lymphedema.

As a direct result of APMA and its coalition partners' advocacy efforts, House Energy & Commerce Chair Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) introduced the bipartisan HR 2483, SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, which includes a technical fix to the MATE Act.

Last month, APMA hosted a successful Legislative Conference and Capitol Hill Day with nearly 100 podiatrists participating and advocating for the profession.

APMA is working closely with the Rhode Island Podiatric Medical Association (RIPMA) to defeat proposed legislation, H6088, which would permit a nurse to perform routine foot care and other related foot and ankle services in home settings with no podiatric physician supervision.

APMA is once again partnering with BFMV on its annual Physician Call Coverage Survey. Each year, BFMV surveys physicians to collect comprehensive call coverage burden and compensation data.

Following a call for comment period from the community of interest, CPME has adopted the revised CPME 720, Standards and Requirements for Approval of Continuing Education Providers in Podiatric Medicine, and CPME 730, Procedures for Approval of Continuing Education Providers in Podiatric Medicine.

On Sunday, Barry Block, DPM, JD, was awarded APMA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Citation. This award is given in recognition of outstanding sustained accomplishments on the national level in scientific, professional, or civic endeavors.

The 2025 APMA House of Delegates convened in Washington, DC, on Saturday morning. The house is the governing and legislative body of the organization with representatives from each of APMA’s 53 component associations.

In her first state of the association address to the House of Delegates, APMA CEO and Executive Director Meghan McClelland, MBA, outlined her vision for the association and moving podiatry into the future.

Brooke Bisbee, DPM, was installed as the 99th APMA president by Past President Lloyd Smith, DPM, during the opening day of the 2025 APMA House of Delegates. In her inaugural address, Dr. Bisbee shared her deep pride in her home state of Arkansas, known as the Natural State, and likened podiatry today to the process through which gems are formed.

APMA submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), expressing significant concerns about the proposed changes to existing Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on Thursday, March 6.

APMA, AMA, and 90 other health-care societies signed on to a letter, urging Congress to pass the “Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act” (H.R. 879). This legislation would cancel the 2.83-percent cut to Medicare physician payment and provide a 2-percent payment increase, stabilizing practices and ensuring Medicare patients can continue to receive care.

Learn more about Talar Medical, APMA's preferred group purchasing organization.

The code descriptors for commonly used DME-related HCPCS codes L:1932, L1933, L1951, and L1952 will change effective April 1. These positive changes eliminate the need to use HCPCS L2999 (Lower extremity orthoses, not otherwise specified) when these items are dispensed "off-the-shelf.”

Recently APMA provided feedback to the Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review Committee (PRMR) regarding its posted 2024–25 Measures Under Consideration (MUC) List Recommendations. As APMA has continued and significant concerns with the Non-Pressure Ulcers Cost Measure, we urged CMS to not finalize this measure.

Members can now view all performance category webinars for the MIPS 2025 Performance Year, available at www.apma.org/mipswebinars.

APMA is thrilled to announce that six components will receive 2025 Center for Professional Advocacy (CPA) Financial Assistance Grants. These grants are an important part of APMA’s scope-of-practice initiatives, which include the Innovation Grant program.

On Monday, APMA submitted comments to CMS on the Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2026 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies.