Following sustained advocacy and multiple rounds of direct communication with CMS and the DME MACs, APMA has secured critical clarification regarding coverage criteria for therapeutic shoes for persons with diabetes. We have confirmed that co-signed notes are not required when specific documentation standards are met.
The Medicare Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) form expired on January 31, but CMS and Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) have confirmed that providers should continue using the current version until an updated form is released.
Last week, APMA provided a letter of support as written testimony to the Maryland Podiatric Medical Association (MPMA) in advance of the Maryland Senate Finance Committee hearing on legislation (SB 333) to join the Interstate Podiatric Medical Licensure Compact (IPMLC). The testimony highlights how participation in the compact would strengthen Maryland’s podiatric workforce.
APMA joined other physician societies to sign onto a letter led by the American College of Surgeons in support of the Efficiency Adjustment Delay Act (HR 7520). The legislation would delay the “efficiency adjustment” finalized in the 2026 MPFS and prevent any future adjustments from being calculated with similar productivity metrics.
Telehealth flexibilities that expired on January 30 have been retroactively reinstated. Telehealth flexibilities will now be available through January 31, 2027. This means providers may again provide telehealth services with no geographic restrictions and patients may receive telehealth services from their home.
CMS announced that certain DMEPOS suppliers will be eligible for an exemption from prior authorization requirements. APMA views this as a positive development and a direct result of years of advocacy urging CMS to adopt a "gold carding" approach. However, CMS also announced that claims for HCPCS L1932 (ankle foot orthosis with a rigid anterior tibial section, total carbon fiber or equivalent material) submitted to a DME MAC will require prior authorization beginning on April 13.
APMA submitted comments to CMS and Acumen, LLC, pressing for changes to the draft 2027 Diabetic Disease MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) Candidate. While APMA generally supports the development of an additional MVP option, we urged CMS to make substantive changes to ensure the pathway actually reduces burden and allows podiatrists to succeed in MIPS.
Members can now watch the newest APMA webinar addressing how their practice can avoid a penalty for MIPS 2026. Additional resources have been posted on the MIPS 2026 Resource page, related to the Quality, Promoting Interoperability, and Improvement Activity performance categories.
On January 20, the Mississippi Podiatric Medical Association (MsPMA) hosted a successful Capitol Day at the Mississippi State Capitol, bringing podiatric physicians face to face with lawmakers to advance SB 2442, legislation to modernize podiatric scope of practice in the state. APMA President Brooke Bisbee, DPM, attended the event alongside MsPMA President Charles Caplis, DPM, and other Mississippi podiatric leaders, to underscore national support for the state's advocacy efforts.
APMA has formally called on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to end its routine misclassification of podiatrists as non-physician practitioners in Medicare analyses and reports. Federal law is clear: Doctors of podiatric medicine are physicians under the Medicare statute. Despite this, MedPAC continues to group podiatrists with non-physician providers in influential publications, undermining the accuracy of its workforce, access, and payment analyses.
APMA submitted formal comments to CMS on the Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule, urging the agency to preserve plan accountability measures that protect timely access to care. APMA expressed concern that proposed changes to the Star Ratings program could weaken incentives for MA plans to resolve denials promptly, especially at a time when prior authorization barriers remain widespread.
APMA leadership met with Elevance Health, the parent company for Anthem, to discuss their new Facility Administrative Policy addressing the use of nonparticipating care providers and the potential implications for podiatric physicians and patient access to foot and ankle care. The meeting followed APMA’s December 2025 letter to Elevance outlining concerns with the policy that penalizes Anthem-contracted facilities by up to 10 percent for using out-of-network providers for services.
APMAPAC has released its 2025 Annual Report, offering a comprehensive look into the activities, outcomes, and ongoing goals of the APMAPAC. As the only bipartisan arm that supports federal candidates aligned with the profession’s legislative priorities, APMAPAC plays a key role in strengthening podiatric medicine’s voice in Washington, DC.
Congressional leaders have unveiled a new bipartisan package of health-care reforms, which includes issues APMA has advocated for. The package is tied to a larger $1.2 trillion government spending package that funds the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Labor, and other agencies through fiscal year 2026.
The House Ways & Means Committee and Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee hosted a concurrent congressional hearing focused on health insurance practices and affordability last week. Before the hearing, APMA collaborated with both committees to submit questions for lawmakers to ask. Additionally, APMA submitted joint statements to the committees.
The APMA Board of Trustees has approved two new position statements addressing persistent challenges podiatric physicians face in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program and with prior authorization (PA) processes. Together, these statements reinforce APMA’s commitment to protecting patient access to medically necessary foot and ankle care while reducing administrative burdens that delay treatment and undermine physician decision-making.
Last week, APMA responded to direct bipartisan outreach from the GOP and Democratic Doctors Caucus for recommendations to modernize the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and improve future Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) models. APMA focused its comments on supporting the American Medical Association’s Data-Driven Performance Payment System (DPPS) proposal, which would replace key elements of MIPS.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened data submission for the 2025 performance year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Data can be submitted and updated until March 31 at 8 p.m. ET. APMA encourages members to submit their 2025 MIPS performance period data early during the submission period.
Podiatrists submitting time-sensitive materials by mail may be affected by changes to how the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmarks mail. Effective December 24, 2025, USPS postmarks now reflect the date mail is processed instead of the date it is dropped off. With mail processing becoming more centralized, delays between drop-off and postmarking may become more common.
APMA would like to notify members that another round of field testing for the Non-Pressure Ulcer Episode-Based Cost Measure (NPUECM) is now open through February 27. Some members may receive a Field Test Report through their QPP Portal account; APMA requests that any members who receive a report to share it with APMA, so we can better advocate for you.