GOVERNMENTAFFAIRS
practitioners have their own practice as they are
not required to work under a supervising doctor,
and so there was no way to get a qualified
Statement of Certifying Physician signed.
That means that patients in those practices are
unable to make use of a benefit for which they
would otherwise qualify and, more importantly,
get the help they need.
rectify that. This Senate bill is a companion to
an identical one, H.R. 1617, introduced in the
House of Representatives on 3/17/2017 which
you can see here:
H.R.1617 - Promoting
Access to Diabetic
Shoes Act
115th Congress (2017-2018)
It would be an understatement to say that
PFA strongly supports this Bill. It represents a
much-needed change that not only supports
the patient by allowing them to make use of a
much needed benefit, but also our membership.
As pedorthists, we are at the provision end of
the treatment stream. Roadblocks upstream,
mainly the restriction on the type of provider
able to document and sign the Statement
of Certifying Physician, has caused us to be
unable provide care that is badly needed and be
reimbursed for it. This change in the law will
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-
congress/house-bill/1617
PFA encourages you to contact your local
lawmakers and ask for them to support these
two simple, yet extraordinarily important,
proposals.
-PFA
Current Pedorthics | September/October 2018
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