Legislative and Regulatory Victories

• State Funding for KSUCPM – The 2024-25 state budget includes $6.8 million in State Share of Instruction funding to lower tuition and provide more clinical research opportunities for Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine students. July 2023
• Medicaid Reimbursement Increase – Through OHFAMA’s lobbying efforts, the 2024-24 state budget includes a 5% increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rates for podiatrists. July 2023
• Vaccination – New laws enable podiatrists to administer the flu, COVID-19 vaccines to patients signed into law
• COVID-19 Liability – Protected podiatrists from civil liability and disciplinary actions during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Medicaid – Advocated for new rule package to include ankle privileges in our scope of practice, authorize payments for vaccinations
• Surgical Excise of Warts from the Hands – Reaffirmed by the State Med Board within Scope (June 12, 2019)
• Surgical Removal of Ingrown Nails from the Hands – Reaffirmed by the State Med Board within Scope (June 12, 2019)
• Shave and Punch Biopsy on the Leg (below Knee) and on the Hand – Approved by the State Med Board (March 14, 2018).
• Met with CGS in May for reimbursement on biopsy codes for DPMs. Approved June 22, 2018 to be reimbursed retroactively to March 14, 2018.
• Hyberbaric Oxygen Therapy – HB 216 which codified Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for podiatric physicians with credentials and training was passed by the General Assembly. Effective April 6, 2017. HBOT Language fixed (consulting physician) in December 2018.
• Prior Authorization Legislation was passed in signed into law. Only 3^rd state in US to have this legislation. - June 2016
• Hospital Privileges and Medical Staff Provision – OHFAMA prevented a proposed bylaws provision that was detrimental to DPMs as physicians in Mercy Health Hospital systems in Ohio. – October 2015 - January 2016
• Added 267 updated DPM CPT codes in Ohio Medicaid. - 2015
• Laser Treatment for Hands - The State Medical Board of Ohio determined that an Ohio podiatric physician who has successfully completed appropriate training may, as medically appropriate, provide treatment of fingernail fungus in podiatric patients and for treatment of scars on the hand when the etiology is not associated with trauma. (September 19, 2013)
• Surgical Procedures - The State Medical Board of Ohio clarified that the performance of tibial or fibular osteotomy, total ankle replacement, and bone callus distraction of the foot and ankle are within the scope of practice of an Ohio podiatric physician when the podiatric physician can demonstrate adequate education, training, and experience needed to conform to minimal standards of care and holds privileges to perform the procedure at a Joint Commission accredited hospital, Ohio licensed ambulatory surgical center, or approved college of podiatric medicine and surgery. (September 13, 2012)
• Medication Reconciliation - The State Medical Board of Ohio affirmed that a podiatric physician does not exceed the podiatric scope of practice by continuing a previously prescribed medication for a medication for a medical condition that is not within the podiatric scope of practice. Medication reconciliation does not equate to prescribing or ordering medication. Whether the surgery is in-patient or out-patient, medication reconciliation ensures that all medication previously prescribed for the patient are carried through to the next transition point. (May 16, 2012)
• Pneumatic Compression Devices - The State Medical Board of Ohio affirmed that "Consistent with these earlier responses, a podiatric physician may provide acute treatment for a venous stasis ulcer associated with chronic venous insufficiency appearing below the knee. A podiatric physician may also treat the post-operative secondary lymphedema associated with a foot or ankle procedure. Finally, a podiatric physician may prescribe a pneumatic compression device for the treatment of the local manifestations of secondary lymphedema or chronic venous insufficiency with venous stasis ulcers so long as the patient is referred for appropriate medical management for the primary medical condition. (September 19, 2011)
• Lawsuit filed against the OH Dept of Insurance in Franklin County Circuit Court in July 2009 to stop insurance fee discrimination. Appellate Court did not rule in our favor.
• External Fixation - The State Medical Board of Ohio affirmed that an OH podiatric physician who has successfully completed appropriate training may use and place external fixation apparatus for the relief of foot and ankle pathologies or to surgically correct and immobilize the ankle when the procedure is medically appropriate. (June 15, 2009)
• HB 125 -Transparency on Insurance Contracting for providers – signed into law on March 25, 2008 – requires full disclosure of fee schedules on all procedures among other contracting benefits to you as a provider of medical services.
• Venous Leg Ulcers - The State Medical Board of Ohio affirmed that "The required expertise to provide wound care is not dependent upon the site or etiology of the wound as the same knowledge and skills are required whether the site is above or below the ankle and no matter the etiology. For this reason, it is clear that the medical services a podiatric physician may perform include, as medically appropriate, the treatment of foot and ankle pathologies through would care services applied to wounds that are located below the knee distally". (reaffirmed on April 18, 2008)
• Split Thickness Skin Grafts - The State Medical Board of Ohio affirmed that "an appropriately trained podiatric physician may perform split thickness skin grafts whereby skin is harvested from the anterior thigh for grafting to an area below the knee when the procedure is medically appropriate for the treatment of foot and ankle pathologies." (September 12, 2007)
• Peroneal Nerve Decompression Procedure - The State Medical Board of Ohio affirmed that "an Ohio podiatric physician who has successfully completed appropriate training may perform peroneal nerve decompression for the relief of foot and ankle pathologies, such as diabetic neuropathy, when the procedure is medically appropriate." (September 12, 2007)
• Prompt Payment Provision –Legislative statute – HB 125 - July, 2007
• Regaining the right for podiatric physicians to see Medicaid patients in 2004
• Changed the law in OH to allow DPMs to perform hospital admission Histories & Physicals