APMA News - May/June 2018 - 44

The 2018 Legislative Conference

Stating the Case: Podiatrists Push the Profession
Forward During Legislative Conference

ontrary to popular belief, Congress still does its job.
With a news cycle dominated by attention-grabbing
topics like North Korea, trade tariffs, and empty cabinet positions, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the government continues to function as it always has-give or take the
occasional brief shutdown-and the chief goal of elected officials is to act in the best interest of their individual constituents.
Voters still have power, and hundreds of APMA members wielded that power in the hallways of Capitol Hill during this year's
Legislative Conference.
The Legislative Conference occurred at a pivotal time, with
APMA's VA Provider Equity Act (HR 1058/S 1871) having
achieved tremendous momentum. After passage in the House
last July, the bill has been awaiting an appropriate vehicle on the
Senate side. Attendees took advantage of this state of affairs to
drive home the importance of the legislation.
APMA members took to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 20,
with Congress on high alert as the government was scheduled
to run out of funding in three days if it did not pass a budget.
The day began with hope that the VA Provider Equity Act
would be included in the compromise omnibus bill as a result
of APMA staff working in coordination with the offices of our
primary sponsors in the House (Rep. Brad Wenstrup, DPM [ROH]) and Senate (Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD [R-LA]). Everyone inside the Beltway was on edge, waiting to see what the legislation would contain.
With that scenario as the backdrop for the day, participants started with an eye-opener breakfast that included an
appearance by Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH). Rep. Johnson is an
original sponsor of APMA's other main legislative priority, the
Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric
Physicians (HELLPP) Act (HR 1542/S 1533). The legislation
would recognize podiatrists as physicians under Medicaid, as
well as simplify the process for ordering and dispensing therapeutic shoes for patients with diabetes. The bill also includes
a pay-for by closing a current loophole that allows tax delinquent physicians to collect reimbursements under Medicaid.
During his presentation, Rep. Johnson praised the attendees for the work they do and discussed his office's plan to request
that the Congressional Budget Office rescore the bill, with particular emphasis on the cost-saving aspects of the diabetic therapeutic shoe provision.
In meetings with elected officials and their staff later in the
day, APMA members time and again stated the case for supporting podiatry.
44 APMA News May/June 2018

Jason Anderson, DPM, and Scott Schindler, DPM, implored
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) to understand the scope of the problem
facing podiatry services within the VA. "This legislation is all
about access to care," said Dr. Schindler. "Our veterans are not
getting the help they deserve."
"We serve on committees with orthopods. We do the same
procedures they do, but we aren't getting paid the same," added Dr. Anderson.
He also addressed the HELLPP Act. "It can take us up to
three years to get approval for therapeutic shoes for a patient
with diabetes. That is not fair to the patients and leaves the
podiatrist in a difficult place."
Mark Reiner, DPM, member of the APMAPAC Board of
Directors, continued the theme while meeting with the office
of Sen. John Boozman (R-AR). Regarding the HELLPP Act, he
emphasized, "We are already providing care, but it comes at a
higher cost. This legislation will bring us into line with Medicare. There is no opposition; we are just looking for the right
vehicle to move it forward."
Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) heard several firsthand accounts
of the consequences of the pay discrepancy at the VA. "I did a
VA residency and worked for the VA when I first started out
but had to leave because I couldn't afford daycare for my children," said Kitty Glantz, DPM.
"I've worked for the VA for 30 years and can tell you unequivocally that we do everything that the orthopods do and
more, but that is not reflected in our pay," said Bill Chagares,
DPM, president of the Federal Services Podiatric Medical Association (FSPMA). "The pool of qualified podiatrists to serve our
vets is shrinking."

During the packed Congressional Eye Opener Breakfast, attendees were
updated on the current status of APMA's VA Provider Equity Act and the
government funding bill working its way through the House and Senate.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - May/June 2018