Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026, makes two main changes to federal health insurance programs. First, it allows podiatric physicians to provide covered physician services under Medicaid, ensuring patients have access to specialized foot and ankle care. Second, it updates Medicare rules to clarify documentation requirements for diabetic shoes, specifying that a physician must confirm a patient has diabetes and related foot conditions before these shoes are covered. The changes take effect on January 1, 2026 for Medicaid podiatry services and January 1, 2028 for Medicare diabetic shoe documentation.