Bill could expand diabetic access to therapeutic footwear

PORTLAND, Maine – Two US senators want to use federal legislation to give diabetics better access to therapeutic footwear.

Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins and Ohio Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown say their legislation would allow nurse practitioners and medical assistants to certify patients' need for footwear. Diabetic patients sometimes use shoes to prevent complications that may include foot ulcers and calluses.

According to Brown, the law would eliminate bureaucracy by ensuring that more health professionals can treat patients and approve the therapies they need.

The bill is called the Access to Diabetic Footwear Act. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Physician Assistants support the bill, as does the American Podiatric Medical Association.

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