HB 575

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the practice of podiatric medicine;
3amending ss. 409.906 and 461.003, F.S.; redefining the
4scope of the practice of podiatric medicine; providing an
5effective date.
6
7Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
8
9     Section 1.  Subsection (19) of section 409.906, Florida
10Statutes, is amended to read:
11     409.906  Optional Medicaid services.--Subject to specific
12appropriations, the agency may make payments for services which
13are optional to the state under Title XIX of the Social Security
14Act and are furnished by Medicaid providers to recipients who
15are determined to be eligible on the dates on which the services
16were provided. Any optional service that is provided shall be
17provided only when medically necessary and in accordance with
18state and federal law. Optional services rendered by providers
19in mobile units to Medicaid recipients may be restricted or
20prohibited by the agency. Nothing in this section shall be
21construed to prevent or limit the agency from adjusting fees,
22reimbursement rates, lengths of stay, number of visits, or
23number of services, or making any other adjustments necessary to
24comply with the availability of moneys and any limitations or
25directions provided for in the General Appropriations Act or
26chapter 216. If necessary to safeguard the state's systems of
27providing services to elderly and disabled persons and subject
28to the notice and review provisions of s. 216.177, the Governor
29may direct the Agency for Health Care Administration to amend
30the Medicaid state plan to delete the optional Medicaid service
31known as "Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally
32Disabled." Optional services may include:
33     (19)  PODIATRIC SERVICES.--The agency may pay for services,
34including diagnosis and medical, surgical, palliative, and
35mechanical treatment, related to ailments of the human foot and
36ankle lower leg, if provided to a recipient by a podiatric
37physician licensed under state law.
38     Section 2.  Subsection (5) of section 461.003, Florida
39Statutes, is amended to read:
40     461.003  Definitions.--As used in this chapter:
41     (5)  "Practice of podiatric medicine" means the diagnosis
42or medical, surgical, palliative, and mechanical treatment of
43ailments of the human foot and ankle leg. The surgical treatment
44of ailments of the human foot and leg shall be limited
45anatomically to that part below the anterior tibial tubercle.
46The practice of podiatric medicine shall include the amputation
47of the toes or other parts of the foot but shall not include the
48amputation of the foot or leg in its entirety. A podiatric
49physician may prescribe drugs that relate specifically to the
50scope of practice authorized herein.
51     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.