HB 575

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

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