AANP Applauds Legislation to Improve Care for Patients With Diabetes

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners^® (AANP) applauds the introduction of The Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act by Representatives Darin LaHood and Nanette Barragán. Currently, nurse practitioners (NPs) treating Medicare patients who require diabetic shoes must refer them to a physician to verify the need. The Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act would retire this outdated policy and ensure that patients can continue receiving care from their chosen health care provider by authorizing NPs to certify their patients' need for diabetic shoes.

"This legislation would create greater efficiencies in the delivery of health care, ensuring that patients with diabetes receive timely access to necessary treatment," said AANP President Stephen A. Ferrara, DNP. "Patients should not have to endure outdated barriers to care that come between them and their health care provider of choice. Requiring a physician's certification after an NP has already assessed a patient's need for diabetic shoes causes unnecessary treatment delays, increases patient complications and drives up costs for the Medicare program."

Under the Medicare program, NPs are primary care clinicians for patients with diabetes, yet they are not authorized to certify their patients' need for diabetic shoes. In fact, in 2020 at least one-third of Medicare beneficiaries received care from an NP. For decades, NPs have demonstrated they provide high-quality health care to patients, including those with diabetes. Now is the time to remove this outdated practice barrier with legislation that creates greater efficiency in the Medicare program.

"We thank Representatives LaHood and Barragán for their efforts and look forward to the passage of this legislation," said Ferrara. 

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2025, AANP represents the interests of the more than 385,000 licensed NPs in the U.S. AANP provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NPs' patients and other health care consumers. As The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner^®, AANP represents the interests of NPs as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered health care. To locate an NP in your community, visit npfinder.com. For more information about NPs, visit aanp.org.

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SOURCE American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)