Substitute House Bill No. 5196, Public Act No. 24-112, is an act that expands the scope of practice for licensed podiatrists in the state. Effective October 1, 2024, the bill allows podiatrists to independently engage in the surgical treatment of the ankle, including soft tissue and osseous procedures, and the administration and prescription of drugs incidental to such treatment. The bill specifies the qualifications required for a podiatrist to perform these surgeries, which include graduation from an accredited residency program and board certification or qualification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery. The bill also includes new legal language that adds "Chopart joint-level amputation" to the scope of practice and corrects a typographical error from "surea" to "surae." It excludes the surgical treatment of complications within the tibial diaphysis related to the use of external fixation pins, the performance of total ankle replacements, or the treatment of tibial pilon fractures.

Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a protocol for permitting qualified podiatrists to perform total ankle replacement surgery. By August 1, 2024, a panel comprised of representatives from podiatrist and orthopedic physician organizations is to develop this protocol, which will outline the experience, skill, and training requirements for such surgery. The protocol is to be submitted to the relevant General Assembly committee and the Commissioner of Public Health by September 1, 2024, and posted on the Department of Public Health's website by October 1, 2024. From that date, qualified podiatrists may apply to hospitals for privileges to perform total ankle replacement surgery, although hospitals are not required to grant these privileges.