1 HB291
2 209237-1
3 By Representative Stadthagen
4 RFD: Health
5 First Read: 02-FEB-21
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1 209237-1:n:01/19/2021:FC/ma LSA2021-163
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8 SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, the practice of podiatry
9 is defined to include the diagnosis and treatment
10 of disorders of the human foot.
11 This bill would expand the scope of the
12 practice of podiatry to include treatment of
13 disorders of the foot and ankle.
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15 A BILL
16 TO BE ENTITLED
17 AN ACT
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19 Relating to podiatry; to amend Section 34-24-230,
20 Code of Alabama 1975; to expand the scope of the practice of
21 podiatry to include treatment of disorders of the foot and
22 ankle.
23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
24 Section 1. Section 34-24-230, Code of Alabama 1975,
25 is amended to read as follows:
26 "34-24-230.
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1 "For purposes of this title, the following terms
2 shall have the respective meanings ascribed by this section:
3 "(3) (1) DIAGNOSIS. The process of ascertaining a
4 disease or ailment by its general symptoms.
5 "(8) (2) ELECTRICAL TREATMENT. Any treatment by
6 means and methods supplied by electric current.
7 "(3) FOOT and ANKLE. Includes the following:
8 "a. The foot means the terminal appendage of the
9 lower extremity and contains 28 bones and is divided into
10 three parts - the forefoot, the midfoot, and the hindfoot. The
11 forefoot consists of 14 phalanges, five metatarsals, and the
12 tibial and fibular sesamoid bones. The midfoot consists of
13 five tarsal bones and their articulations. The hindfoot
14 consists of two tarsal bones, the calcaneus, and the talus.
15 The foot is defined as including all 28 complete bony
16 structures below the ankle joint.
17 "b. The ankle consists of the ankle joint which
18 consists of the distal third of the tibia and fibula and their
19 articulations with the talus and the soft tissue structures
20 surrounding the foot and ankle.
21 "(7) (4) MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT. The use of the hand
22 or machinery in the operation or working upon the foot and
23 ankle and its articulations.
24 "(6) (5) MECHANICAL TREATMENT. The application of
25 any mechanical appliance made of steel, leather, felt, or any
26 material to the foot and ankle or in the shoe for the purpose
27 of treating any disease, deformity, or ailment.
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1 "(4) (6) MEDICAL TREATMENT. The application to or
2 prescription for the foot of pads, fiberglass, adhesives,
3 felt, plaster, or any medicinal agency for both external and
4 internal use in connection with treatment of local ailments of
5 the human foot and ankle, except such the definition does not
6 include the medical treatment of any systemic disease, but
7 does allow treating includes treatment for the local
8 manifestations of those systemic diseases in the foot and
9 ankle.
10 "(1) (7) PODIATRY. The diagnosis and treatment of
11 disorders of the human foot and ankle as described herein.
12 "(2) (8) PRACTICE OF PODIATRY. The diagnosis and
13 medical or surgical or mechanical or manipulative or
14 electrical treatment of any ailment of the human foot and
15 ankle except such definition does not include the amputation
16 of the foot or the administering of an anesthetic other than
17 local. and the surgical treatment of ailments of the human
18 foot and ankle limited anatomically to the foot and ankle. The
19 practice of podiatric medicine shall include the amputation of
20 the toes and other parts of the foot and ankle, but shall not
21 include the amputation of the leg in its entirety or any
22 portion of the leg. A podiatric physician may prescribe drugs
23 that relate specifically to the scope of practice authorized
24 herein. Notwithstanding the definition of the practice of
25 podiatry in this subdivision, a podiatric physician who
26 surgically treats osseous ailments of the ankle shall have
27 completed at least 24 months of post-graduate residency
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1 training approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical
2 Education of the American Podiatric Medical Association.
3 "(9) HUMAN FOOT. The terminal appendage of the lower
4 extremity. It contains 26 bones and is divided into three
5 parts - the forefoot, the midfoot, and the hindfoot. The
6 forefoot consists of 14 phalanges and five metatarsals. The
7 midfoot consists of five tarsal bones and their articulations.
8 The hindfoot consists of two tarsal bones, the calcaneus and
9 the talus. The foot is defined as including all 26 complete
10 boney structures below the ankle joint, which ankle joint
11 consists of the distal tibia and fibula and their
12 articulations with the talus. The distal aspect of the tibia
13 and fibula, the achilles tendon, and all structures above the
14 dome of the talus reside within the leg.
15 "(5) (9) SURGICAL TREATMENT. The use of any cutting
16 instrument to treat a disease, ailment, or condition of the
17 human foot and ankle as defined herein, except that a
18 podiatrist shall not be authorized to amputate the human foot,
19 or perform any surgery on the human body at or above the ankle
20 joint, or administer anesthetics other than local
21 anesthetics."
22 Section 2. This act shall become effective on the
23 first day of the third month following its passage and
24 approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34-24-230