Legislative Report for Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association Board of Directors Meeting

Linda Kowalski

September 22, 2025

I am delighted to provide members of the Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association Board of Directors with an update on government relations issues at the State Capitol.  As you know, 2025 has been a good year overall for the Podiatric Medical profession in regard to legislation.

Recap of the 2025 Legislative Session

• Defeated legislation that would prohibit podiatrists from using the title “Podiatric Physician” (Senate Bill 468). This is the second year in a row that a bill has surfaced that would affect other professions as well in the healing arts (Chapter 369, Section 20-1).  As was discussed at last weekend’s APMA state advocacy forum in Boston, this issue is coming up in multiple states.  
• Protected the Podiatric practice from any encroachments on your scope of practice and worked to ensure last session’s expansion to total ankle replacements was not weakened in any way.   

• Secured $50 million in additional reimbursements in the Medicaid program for providers. We are working to have Podiatrists included in the first tranche of funding (House Bill 7287).  As you know, Podiatrists’ fees are the same as what an orthopedic doctor receives under the fee parity provision that we advocated to successfully have passed in 2021.

• Legislation was approved to create a new student loan reimbursement program. Podiatry is included in it.  The details and funding are being overseen by the Department of Public Health, and your government relations team is in touch with DPH on the program parameters that are being developed (Senate Bill 1450, Public Act 25-162).   

• We played a major role in derailing a bill to place new restrictions on medical device representatives who are in an operating room during surgery. Their presence helps ensure that the devices are properly fitted and operating (Senate Bill 1372).     

• Two pro-patient and provider reforms did not pass. One would shift the burden on a preauthorization request to the insurer; they would have to show the request was not justified (the provision was stripped from Senate Bill 10).  The other reduced the claw- back period on payment recoupment from 18 months to 12 months (House Bill 7079).

• A bill that would require individual and group health insurance plans to cover activityspecific orthotic devices, as well as prosthetic devices, died in the Insurance and Real Estate committee (Senate Bill 1015).

Special Session 

The General Assembly is expected to convene in a Special Session in mid-late October to pass a number of bills that were left on the Senate Calendar at adjournment due to a lack of time.  Initially, the purpose of the special session was to determine which federal cuts to Medicaid could be obviated with state dollars.  However, it looks like this might not happen as the major cuts do not take place until 2027.  Meanwhile, a significant housing affordability bill that was vetoed by Governor Lamont is currently under discussion and could be revised if leadership determines the votes are there to pass it.  We will be monitoring the Special Session closely and will keep the CPMA board apprised of any issues of concern.

APMA State Advocacy Forum—Boston, Mass.

One of our team members attended the recent APMA advocacy forum in Boston on September 18 and 19. We are providing a more detailed debrief on the program to Adam Mucinskas, DPM, and Gabe Gambardella, DPM; however, APMA is suggesting the following matters to state chapters for consideration as legislation:

• Podiatric Compact—This would expedite licensure in member states. So far, no state has acted yet to adopt the model bill.  A bill was introduced in Iowa this past session on it.   Fee Parity—The APMA model bill does not have the type of text that would go into a Connecticut bill.  This would be easy to remedy in drafting but there are other issues to discuss.
• “Taking Call”—This would create rules by which hospitals would compensate Podiatrists who are on call to perform needed surgery and patient care.
• 25 Modifier—This would make it more difficult for insurers to reject claims that include the modifier, an evaluation and management code of a significant and separate identifiable issue, that occurs when a DPM was treating a patient on the same day. Massachusetts’ Foot and Ankle Society partnered with the American Diabetes Association on legislation to create an amputation avoidance task force. The issue is pending in their legislature.

2026 Legislative Session

The 2026 legislative session will convene in Hartford in early February.  We are in the process of developing an agenda for CPMA and will present this to the board for your review at the next meeting.

Political Update

Finally, the government relations team expects Governor Lamont to announce soon his decision as to whether he will run for a third term for governor.  His decision has major implications for other races should he decide not to do so.  Republicans planning to run include New Britain  Mayor Erin Stewart, state Senator Ryan Fazio and Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker.  If Lamont does run, he will be favored.  Regarding the Connecticut General Assembly, we anticipate that the Democratic party will be heavily favored to retain their majorities in the state House and Senate.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. John Larson is facing a primary challenge from former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.  State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, House chair of the Human Services committee, has also entered the race. The other four members of the delegation are running for another term, and all are favored to win.

Thank you!

We appreciate the fact that you approved of our attendance at the APMA Forum in Boston.  We will continue to keep you updated over the interim.