Union calls for end to ’discrimination’ against podiatrists

The AFL-CIO Executive Council has issued a statement in support of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)’s doctors of podiatric medicine (DPM), calling on Congress to enact legislation amending Title XIX of the Social Security Act governing Medicaid to recognize DPMs as physicians in the same manner in which they are recognized in Title XVIII governing Medicare.

The statement also called for amendment of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act governing Medicare to recognize the ability of DPMs to independently certify the need for and prescribe appropriate durable medical equipment within their scope of practice. The OPEIU represents more than one-third of the licensed DPMs who practice in the United States. DPMs, medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy are defined as physicians in Title XVIII of the Social Security Act governing Medicare, but DPMs are not similarly defined as physicians in Title XIX of the Social Security Act governing Medicaid.

Source: PR Newswire