ASSEMBLY, No. 2905

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 5, 1997

By Assemblyman CORODEMUS

An Act concerning podiatry and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes and P.L.1992, c.162 (C.17B:27A-17 et seq.).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Notwithstanding any provision of a health maintenance organization contract for health care services, hereafter delivered or issued for delivery in this State, whenever the contract includes coverage for routine foot care, coverage shall be deemed to include routine foot care services provided by a podiatric physician when the podiatric physician performs an eligible service within the scope of his practice.

    For the purposes of this section, "routine foot care" means the treatment or removal of asymptomatic corns, asymptomatic calluses or toenails. Services performed shall be deemed medically necessary for asymptomatic corns, asymptomatic calluses and toenails in the presence of metabolic or peripheral vascular diseases, and symptomatic conditions of the foot. Routine foot care does not include orthopedic shoes, foot orthotics or supportive devices for the foot or any other durable medical equipment.

    2. Notwithstanding any provision of a health benefits plan, hereafter delivered or issued for delivery in this State, whenever the plan includes coverage for routine foot care, coverage shall be deemed to include routine foot care services provided by a podiatric physician when the podiatric physician performs an eligible service within the scope of his practice.

    For the purposes of this section, "routine foot care" means the treatment or removal of asymptomatic corns, asymptomatic calluses or toenails. Services performed shall be deemed medically necessary for asymptomatic corns, asymptomatic calluses and toenails in the presence of metabolic or peripheral vascular diseases, and symptomatic conditions of the foot. Routine foot care does not include orthopedic shoes, foot orthotics or supportive devices for the foot or any other durable medical equipment.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill requires health maintenance organizations and small employer health benefits plans that provide coverage for routine foot care, to permit the foot care to be provided by a podiatric physician. The bill defines "routine foot care" as the treatment or removal of asymptomatic corns, asymptomatic calluses or toenails. Services performed shall be deemed medically necessary for asymptomatic corns, asymptomatic calluses and toenails in the presence of metabolic or peripheral vascular diseases, and symptomatic conditions of the foot. Routine foot care does not include orthopedic shoes, foot orthotics or supportive devices for the foot or any other durable medical equipment.

Requires HMOs and small employer health benefits plans that cover routine foot care to permit podiatric physicians to provide such services.