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Effective February 12, 2025, all seven Part B Medicare Contractors will implement final Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) governing the use of skin substitute grafts and cellular and tissue-based products (CTPs) for Medicare Part B beneficiaries. These policies apply to the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs).

Thanks to coordinated advocacy efforts by the Alliance for Wound Care Stakeholders organization, in which ACFAS is an active member managed by the Health Policy Committee, and feedback from additional stakeholders, the final policies reflect several positive changes from the originally proposed versions. Highlights include:

• Vascular Assessment Flexibility: The proposed requirement for an ankle-brachial index has been replaced with a more flexible “vascular assessment” criterion.
• Increased Application Limit: The initial cap of four applications per episode of care has been raised to eight. Skin substitute grafts/CTPs may now be applied up to eight times within an episode of skin replacement therapy (defined as 12–16 weeks from the first application), provided there is documented wound closure progression and medical necessity. For more than four applications, the KX Modifier must be used to indicate medical necessity.
• Coverage for Exposed Structures: Products specifically indicated for use over exposed muscle, tendon, or bone will now be permitted in such cases unless contraindications exist.
• Clear Criteria for DFUs and VLUs:
  • Applications will be allowed for chronic, non-infected DFUs that have not achieved at least a 50% reduction in ulcer area after a minimum of four weeks of documented compliance with standard care.
  • Applications will also be allowed for chronic, non-infected VLUs that fail to respond to a minimum of four weeks of standard care, with documented compliance.
• Product Listings:
  • 17 brand-name products are covered for DFUs.
  • 5 brand-name products are covered for VLUs.
  • Over 100 brand-name products are classified as “non-covered.”

The Health Policy Committee will continue to monitor these policies and address any issues that arise during implementation. As members of ACFAS, you are encouraged to familiarize yourselves with these changes to ensure compliance and optimal patient care. Additional updates and resources will be shared as they become available.

The Society of Podiatric Organization Volunteerism was founded in 2024 to investigate, recognize, encourage and support the concept of volunteerism throughout the podiatric profession.

This year, they have completed studies on characteristics of current professional podiatric organization leaders as students, volunteerism in the podiatric profession, and service in the podiatric profession.

Characteristics of Current Professional Podiatric Organization Leaders as Students

This study surveyed contemporary leaders of podiatric organizations to understand their volunteerism and characteristics during their time as medical students. Results showed that a large portion of current leaders were actively involved in volunteerism as students, particularly with organizations such as ACFAS (63.3%), APMSA (44.9%), and student government (28.6%). However, only 45.5% held leadership roles during school, and 41.8% foresaw national leadership roles in the future. These leaders tended to be academically inclined, often coming from the top half of their class and participating in research, conferences, and other volunteer activities.

Circles of Volunteerism in the Podiatric Profession (2023-2024)

This investigation aimed to provide a cross-sectional view of volunteerism within large national podiatric organizations, focusing on collaboration and multi-organization involvement. Data showed that 667 individuals volunteered across major organizations, with some individuals participating in multiple organizations simultaneously. For instance, 17.4% of volunteers were involved with more than one organization. A key finding was the identification of 12 "All-Star volunteers" who actively participated in at least four organizations or service positions, highlighting the significant overlap in volunteerism across the field. The study emphasizes the need for continued collaboration between organizations to enhance service opportunities.

Circles of Service in the Podiatric Profession (2023-2024)

This study focused on professional service positions such as residency and fellowship program directors, APMA House of Delegates members, and podiatric medical school faculty. It explored the extent to which these professionals also volunteered in various podiatric organizations. The study revealed significant overlap in volunteerism, with many individuals serving in multiple capacities across different organizations. For example, 13.3% of residency program directors also volunteered with ACFAS, and 20.6% of APMA House of Delegates members volunteered with the APMA. The study underscored the collaborative nature of podiatric professional service and encouraged organizations to recognize and support these volunteers.

These studies collectively illustrate the widespread and interconnected nature of volunteerism and service within the podiatric profession, highlighting opportunities for increased collaboration and recognition of volunteers.

On behalf of our 8,000 physician members (click here if viewing on mobile), the ACFAS Board of Directors is compelled to acknowledge the extensive and surprising inaccuracies in the American Medical Association's (AMA) recent ‘promotional article’ on podiatrists. ACFAS members undergo extensive training and certification comparable to other surgical specialists. ACFAS is encouraging the AMA to review the ACFAS Position Statement on The Education, Training & Certification of Foot & Ankle Surgeons, as well as our Take a New Look at Foot & Ankle Surgeons video at takeanewlook.org.  

Podiatric physicians and surgeons are an integral part of the healthcare team treating the majority of foot and ankle related issues in the U.S. At a time when public health depends on a coordinated and well-supported healthcare workforce, it is crucial to recognize the ongoing contributions of all medical professionals to meet the growing demand for patient care.

April 25, 2023

Lowell Scott Weil, Sr., DPM, FACFAS, is a renowned foot and ankle surgeon, mentor, innovator, and friend to many. Throughout his career, Dr. Weil Sr. shared his talents with the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, which was culminated by serving as it’s President from 1993-1994. Because of his dedicated service and leadership to the College, Dr. Weil Sr. was a leading architect for the Annual Scientific Conference, which became a “can’t miss event” under his leadership in the early 1990’s, surgical skills courses, the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery where he served as Editor-In -Chief and building relationships across medicine to enable ACFAS to better advocate on behalf of the membership.  

Dr. Weil Sr., founder of the Weil Foot and Ankle Institute, was one of the first to get a DPM degree in 1964, practicing from 1965 until his retirement in 2018. Dr. Weil Sr. was one of the first sports medicine specialists in the profession, taking care of runners during the running craze of the 1970’s, serving as Team Podiatrist to the 1980 Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team, team podiatrist and podiatry consultant for the Chicago Bears for 25 years,  team podiatrist for the Chicago White Sox for 25 years, and Podiatry Consultant to the Chicago Bulls.  

Dr. Weil Sr. is known throughout the world for his development of the Scarf Bunionectomy, a revolutionary procedure that is still commonly used today internationally and has helped countless patients around the globe.  The osteotomy that bears his name is the most commonly performed surgery on the forefoot in the world.  He developed the first ever first metatarsal phalangeal joint replacement in the early 1970’s that is used as the FDA predicate for all that came after.   

Read the full article, coordinated by Howard Zlotoff, DPM, FACFAS and authored by several ACFAS members, friends, and family of Dr. Lowell Weil Sr. The purpose of this article is to recognize the immense impact and accomplishments Dr. Weil Sr. has had on the College, the profession, and across medicine in advancing the art and science of foot and ankle surgery.  

Words cannot express our profound sadness as we announce the recent passing of former ACFAS Executive Director Chris (J.C.) Mahaffey, MS, CAE, FASAE.

Chris started with the College in 2003 and served until his retirement in 2020. He was a dedicated leader to ACFAS and the profession as well as a friend and mentor to so many members, staff and colleagues. Chris chose to follow a path of public service within the field of association management where he was a luminary among association executives and helped to advance the mission of several institutions for over 45 years. 

 His countless contributions and accomplishments during his ACFAS tenure were extensive and always driven by the needs of the membership. Today, ACFAS members and staff continue to build on the foundation that Chris laid for us over the years. ACFAS “stands on the shoulders of giants” and Chris is certainly one of them. 

 ACFAS staff are in the final days of preparations for its 2023 Annual Scientific Conference next week. While we are thinking about Chris and his family, the team is proud to carry on his legacy. 

 Thank you, Chris, for being our inspiration, our mentor, and our friend.

 “Together you have changed – and ARE changing—the course of American medical history.”

Chris Mahaffey, MS, CAE, FASAE, The Evolution of a Profession

 Chris’ family has shared that there will be a memorial service in the coming months. ACFAS will share details as they are available.

August 11, 2022 

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) recognizes the role of board certification as an attestation to medical providers’ mastery of the standards and competencies specific to their training and practice within their specialty. Historically, board certification has provided the public with a trustworthy indication of their provider’s expertise. Increasingly however, board certification is being utilized as a requisite for obtaining and maintaining hospital privileges, as well as for participation with third-party payor networks.
 
The podiatric profession in the United States is currently subdivided into two specialties, podiatric medicine and podiatric (foot and ankle) surgery. ACFAS supports the recognition of one certifying board per specialty, as has been the determination of the Joint Committee on the Recognition of Specialty Boards (JCRSB) of the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME). This policy supports the CPME’s goal of “prevention of unnecessary duplication by boards and maintenance of minimum standards for the conduct and operation of specialty boards.”¹ The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) is recognized as the certifying board in the specialty of foot and ankle surgery and The American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) is recognized as the certifying board for primary podiatric medicine and podiatric orthopaedics. 

ACFAS is alarmed by the announcement from the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) that it plans to issue an unrecognized certificate in podiatric surgery. Allowing a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) not recognized by any accrediting body and circumvents the JCRSB determination risks safe patient care, the public’s trust and the reputation of our profession.

ACFAS acknowledges that credentialing bodies (hospital medical staffs, third-party payors, and other entities) may require board qualification/certification as one of many measures to determine a candidate’s worthiness of privileging or eligibility to provide specific services. ACFAS believes privileging, when determined to be contingent on board certification, should reflect certification or qualification by the specialty board recognized for assessing the training and demonstrated competence for the specific privilege in question.
 
The existence of separate certification in surgical and medical specialties in the profession of podiatry ultimately exists to protect the health and welfare of the public. It is also an important mechanism which allows doctors of podiatric medicine to develop the practice that best suits them and their ability to optimally serve their patients. The value of this distinction is maximized when clear delineations are maintained regarding the specialty training each board serves to certify. Those who have mastered the surgical aspects would be proficient enough to be board certified/qualified with ABFAS. For these reasons, ACFAS recognizes the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery as the only certifying board in the specialty of foot and ankle surgery and requires obtaining this certificate in order to be a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Download the full statement.