06/18/2025

New York Scope Bill Update

We are happy to report that our modernized scope bill has been approved by both the Senate and Assembly! This means several things for the practice of podiatry in the state of New York. The three main changes that will occur to our scope include the following:

1) ALL podiatrists can now treat the skin of the leg if the wound is contiguous with the ankle. This includes diagnosing and treating skin conditions, injuries and conditions of the ankle including conservative treatment of ankle fractures

2) Board qualification status in RRA surgery now is sufficient to apply for an ankle permit to allow for those pursuing board certification to perform ankle fracture fixation and ankle fusion

3) Total ankle replacements are able to be performed by podiatrists in NYS with demonstration of appropriate training and experience 

Ultimately, this is a huge win for the profession and a scope advancement.

The next steps include waiting for the bill to be signed by the governor. This process can take several months, with a timeframe that spans from the end of June to the end of the year to obtain her signature on the bill. Once this is done, the bill has an effective date of 18 months until it becomes law which is typical of scope bills. This allows for time to adjust CPT codes and state education rules and regulations to reflect the changes in the scope. There is no way to expedite this process so we ask for everyone's patience. 

We would like to thank all of our membership for their support throughout this long and arduous process. We understand that these changes may make some members happier than others. We encourage anyone with concerns to reach out to your Board of Trustees directly and avoid direct contact with Legislation whenever possible. 

Job well done!

New York State Podiatric Medical Association