10/06/2014    William Deutsch, DPM

APMA Enters into Agreement With PFA (Jeffrey Root)

Mr Root responds to criticism of the affiliation
the APMA has with PFOLA. If his response was
meant to assuage podiatrists, I believe he missed
his mark.

He's correct in asserting that there's been a
push by the profession towards surgery of the
foot and ankle. Some states require a 3 year
program for licensure. But I'll bet the actual
percentage of podiatrists performing ankle
surgery is minuscule. And judging by the Medicare
published individual podiatrist fees not an awful
lot of bone surgery of the foot was performed.
Almost none of the biggest billers in Medicare
made a living off of surgery.

His most troubling statement was the need for
pedorthists to receive training in the diagnosis
of foot pathology, seemingly because podiatrists
are to blame for not referring patients with a
prescription or with a diagnosis.

I find it difficult to believe podiatrists refer
patients out to fabricate an orthotic. Why would
they? An orthopedic shoe is a different matter
but we're talking about orthotics.

This alliance can only serve to provide the
pedorthist with the official stamp of approval of
the APMA just as toothpaste gets a boost from
having the ADA approval. But dentists aren't
making a living off of toothpaste. Podiatrists do
make a living off of orthotics.

As a two way street scenario can Mr Root discuss
the number of walk-ins desiring an orthotic sans
prescription that are referred out to a
podiatrist so that an expert diagnosis and
prescription could be written?

This is essentially an economic issue and I'm
trying really hard to see the benefit to
podiatrists but it's too obtuse as it has been
currently presented.

William Deutsch, DPM, Valley Stream, NY,
woollfy1@yahoo.com

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