HB372 By Representative Williams (JD) RFD Health Rd 1 31-MAR-15

SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, certain terms are defined for purposes of the statutes regulating the practice of podiatry in Alabama.

This bill would provide further for the definition of practice of podiatry to include the examination, diagnosis, and treatment including, but not limited to, the medical, mechanical, manipulation, surgical, and electrical treatment of the soft tissue and osseous structures of the foot, ankle, and ankle joint.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

To amend Section 34-24-230, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the practice of podiatry; to expand the scope of the practice of podiatry; to include the examination, diagnosis, and treatment including, but not limited to, the medical, mechanical, manipulation, surgical, and electrical treatment of the soft tissue and osseous of the ankle and ankle joint.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. Section 34-24-230, Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§34-24-230.

"For purposes of this title, the following terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed by this section:

"(1) PODIATRY. The diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the human foot and ankle by a podiatric physician, as described herein.

"(2) PRACTICE OF PODIATRY. The diagnosis and medical or surgical or mechanical or manipulative or electrical treatment of any ailment of the human foot except such definition does not include the amputation of the foot or the administering of an anesthetic other than local and ankle, including the soft tissue and osseous structures, including the 26 bones of the foot, the ankle joint, and the distal half of the tibia and fibula.

"(3) DIAGNOSIS. The process of ascertaining a disease or ailment by its general symptoms.

"(4) MEDICAL TREATMENT. The application to or prescription for the foot of pads, fiberglass, adhesives, felt, plaster or any medicinal agency for both external and internal use in connection with treatment of local ailments of the human foot or ankle, to the level necessary to treat the local condition, except such definition does not include the medical treatment of any systemic disease, but does allow treating the local manifestations of those systemic diseases in the foot or ankle.

"(5) SURGICAL TREATMENT. The use of any cutting instrument to treat a disease, ailment, or condition of the human foot or ankle up to the midpoint of the tibia and fibula as defined herein, except that a podiatrist shall not be authorized to amputate the human foot, or perform any surgery on the human body at or above the ankle joint, or administer anesthetics other than local anesthetics.

"(6) MECHANICAL TREATMENT. The application of any mechanical appliance made of steel, leather, felt or any material to the foot or ankle or in the shoe for the purpose of treating any disease, deformity or ailment.

"(7) MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT. The use of the hand or machinery in the operation or working upon the foot and its articulations ankle.

"(8) ELECTRICAL TREATMENT. Any treatment by means and methods supplied by electric current.

"(9) HUMAN FOOT OR ANKLE. The terminal appendage of the lower extremity. It contains 26 bones and is divided into three parts - the forefoot, the midfoot, and the hindfoot. The forefoot consists of 14 phalanges and five metatarsals. The midfoot consists of five tarsal bones and their articulations. The hindfoot consists of two tarsal bones, the calcaneus and the talus. The foot is defined as including all 26 complete boney structures below the ankle joint, which ankle joint consists of the distal half of the tibia and fibula and their articulations with the talus. The distal aspect half of the tibia and fibula, the achilles tendon, and all structures above the dome of the talus reside within the leg, and all soft tissue in the distal half of the leg would all be considered to be part of the scope of practice."

Section 2. This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Podiatry, State Board of

Podiatrists

Code Amended