SB279 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Podiatry, scope of practice expanded to include foot and ankle, Sec. 34-24-230 am'd.

Summary

SB279 expands podiatry to treat and operate on foot and ankle disorders, including certain ankle surgeries, with a required 24‑month surgical residency for ankle procedures.

What This Bill Does

It broadens the podiatry scope to include disorders of both the foot and ankle. It allows podiatrists to use medical, surgical, mechanical, manipulative, and electrical treatments and to prescribe drugs related to these practices. It permits amputations of toes and other parts of the foot and ankle but not of the leg, and it requires podiatrists who surgically treat ankle bone problems to complete a 24‑month residency approved by the relevant education council. The changes become effective after a short waiting period following approval.

Who It Affects

• Podiatric physicians in Alabama, whose scope of practice would now include the foot and ankle and who may perform ankle-related surgery (with the residency requirement).
• Patients with foot or ankle disorders in Alabama, who could access expanded podiatric care and a broader range of treatment options for foot and ankle problems.

Key Provisions

• Expands the scope of podiatry to include treatment of disorders of the foot and ankle (not the leg).
• Defines and broadens the anatomy and scope to cover ankle-related conditions and various treatment modalities (medical, surgical, mechanical, manipulative, electrical).
• Allows podiatrists to diagnose and provide treatments and to prescribe drugs related to the scope of podiatry for foot/ankle conditions.
• Specifies that toe and foot/ankle amputations are within podiatry practice, but leg amputations are not.
• Requires a podiatrist who surgically treats ankle bone problems to complete a 24-month post-graduate surgical residency approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatric Medical Association.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Podiatry