Illinois Restores Medicaid Podiatry Services

The Illinois legislature, in 2012, removed podiatry and dental care benefits from Medicaid. In 2014 legislators restored the benefits. The Weil Foot and Ankle Institute was a strong backer of the campaign to convince lawmakers to bring back the benefits for podiatry.

“It has been two years since Medicaid patients over the age of 21 have had the benefit of podiatric care, ” said Lowell Weil, Jr., M.D., president of Weil Foot & Ankle Institute. “This is especially important to Medicaid patients who have diabetes and suffer from diabetic ulcers. Ignoring what appears to be a simple sore on the bottom of the foot of a diabetic patient can lead to infection and even culminate in gangrene, ” he said. Weil added that a review of data from Medicaid patients revealed an increase in emergency room visits after podiatry care was cut.

State Senator Heather Steans, a Democrat from Chicago, agreed with Weil saying that a review of programs cut in the Medicaid reforms of 2012 found that it could cost less to add back adult dental care and podiatry services in order to stop people from going to emergency rooms, where treatment is more expensive. She added that some of the proposed changes, included in the legislation, were necessary in order to comply with new federal rules.

Bill sponsor Representative Greg Harris, said that the 2012 cuts did not save the state money. He estimates that the additional services will cost about $221 million this year. Federal money will cover some of the expenses, he said, making the final cost to Illinois tax payers about $125 million.

Lowell Weill, Sr., M.D. founded the WeilFoot and Ankle Institute in 1965. It has since grown to 23 podiatric physicians providing services in 20 locations.