Medicare payments to podiatrists were almost $1 billion in 1995. This represented 2% of all Medicare outlays.1 The cost of non-managed podiatry care is increasing 12% per year versus only 8% for physicians.2 Podiatry procedures to Medicare patients increased from 13.7 million in 1986 to 25 million in 1991.3 Podiatry Plan makes conservative care - an important component of preventive care for Seniors - more cost efficient and effective so insurers can limit surgical alternatives.

Footnotes:
1. APMA Alert, American Podiatric Medical Association, Bethesda, MD; October 17, 1996.
2. APMA Alert, American Podiatric Medical Association, Bethesda, MD; October 17, 1996.
3. Health Policy Alternatives, APMA News, October 1993.