Substitute House Bill No. 5196
Public Act No. 24-112
AN ACT EXPANDING THE PODIATRIC SCOPE OF PRACTICE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 20-54 of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October
1, 2024):
(c) A licensed podiatrist may independently engage in the surgical
treatment of the ankle, including the surgical treatment of the
anatomical structures of the ankle, as well as the administration and
prescription of drugs incidental thereto, and the surgical treatment of
manifestations of systemic diseases as they appear on the ankle, after
the podiatrist provides documentation to the Department of Public
Health of the following: (1) (A) Graduation on or after June 1, 2006, from
a three-year residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that
was accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, or its
successor organization, at the time of graduation, and (B) current board
certification or qualification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by
the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, or its successor
organization; or (2) (A) graduation prior to June 1, 2006, from a
residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that was at least
two years in length and accredited at the time of graduation by said
council, and (B) current board certification or qualification in Substitute House Bill No. 5196
Public Act No. 24-112 2 of 3
reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Foot
and Ankle Surgery, or its successor organization. For purposes of this
section, "surgical treatment of the ankle" includes all soft tissue and
osseous procedures, including ankle fracture fixation, ankle fusion,
ankle arthroscopy, insertion or removal of external fixation pins into or
from the tibial diaphysis at or below the level of the myotendinous
junction of the triceps surae, [and] insertion and removal of retrograde
tibiotalocalcaneal intramedullary rods and locking screws up to the
level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps [surea] surae and
Chopart joint-level amputation, but does not include the surgical
treatment of complications within the tibial diaphysis related to the use
of external fixation pins, the performance of total ankle replacements or
the treatment of tibial pilon fractures.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The cochairpersons of the
joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
matters relating to public health shall convene a panel comprised of two
representatives each from an organization representing podiatrists in
the state and an organization representing orthopedic physicians in the
state to develop, not later than August 1, 2024, a protocol for permitting
licensed podiatrists who have provided documentation to the
Department of Public Health of meeting the requirements set forth in
subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (c) of section 20-54 of the general
statutes, as amended by this act, to perform total ankle replacement
surgery. The protocol shall consist of a description of the experience,
skill and training requirements for performance of such surgery and the
procedure for assessing whether a podiatrist has the requisite
experience, skill and training. Not later September 1, 2024, the panel
shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a
of the general statutes, regarding the panel's protocol to the joint
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
matters relating to public health and the Commissioner of Public
Health. Not later than October 1, 2024, the commissioner shall post such Substitute House Bill No. 5196
Public Act No. 24-112 3 of 3
protocol on the Department of Public Health's Internet web site.
(b) On and after October 1, 2024, a licensed podiatrist who has
provided documentation to the Department of Public Health of meeting
the requirements set forth in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (c) of
section 20-54 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, may apply
to a hospital in the state for privileges to perform total ankle
replacement surgery at such hospital. A hospital may, at a minimum,
utilize the protocol developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section
to assess whether a podiatrist has the requisite experience, skill and
training to perform total ankle replacement surgery at such hospital.
(c) A podiatrist who has been approved by a hospital for privileges
to perform total ankle replacement surgery pursuant to subsection (b)
of this section may perform such surgery at such hospital.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a hospital to
grant a podiatrist privileges to perform total ankle replacement surgery
at the hospital.