MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2024 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Human Services

By: Representative Barton

House Bill 976

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-27-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE TO INCLUDE TREATMENT OF THE FOOT AND ANKLE AND THEIR GOVERNING AND RELATED STRUCTURES; TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF PODIATRIST TO MEAN A PHYSICIAN WHO ENGAGES IN THE PRACTICE OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE; TO AUTHORIZE PODIATRISTS TO PERFORM CONSERVATIVE AND SURGICAL TREATMENTS OF THE FOOT AND ANKLE AND THEIR GOVERNING AND RELATED STRUCTURES AFTER THEY HAVE COMPLETED TRAINING DETERMINED TO BE SUFFICIENT BY THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE AT A PROGRAM ACCREDITED BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING ASSOCIATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE BOARD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 73-27-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-27-1.  (1)  The practice of podiatric medicine is that profession concerned with the prevention, examination, diagnosis and medical, surgical and adjuvant treatment of conditions of the human foot and ankle and their governing and related structures, including the muscles or tendons of the lower leg governing the functions of the foot and ankle and soft tissue up to the tibial tubercle/tuberosity.  For the purpose of this section, "ankle" means the ankle joint, which consists of the distal third of the tibia and fibula and their articulations with the talus and the soft tissue structures surrounding the foot and ankle. * * *  For the purposes of this chapter, "foot" means that part of the human anatomy which consists of the tarsal bones, metatarsal bones and phalanges.

     (2)  A podiatrist is a * * *medical care provider physician who engages in the practice of podiatric medicine.

     (3)  A podiatrist may prescribe and administer drugs and tests, excluding general and spinal anesthesia, that are essential to the practice of podiatric medicine when used for or in connection with treatment of disorders of the human foot and ankle and their governing and related structures, including the muscles or tendons of the lower leg governing the functions of the foot and ankle and soft tissue up to the tibial tubercle/tuberosity.

     (4)  A podiatrist properly licensed in Mississippi may perform conservative and surgical treatments of the foot and ankle and their governing and related structures, including the muscles or tendons of the lower leg governing the functions of the foot and ankle and soft tissue up to the tibial tubercle/tuberosity, when that podiatrist has completed training determined to be sufficient by the State Board of Medical Licensure at a program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting association acceptable to the board.  Implementation of the provisions of this subsection (4) shall be made pursuant to rules promulgated by the board that are predicated on the education or level of training, or both, of an applicant.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.