News

9/30/25 For Immediate Release

Illinois Association of Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons Respond to Misleading Statements from Orthopedic Leadership

Chicago, IL — The Illinois Association of Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons (ILAPPS), representing more than 1,200 licensed podiatric physicians and surgeons across Illinois, issues this statement in response to recent inflammatory and misleading claims made by orthopedic organizations regarding podiatric training and expertise in foot and ankle care.

These statements, which mischaracterize the education, surgical experience, and qualifications of podiatrists, are both factually inaccurate and harmful to patient trust. They also stand in stark contrast to the reality that orthopedic practices across the country regularly employ podiatrists as partners and colleagues in delivering foot and ankle care.

Setting the Record Straight

Podiatric surgical training is rigorous, comprehensive, and specifically dedicated to the foot and ankle. Podiatrists complete a three-year surgical residency focused exclusively on foot and ankle care, encompassing biomechanics, diabetic limb salvage, wound management, trauma, reconstructive procedures, and limb-preserving surgery. Many podiatric physicians pursue additional fellowships to deepen expertise in trauma, complex pathology, and advanced reconstructive techniques.

By comparison, orthopedic residents receive broader musculoskeletal training but perform far fewer foot and ankle procedures during residency. The claim that orthopedic surgeons are inherently more qualified in this area is simply not supported by the evidence.

A Call for Respect and Accuracy

ILAPPS recognizes and values the important contributions of orthopedic surgeons within musculoskeletal medicine. Collaboration between specialties is essential for advancing patient outcomes. However, the recent statements published under orthopedic leadership are divisive, misleading, and ultimately detrimental to the patients we all serve.

Our patients deserve accurate information, not rhetoric that misrepresents training pathways and diminishes access to expert care.

Considering Legal Action

ILAPPS prefers professional dialogue and constructive engagement through peer-reviewed, fact-based channels. However, if these statements are not clarified or retracted, we are prepared to pursue legal action to protect our members, our profession, and, most importantly, our patients.

As leaders in podiatric medicine, we remain committed to transparency, patient advocacy, and the highest ethical and clinical standards. We will not allow misinformation to compromise patient care or diminish the essential role podiatric physicians play in foot and ankle health.

Media Contact:
Dr. Peter Lovato

President
Illinois Association of Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons

(312) 427-5810
[email protected]


9/3/25 - Your Input Matters: Complete Podiatric Salary Survey + Enter to Win a $500 Gift Card

APMA is excited to announce it is partnering with Marit Health to conduct a comprehensive national survey to gather the most accurate, up-to-date data on salary and compensation in podiatry.

This anonymous, five-minute survey will allow APMA to build a comprehensive dataset on salary and compensation in podiatry. This data will help drive student recruitment and workforce planning and will empower individual physicians in hiring and contract negotiations. You will also reap important personal benefits from participating—including the potential to win great prizes! READ MORE.....


 8/25/25 - CAC-PIAC Representative call updates

Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule APMA Health Policy & Coding Advisor Jeffrey Lehrman, DPM started the meeting, providing an overview of the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (PFS) and noting that the comment period is currently open and APMA staff are working closely with the Health Policy and Practice Committee (HPPC) to prepare the APMA’s response. Read more.....


 7/30/25 -  OPEIU Health Insurance Plan Update

To Guild Participants: We have received the renewal of the OPEIU Health Insurance Plan for September 2025 through August 2026. As you know, this is a fully insured plan through Highmark that , through internal BCBS agreements, allows access in all Guild states , using the local Blue provider networks. Rate grids prepared and will be available for publish in September. 

Patrice Cooper - Executive Director


 7/2/25 - Component Delegation 

During the 2025 House of Delegates, the HOD Operations Manual was amended to stipulate that “components with 3 or more delegates at least 25 percent of the voting delegates must have served as a delegate for an aggregate of 5 years or less. Delegates may serve as alternates and alternates may serve indefinitely. Components with 2 voting delegates or fewer and components that elect delegates for terms of no more than two years in an election open to any eligible member are exempt from term provisions. If delegations demonstrate that they cannot meet this expectation, they will not lose representation for that year.” 


 6/24/25- New and Improved OPEIU Discount College Benefit Website

OPEIU is pleased to share a new and improved OPEIU Discount College Benefit website for our members and their families. The more user-friendly site now allows members to directly select the college of their choice when exploring degree options. The site is linked on OPEIU’s website under the Member Resources section. Feel free to share with members: OPEIU Discount College Benefit. 


 5/20/25- Exciting News: National Student Recruitment Campaign Launches This Week

Dear State Association Presidents and Executive Directors,

On behalf of the Foundation for Podiatric Education (FPE), I’m excited to share a significant milestone in our shared mission to grow the future of our profession.

This Monday, May 19, we officially launched the first phase of our national student recruitment campaign, developed in partnership with JPA Health. This targeted six-week digital campaign (running through June 30) will be live across Google Search and Meta (Facebook/Instagram), all driving prospective students to our brand-new website: DiscoverPodiatry.org.

Campaign Phase One is just the beginning—a second, even more comprehensive omnichannel phase is planned—but the work is already inspiring. The website, automated email series, social media content, and videos are dynamic, professional, and purpose-driven. We believe these tools will raise awareness, help shift perceptions, and elevate interest in podiatric medicine across a broad and diverse student audience.

Even in these early stages, this campaign is already fueling new enthusiasm and support from donors and stakeholders who see how strategically and creatively we are investing in our future.

What’s Coming Next:

  • This Week: Campaign launch – paid digital ads go live. Students who complete an interest form on the site will begin receiving an automated series of engaging follow-up emails.
  • Next Week: A robust FAQ page will be added to the site to address common questions and misconceptions about the profession.
  • Late May: A Partner Toolkit will be shared, complete with social media posts, videos, imagery, email and newsletter copy, and more, to help amplify campaign reach across your networks.

This campaign is designed to reach late-deciding students, encourage applications, and generate data on which messages and platforms resonate best. JPA will continuously monitor and optimize the campaign’s performance in real-time.

We need your help to spread the word. Share the site, talk to students, and post your story. Attached is some social media content you will see in the future.

We also want you to know that APMA will reach out soon regarding a virtual presentation on the broader profession branding campaign. We hope you and your association leadership will join us to learn more about this next step.

Thank you for your continued leadership and dedication to advancing podiatric medicine. We’re proud of what’s launching—and excited about what’s ahead.


 5/1/25 - Important Update on ILAPPS Fiscal Year & Membership Dues

ILAPPS is aligning its fiscal year with APMA to streamline membership billing and internal processes, as approved by the Board of Directors. Starting this year, APMA will bill ILAPPS membership dues. With the fiscal year now ending in May, 2025/26 ILAPPS dues will be reduced by applying a 3-month credit (June–September) as a lower fee during this transition. This shift has moved our nominations timeline from October to align with the new fiscal year.


 4/30/25 - Updated 2025 Residency Placement Status

OPEN POSITIONS: CLICK HERE


 3/12/25- Access Free MATE Courses

We are excited to share an exclusive opportunity for you to enhance your professional expertise through the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) courses, available online for free through Pri-Med. We encourage each of you to take advantage of this valuable opportunity for professional development. Your commitment to ongoing education is commendable, and the MATE courses offer a convenient way to stay current in the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare. How to Get Started: CLICK HERE


01/10/25 - We have become aware of an issue with the IDFPR Licensing renewal system. 

UPDATE as of 01/10/25

IDFPR have just communicated to us that ALL refunds have been processed. Please email Patrice Cooper (ILAPPS Executive Director - [email protected]) if you believe your refund was not processed. 

UPDATE as of 11/19/24 

The below email has been sent by the IDFPR to those that paid for their renewal in error. Please email Patrice Cooper (ILAPPS Executive Director - [email protected]) if you are still having issues getting your refund.

Hello,

This email is to inform you that Podiatrist licensees who paid during the last renewal period (in Fiscal Year 23) are entitled to a fee waiver for the renewal period that opened November 1, 2024. If you are receiving this email, you have been identified as being eligible for the fee waiver and, therefore, entitled a refund. We are in the process of issuing a refund to your original form of payment and appreciate your patience.

Thank you. 

IDFPR 

 


 12/11/24 - Don't Miss Your Chance: Apply for the MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Exception

The MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Exception application is open through the end of the year. Groups/clinicians who don’t usually report MIPS or have no MIPS-eligible clinicians may consider applying for the EUC to ensure no downside risk.

Groups/clinicians significantly impacted by the Change Healthcare outage should consider filing a MIPS EUC Exception application. You can submit an application for any of the MIPS Performance categories (quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability) if you have experienced Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances. EUCs are defined as rare events entirely outside of your control and the control of the facility in which you practice that may:

  • Cause you to be unable to collect the information necessary to submit for a MIPS performance category.
  • Cause you to be unable to submit the information used to score a MIPS performance category for an extended period (for example, if you failed to collect data for the quality performance category for three months).
  • Impact your every day processes and affect your performance on cost measures and other administrative claims measures. 

Anyone wanting to apply for an EUC should:

  • Sign in to the QPP website with your Health Care Quality Information System (HCQIS) Access Roles and Profile (HARP) account.
    • If you are applying for a group EUC, ensure you log into the group (TIN) QPP account.
  • Choose “Exceptions Application” from the left-hand navigation.
  • Click “Add New QPP Exception” on the right side of the screen.
  • Choose “MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception Application”.
  • Select the performance categories impacted (likely Quality, Cost, Promoting Interoperability, and Improvement Activities).
  • Enter reason for EUC, e.g., “Impact of Change Healthcare on our operations and ability to run the business.”
  • Enter the impacted timeframe or check the “Still Affected” box if the impact of the Change Healthcare outage is still affecting your group.

Note: We recommend keeping all supporting documentation around your EUC circumstances in case of audit, e.g., loss of revenue, staffing reductions, and other supporting documents.

Additional CMS resources:

11/20/24 - IDFPR Licensing Software 

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced the agency has reached an agreement to secure a new professional licensing system for individuals whose careers require a license to work in Illinois. The Department will invest $9 million over the next three years and partner with NIC Licensing Solutions, LLC to implement the new online system. 

IDFPR will immediately begin implementation of the new software, and all Departmental licensees will be transitioned to the new licensing system in six phases, ensuring every application and fee payment will be available online.  

According to the Department, the new licensing system will feature a user-friendly interface with improved communications and create a streamlined review of license applications and fees. Prospective licensees will be notified electronically when applications are received, reviewed, and licenses are issued by the Department.  Read more here.

__________________________________________________________

1/20/24 - COVID-19 vaccinations 

Podiatrists now have the authority to administer COVID-19 vaccinations starting January 2024. According to the IDPH administrative code, it is mandatory to input all COVID-19 vaccine data, regardless of funding source, into I-CARE—the Immunization Information System (IIS) for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

IDPH IIS code: https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/077/07700689sections.html - Section 689.40(d) is the pertinent rule

For all podiatrists administering COVID-19 vaccines, please go to I-CARE for onboarding. If podiatrists are exclusively providing flu or tetanus shots, connecting to I-CARE is optional but IDPH is available to assist in establishing this connection if desired.

For further assistance and /or I-CARE onboarding, click on this link:  https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=35f8f066b2364aff8d3526c4bf413a7c. 


 11/19/24 - We have become aware of an issue with the IDFPR Licensing renewal system. 

UPDATE as of 11/19/24 

The below email has been sent by the IDFPR to those that paid for their renewal in error. Please email Patrice Cooper (ILAPPS Executive Director - [email protected]) if you are still having issues getting your refund.

Hello,

This email is to inform you that Podiatrist licensees who paid during the last renewal period (in Fiscal Year 23) are entitled to a fee waiver for the renewal period that opened November 1, 2024. If you are receiving this email, you have been identified as being eligible for the fee waiver and, therefore, entitled a refund. We are in the process of issuing a refund to your original form of payment and appreciate your patience.

Thank you. 

IDFPR

 UPDATE as of 11/15/24 

IDFPR recognizes that certain individuals paid for their renewal (in error) and they are working towards issuing a refund to their original forms of payment. Please email Patrice Cooper (ILAPPS Executive Director - [email protected]) with your payment details to let her know you paid and are awaiting a refund. ILAPPS will work as a liaison to make sure our members receive a refund as quickly as possible.

UPDATE as of 11/8/24 

We're pleased to share an update on the recent issue with the IDFPR Licensing renewal system.  

As communicated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, "Individuals who paid their renewal fee for FY 23 will not be charged a fee for the current renewal cycle. We've also worked with our IT vendor to ensure those that paid a fee last renewal cycle will not need to pay a fee this renewal cycle."  

If you have already paid your renewal fee in error, please contact the IDFPR directly to request a refund. The Department is working to identify and refund these payments proactively. 


 2/23/24 - Access Free MATE Courses

We are excited to share an exclusive opportunity for you to enhance your professional expertise through the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) courses, available online for free through Pri-Med. We encourage each of you to take advantage of this valuable opportunity for professional development. Your commitment to ongoing education is commendable, and the MATE courses offer a convenient way to stay current in the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare. How to Get Started: CLICK HERE


1/13/24 - Resident Day Success!

IPMA Resident Day was a huge success and granted us the opportunity to meet and network with incoming residents. We look forward to seeing their contributions to the future development of podiatric medicine and the continued growth of the association!