Colorado Preserves Independent Podiatry Board

APMA congratulates the Colorado Foot & Ankle Society (CFAS) on the successful enaction of HB 26-1344, which preserves the independent Colorado Podiatry Board following the state's sunset review process.

The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) had recommended consolidating podiatry regulation under the Colorado Medical Board. CFAS worked closely with APMA, legislators, stakeholders, and its lobbying team throughout the session to advocate for maintaining podiatric-specific oversight and representation in Colorado. APMA supported these efforts by submitting a formal letter to lawmakers outlining concerns related to workforce impacts, patient safety, and the importance of specialty-specific oversight for podiatric physicians.

"We appreciate APMA's partnership and the resources provided throughout this process, particularly as we evaluated consolidation models and broader national trends," said CFAS Executive Director Ashley House. "This was an important issue for Colorado podiatrists, and we are grateful for the collaboration and support from the national organization."

CFAS also noted their experience reinforced the importance of early engagement, strong state society leadership, and active member involvement in advancing and protecting the profession. This outcome reflects APMA's broader advocacy priorities to support a strong podiatric workforce, advance parity for podiatric physicians, and protect patient access to high quality foot and ankle care provided by podiatrists.