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An Act To Amend the Scope of Practice of Podiatric Medicine
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §3551, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2017, c. 14, §1, is further amended to read:
 
4. Practice of podiatric medicine.   "Practice of podiatric medicine" means the diagnosis and treatment of maladies of the human foot and, ankle and soft tissue of the lower leg by medical, surgical or mechanical means and the evaluation, diagnosis, management and prevention of conditions of the lower extremities, which may include osseous and soft tissue procedures that address the pathology of the foot, ankle and contiguous attachments below the tibial tuberosity. "Practice of podiatric medicine" includes the performance of a history and physical on a podiatrist's preoperative patient and upon the patient's admission into a hospital or ambulatory surgical center. "Practice of podiatric medicine" includes the administration of local anesthesia in conjunction with the practice of podiatry. The use of general anesthesia is permitted in conjunction with the practice of podiatry when administered or supervised by a medical or osteopathic physician who assumes responsibility for the administration of that anesthesia to a patient being treated by a podiatrist.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the scope of practice of podiatric medicine to include the diagnosis and treatment of maladies of the soft tissue of the lower leg and the evaluation, diagnosis, management and prevention of conditions of the lower extremities.