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SB2442 • 2026

Podiatric medicine and podiatrists; revise definitions and provisions related to.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-27-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE AND TO AUTHORIZE TREATMENT OF DISORDERS OF THE FOOT AND ANKLE AND THEIR GOVERNING AND RELATED STRUCTURES; TO PROVIDE THAT A PODIATRIST LICENSED IN MISSISSIPPI MAY PERFORM CONSERVATIVE AND SURGICAL TREATMENTS AFTER COMPLETING CERTAIN APPROVED TRAINING DETERMINED TO BE SUFFICIENT BY THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE; TO PROVIDE THAT A LICENSED PODIATRIST MAY PERFORM SURGICAL TREATMENTS OF THE ANKLE ONLY IN AN ACCREDITED HOSPITAL LICENSED IN THE STATE; TO PROHIBIT TREATMENT AT OR ABOVE THE KNEE BY A PODIATRIST; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education Healthcare
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Fillingane
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and has no legal effect, so specific implementation details are speculative.

Podiatric Medicine and Podiatrists; Revised Definitions

This bill changes the definition of podiatric medicine to include treatment for foot and ankle disorders and sets training requirements for podiatrists who want to perform surgical treatments.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the definition of podiatric medicine to cover conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures up to the tibial tubercle/tuberosity.
  • Allows licensed podiatrists in Mississippi to prescribe drugs and tests for treating foot and ankle disorders after completing approved training.
  • Requires podiatrists performing surgical treatments on the ankle to complete a residency program determined sufficient by the State Board of Medical Licensure.
  • Limits ankle surgery performed by podiatrists to accredited hospitals within the state, with privileges granted by hospital staff.
  • Prohibits podiatrists from treating areas above the knee.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Podiatrists licensed in Mississippi who want to perform surgical treatments on the foot and ankle.
  • Patients seeking treatment for foot and ankle conditions from a podiatrist.

Terms To Know

Tibial tubercle/tuberosity
A bony prominence located near the knee, marking the upper limit of where podiatric treatments are allowed.
Council of Podiatric Medical Education (CPME)
An organization that approves residency programs for podiatrists.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and therefore has no legal effect.
  • Details about the specific training requirements are left to be determined by the State Board of Medical Licensure.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (S) Referred To Public Health and Welfare

Official Summary Text

Podiatric medicine and podiatrists; revise definitions and provisions related to.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2442 *SS26/R1113* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R1113
PAGE 1 (baf\tb)

To: Public Health and
Welfare
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Fillingane

SENATE BILL NO. 2442

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-27-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REVISE THE DEFINITION OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE AND TO AUTHORIZE 2
TREATMENT OF DISORDERS OF THE FOOT AND ANKLE AND THEIR GOVERNING 3
AND RELATED STRUCTURES; TO PROVIDE THAT A PODIATRIST LICENSED IN 4
MISSISSIPPI MAY PERFORM CONSERVATIVE AND SURGICAL TREATMENTS AFTER 5
COMPLETING CERTAIN APPROVED TRAINING DETERMINED TO BE SUFFICIENT 6
BY THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE; TO PROVIDE THAT A 7
LICENSED PODIATRIST MAY PERFORM SURGICAL TREATMENTS OF THE ANKLE 8
ONLY IN AN ACCREDITED HOSPITAL LICENSED IN THE STATE; TO PROHIBIT 9
TREATMENT AT OR ABOVE THE KNEE BY A PODIATRIST; AND FOR RELATED 10
PURPOSES. 11
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 12
SECTION 1. Section 73-27-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 13
amended as follows: 14
73-27-1. (1) The practice of podiatric medicine is that 15
profession concerned with the prevention, examination, diagnosis 16
and medical, surgical and adjuvant treatment of conditions of the 17
human foot and ankle and their governing and related structures, 18
including the muscles or tendons of the lower leg governing the 19
functions of the foot and ankle and soft tissue up to the tibial 20
tubercle/tuberosity. For purposes of this section, "ankle" means 21
the ankle joint, which consists of the distal third of the tibia 22
S. B. No. 2442 *SS26/R1113* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R1113
PAGE 2 (baf\tb)

and fibula and their articulations with the talus and the soft 23
tissue structures surrounding the foot and ankle. 24
For the purposes of this chapter, "foot" means that part of 25
the human anatomy which consists of the tarsal bones, metatarsal 26
bones and phalanges. 27
(2) A podiatrist is a medical care provider who engages in 28
the practice of podiatric medicine. 29
(3) A licensed podiatrist may prescribe and administer drugs 30
and tests, excluding general and spinal anesthesia, that are 31
essential to the practice of podiatric medicine when used for or 32
in connection with treatment of disorders of the human foot and 33
ankle and their governing and related structures, including the 34
muscles or tendons of the lower leg governing the functions of the 35
foot and ankle and soft tissues up to the tibial 36
tubercle/tuberosity. 37
(4) A licensed podiatrist may also perform surgical and/or 38
medical treatment of the ankle and governing structures and tissue 39
when the podiatrist has successfully completed a Council of 40
Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) approved three-year 41
postgraduate residency. 42
(5) A podiatrist properly licensed in Mississippi may 43
perform conservative and surgical treatments of the foot and their 44
governing and related structures, including the muscles or tendons 45
of the lower leg governing the functions of the foot and ankle and 46
soft tissue up to the tibial tubercle/tuberosity, when that 47
S. B. No. 2442 *SS26/R1113* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R1113
PAGE 3 (baf\tb)
ST: Podiatric medicine and podiatrists; revise
definitions and provisions related to.
podiatrist has completed training determined to be sufficient by 48
the State Board of Medical Licensure at a program accredited by a 49
nationally recognized accrediting association acceptable to the 50
board. Implementation of the provisions of this subsection (5) 51
shall be made pursuant to rules promulgated by the board that are 52
predicated on the education or level of training, or both, of an 53
applicant. 54
(6) A licensed podiatrist may perform surgical treatments of 55
the ankle only in an accredited hospital licensed in the state. 56
Determination of such privileges to perform ankle surgery shall be 57
made by the relevant medical staff of that facility to perform 58
ankle surgery and other delineation of privileges. 59
(7) For purposes of this section, an accredited hospital is 60
one that is actively licensed in the state by the Department of 61
Health as an acute care hospital with surgical services available. 62
(8) Nothing in this statute permits a podiatrist to provide 63
treatment at or above the knee. 64
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 65
and after July 1, 2026. 66