Therapeutic Shoes or Inserts
Medicare covers therapeutic shoes or inserts for people with diabetes who have severe diabetic foot disease. These special therapeutic shoes, inserts and modifications can be covered for diabetic patients with the following foot conditions:
- previous amputation of a foot or partial foot
- history of foot ulceration
- peripheral neuropathy with callus formation
- foot deformity
- poor circulation in either foot
The doctor who treats your diabetes must certify your need for therapeutic shoes or inserts. The shoes and inserts must be prescribed by a podiatrist or other qualified doctor and provided by a podiatrist, orthotist, prosthetist, or pedorthist. Medicare helps pay for one pair of therapeutic shoes and inserts per calendar year. Shoe modifications may be substituted for inserts. The fitting of the shoes or inserts is covered in the Medicare payment for the shoes.
An order (prescription) must be on file with the supplier. It must be signed and dated by the treating doctor.
