Government announces six month moratorium for Medicare shoe bill provider applications. 

Someone with Diabetes undergoes an amputation every 20 seconds.  Reseach indicates that 87% of lower extremity amputations are the result of ill fitting, inapropriate footwear.  This moritoriam may lead to more unnessary foot ulcerations and loss of mobility. 

Many diabetic clients have been asking about our application progress with the Board of certifications, to allow us to fill diabetic Medicare prescriptions here at Foot Solutions Surprise.  

We had hoped to become the 2nd out of 7 Arizona Foot Solutions to provide this service as nothing is more rewarding than helping our most at risk neighbors.  

Today, the board of certification confirmed our application will face a six month moratorium.  

We were 4 months into the rigorous, expensive process of becoming accredited. 

In the meantime, here is some advice from your Surprise Foot Solutions staff with over a hundred years of experience in Footwear, Pedorthics and Orthotics.  

Pay attention to your feet. Splurge on them like your mattress and healthy food. Join the club of those with reduced foot pain and improved balance. Healthy shoes are more stylish than ever and cost less than many are paying for fashion. 

Make certain your shoe is not undersized. 72% of us wear an improperly sized shoe.  Neuropathy sufferers are an even higher percentage because the numbness wants a "Snug" fit and the lack of sensation needs the shoe to be too small to feel that "snugness".  Support should come from the outsole, the midsole and the insole, not the upper.  The shoe must completely support the bottom of the foot with no part of the foot trying to escape the outsole.  Let the forefoot bones splay slightly. Proper shoe fit reduces pain from bone deformities like Bunions, Hammer toes, fixed and flexible deformities like claw toe or mallet toe, corns, charcot foot reduces incidence of ulcerations that can lead to amputations.  

Young, healthy feet can wear almost any shoes and be comfortable ...after just a few decades, for many that changes. Simply put, we develop imbalances and injuries working and playing on flat, unnatural surfaces...in shoes that alter healthy function. Athletes, seniors and diabetics benefit from footwear that improves balance. Shoes that use the proven concepts of straight lasts, heel counters, midfoot shanks and extra depth toe boxes dominate the comfort market here and world wide. 

The worlds best footwear are brands most have never heard of like Naot, Finn Comfort, Xelero, Orthofeet, Ara, Halflinger, Align, Vionic as well as the best made Brooks models like the Addiction, Glycerin (Not the Glycerin Max) and Ariel. Avoid what are called make ups, They will have the big shoe company label but will be half the price of the best shoes and give little support. 

In closing, our I-17 and Bell road store (602-298-1822) continues to bill medicare for you and we stand ready to help all cash pay clients here in Surprise. Your prescription will save you the tax here in Surprise and dont forget our Heroes discount for all Veterans and first responders. 

Happy walking from Jeff, Mary, Mark and Betty!