Medical foot care: not just for people with diabetes

For a long time, it was assumed – and acted upon – that only diabetic patients were entitled to medical foot care to prevent the development of poorly healing wounds, with the costs covered by basic health insurance. However, the National Health Care Institute indicated some time ago that people with other medical conditions and an increased risk of poorly healing wounds should also have this care reimbursed.

When someone has a slow-healing wound on their feet, this has a significant negative impact on their quality of life in the short term, but often in the long term as well. It also costs society a great deal of money. To raise awareness of this issue, Rondom Podotherapeuten is organising an event on 21 May free webinar for healthcare professionals.

Medical foot care

Many patients with conditions such as rheumatism, neuropathy, kidney failure and vascular disease develop foot problems. We see this in our practice too. Our podiatrists are often able to help these patients with such complaints effectively. On the one hand, through our well-known treatment methods such as podiatric insoles and orthoses, but also through medical foot care.

Whilst medical foot care was previously aimed primarily at diabetic patients, since the policy change on 1 January 2023 it has also been extended to other patients with medical conditions. The referral criteria for medical foot care are the same as those for diabetic patients.

This means that patients with medical conditions carrying an increased risk of foot complications are entitled to reimbursement under the basic health insurance scheme for preventive foot care. Preventive foot care includes screening, a targeted foot examination and the treatment of risk factors affecting the feet.

Patients are entitled to medical foot care where there is an increased risk of developing a foot ulcer due to the presence of a combination of risk factors. These include neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, kidney failure, signs of pressure and fragile skin (for example, as a result of long-term medication). Healthcare professionals can refer these people at increased risk to a podiatrist. Of course, healthcare professionals can also refer these patients to a podiatrist for routine foot care, for example for postural abnormalities and orthotic insoles.

Note: ‘Medical foot care’

In the note ‘Medical foot care’, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut) clarifies the 2010 position statement ‘Foot care for people with diabetes mellitus’. This clarification shows that, in addition to patients with diabetes mellitus, patients with other medical conditions carrying an increased risk of a foot ulcer – such as those with neuropathy – are also entitled to preventive foot care under the basic health insurance scheme. Preventative foot care includes screening, a targeted foot examination and the management of risk factors affecting the feet.