How does Medicare pay for podiatry in Michigan nursing homes?

Medicare Part A covers podiatry bundled with skilled nursing facility care during a covered stay. Once residents transition to long-term (Part B) status, Balance Foot & Ankle bills Medicare Part B directly for covered services including diabetic foot exams, nail care with documented medical necessity, and wound care. Call (810) 206-1402.

How does Medicaid pay for podiatry at Michigan nursing homes?

Michigan Medicaid covers medically necessary podiatry for Medicaid-enrolled nursing home residents. Balance Foot & Ankle bills the resident's Medicaid managed care plan or fee-for-service Medicaid directly. Coverage includes nail care for diabetic and high-risk patients, wound care, and diabetic foot exams. Call (810) 206-1402.

What is the difference between Medicare Part A and Part B podiatry billing for nursing homes?

Under Part A, podiatry is included in the facility's daily rate during a qualifying skilled stay. Under Part B (long-term care), Balance Foot & Ankle bills Medicare directly for each patient's covered services. Our billing team manages this transition for Michigan nursing home residents. Call (810) 206-1402.

Does Balance Foot & Ankle handle all Medicare and Medicaid billing for nursing home visits?

Yes, Balance Foot & Ankle manages all Medicare and Medicaid billing for nursing home podiatry visits in Livingston and Oakland Counties. We obtain necessary documentation, submit claims, handle denials, and provide complete billing transparency to facility administrators. Call (810) 206-1402.

What documentation does Balance Foot & Ankle need for Medicare nursing home podiatry billing?

For Medicare nursing home billing, Balance Foot & Ankle needs the resident's Medicare ID number, diagnosis codes documenting medical necessity, wound measurements and photos when applicable, and evidence of systemic conditions for nail care coverage. We collect all necessary information during facility visits.

When should I see a podiatrist?

For persistent foot/ankle pain, difficulty walking, numbness, non-healing wounds, skin changes, or deformities. Dr. Biernacki offers same-day appointments. Call 810-206-1402.

Does Dr. Biernacki accept insurance?

Balance Foot & Ankle accepts most major plans including BCBS, Aetna, United, Cigna & Medicare. Call 810-206-1402 to verify coverage. Affordable self-pay options available.

What to expect at your first podiatry visit?

Comprehensive evaluation including history, exam, biomechanical assessment, and in-office X-rays. Same-day diagnosis and treatment when possible. Most visits take 30-45 minutes.

Does Medicare cover podiatry in nursing homes?

Yes, Medicare Part B covers medically necessary podiatric services in skilled nursing facilities, including nail debridement for patients with diabetes or vascular disease, wound care, and treatment of painful foot conditions. The facility does not need to coordinate — we bill Medicare directly.

Does Medicaid cover nursing home podiatry services?

Medicaid coverage for podiatry varies by state. In Michigan, Medicaid covers medically necessary podiatric services including diabetic foot care, nail debridement with qualifying conditions, and treatment of foot pathology. Our office is enrolled as a Medicaid provider and handles all claims.

What is the cost to nursing homes for on-site podiatry?

There is typically no cost to the facility itself. We bill Medicare, Medicaid, or the resident's insurance directly. For dual-eligible residents (Medicare + Medicaid), there is usually zero patient responsibility. Our on-site model saves facilities the transportation costs of sending residents to outside appointments.

✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026

Medicare & Medicaid Podiatry Coverage for Nursing Home Residents

Understanding Podiatry Coverage in Long-Term Care

Navigating Medicare and Medicaid coverage for podiatric services in nursing home settings is complex — but most residents have significantly more coverage than their families or care coordinators realize. At Balance Foot & Ankle, we handle all billing directly and maximize legitimate covered benefits for every resident we see.

Medicare Coverage for Nursing Home Residents

Medicare Part B covers podiatric services for qualifying nursing home residents. Routine nail care is covered for residents with qualifying systemic conditions (diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy). Diabetic foot exams are a covered annual benefit for all Medicare diabetic patients. Diabetic shoe fitting and dispensing is covered once per calendar year for qualifying diabetics. Treatment of specific foot conditions (ingrown toenails, infections, wounds, corns, and calluses with documented medical necessity) is covered regardless of systemic conditions. New wounds and infections are covered as medical necessities.

Medicaid Coverage

Michigan Medicaid covers podiatric services for nursing home residents, including routine foot care for qualifying conditions. Many residents who are dual-eligible (both Medicare and Medicaid) have virtually no out-of-pocket costs for podiatric care — Medicare pays 80% and Medicaid pays the remaining 20%.

How We Handle Billing

We verify coverage for every resident before the first visit, handle all billing directly with Medicare and Medicaid, provide families and facilities with clear documentation of covered services, and never bill residents for covered services we don’t provide.

⚡ Advanced Technology at Balance Foot & Ankle
✅ MLS Dual-Wavelength Laser — FDA-cleared
✅ EPAT Shockwave Therapy — 80%+ success rate
✅ Magnetotransduction (EMTT) — Deep electromagnetic healing
✅ 3D-Scanned Custom Orthotics
✅ Toenail Fungus Laser
✅ In-Office X-Ray & Ultrasound
✅ Diabetic Shoe Program — Medicare-covered
📞 (810) 206-1402 | Howell & Bloomfield Hills

Call (810) 206-1402 to discuss podiatric billing for your facility or your loved one’s care.

Medicare and Medicaid Billing for Nursing Home Podiatry in Michigan: What Facilities Need to Know

Michigan nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities that partner with Balance Foot & Ankle benefit from our expertise in Medicare Part B and Medicaid billing for on-site podiatric services. Medicare Part B covers podiatry services in nursing home settings when medically necessary — routine nail care is covered when a systemic condition (diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy) creates documented medical necessity; medically necessary treatment of foot conditions (wound care, debridement, infections, fractures) is covered regardless of systemic condition status. Facilities that rely on contracted podiatrists with billing expertise avoid the compliance risk of inappropriate claims while ensuring residents receive the full range of covered services they are entitled to.

The Medicaid billing framework for Michigan nursing home podiatry differs from Medicare in several respects: Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) each have their own authorization requirements and covered service lists, and facilities benefit from a podiatry partner who understands each plan’s specific documentation requirements. Balance Foot & Ankle serves nursing homes in Livingston County (Howell area) and Oakland County (Bloomfield Hills area) with on-site podiatry services, handling all insurance verification, prior authorization, and billing documentation. Our facility coordinators work directly with the nursing home’s billing department to ensure clean claims and minimize denials. Nursing home administrators interested in establishing or replacing an on-site podiatry program can contact our facility services coordinator at (810) 206-1402 to discuss visit frequency, documentation processes, and service agreements.

Michigan nursing home administrators evaluating podiatry service options should ask prospective providers three key questions: (1) What is the provider’s process for urgent wound or infection concerns between scheduled visits? (2) How does the provider handle residents who refuse treatment or become agitated during examination? (3) What is the documentation turnaround time for CARE assessments and physician orders requiring podiatry input? At Balance Foot & Ankle, our facility service coordinator answers these questions directly and can provide references from current facility partners in Livingston and Oakland counties. Schedule a no-obligation facility assessment call at (810) 206-1402.

Related Treatment Guides

Documentation is the foundation of compliant nursing home podiatry billing. At Balance Foot & Ankle, every nursing home encounter includes a signed physician order, a legible SOAP note with relevant diagnosis codes, and a care plan update when the findings affect the resident’s foot health status. Facilities receive a copy of all documentation within 24–48 hours of the visit, and our billing team handles Medicare Part B and Medicaid claims directly — the facility has no billing responsibility for the podiatry services we provide. Call (810) 206-1402 to connect with our facility services coordinator.

Medical References & Sources

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Our board-certified podiatrists treat this condition at two convenient locations. Same-day appointments often available.

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Medicare & Medicaid Cover Nursing Home Podiatry

Both Medicare and Medicaid cover medically necessary podiatric care for nursing home residents. We handle all billing so facilities and families pay nothing out of pocket.

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Clinical References

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Skilled nursing facility services (Medicare benefit policy manual, Ch. 8). CMS.gov. 2025.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicaid podiatric services coverage by state. CMS.gov Medicaid database. 2025.
Lazzarini PA, Pacella RE, Armstrong DG, van Netten JJ. Diabetes-related lower-extremity complications are a leading cause of the global burden of disability. Diabet Med. 2018;35(9):1297-1306.

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Howell Office

3980 E Grand River Ave, Suite 140

Howell, MI 48843

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43700 Woodward Ave, Suite 207

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

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Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

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