Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood) will be awarded the 2005 Consumer Service and Protection Award from the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) on Wednesday, June 8, during its annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif. Koretz, of the 42nd Assembly District, is being honored for authoring AB 932, which became law this year. AB 932 improves the quality of foot care that diabetic patients receive by insuring they have access to the highly specialized care that podiatric physicians provide for diabetic lower limb care.
AB 932 was signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger last year and became effective Jan. 1, 2005. The law, Business and Professions Code Section 22, modernizes the Podiatric Medicine Practice Act by legalizing podiatric physicians to continue to provide lower limb salvage and wound care to diabetics, thus improving the quality of care for these patients. Doctors of podiatric medicine are the best-trained and most highly qualified physicians to perform these specialized and challenging procedures. Diabetic foot care by a licensed podiatric physician significantly reduces the number of amputations and hospitalizations.
Koretz, who is a diabetic, has made improving public health a priority during his term in office. “As a diabetic, I well understand the important role that podiatric doctors play in comprehensive, quality health care. Thanks to the rigorous, sophisticated education and training they must undergo, podiatric physicians are often the first healthcare professionals to spot medical problems, even those unrelated to the foot. Indeed, I am lucky to be the patient of one of the best podiatrists in the state, Dr. Dan Altchuler.
“Much of the success we enjoyed with AB 932 can be attributed to the great work of the leadership of this Association,” adds Koretz, “who worked diligently with the California Medical Association and the Orthopedic Association in crafting language acceptable to everyone. The podiatric community’s tenacity and willingness to compromise is a shining example of what can be accomplished in the Legislature when opponents agree to work together. This was a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
The CPMA’s annual Consumer Service and Protection Award is given to an individual who demonstrates outstanding service to the quality of care for podiatric patients. Jeffrey DeSantis, DPM, 2004-2005 CPMA president says, “Podiatric medicine is indeed privileged to have the backing of Assemblyman Koretz, someone who appreciates first-hand the importance of access to specialized care for diabetics. His support lent significant credibility to AB 932, and we can’t thank him enough for authoring this important bill. Podiatric medicine and the diabetic community owe the Assemblyman much gratitude.”
Assemblyman Paul Koretz was elected to represent the 42nd Assembly District in Nov. 2000. He began his political career when he worked to incorporate the City of West Hollywood in 1984 and served as Mayor and City Councilman for 12 years before his election to the California State Assembly. Koretz has been a long-time champion of improving public health and access to affordable, quality healthcare. A life-long Democrat, Paul Koretz lives in West Hollywood with his wife Gail, daughter Rachel and their two cats Chagall and Samantha.
Assemblyman Koretz will be presented with the CPMA Consumer Service and Protection Award at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 8, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. Orange County Supervisor and former Assemblyman Lou Correa will also receive the CPMA President’s Award for co-authoring AB 932.
The California Podiatric Medical Association includes nearly 1,000 doctors of podiatric medicine throughout the state. Founded in 1912 as a professional medical association, CPMA exists “to promote, advance and protect the profession of podiatric medicine, to preserve the rights of the patients it serves and to seek continuous improvement in the quality of patient treatment and care.” For more information on CPMA, call at 1-800-794-8988, or visit www.podiatrists.org.
