The Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026 makes two key changes to federal health programs for people with diabetes. First, it requires Medicaid to cover podiatrists (doctors of podiatric medicine) as physicians, expanding foot and ankle care access for low-income beneficiaries starting January 1, 2026, though states may have additional time if they need to change state law. Second, it updates Medicare's rules for covering diabetic shoes by clarifying that physicians can now authorize custom-molded or extra-depth shoes with inserts based on documented medical conditions like nerve damage, foot deformities, or poor circulation, with fittings by qualified professionals like pedorthists, effective January 1, 2028. The bill affects Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries with diabetes, podiatrists, and foot care specialists, with no specific federal funding amounts mentioned in the text.