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6/12/2025
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House passes bill to allow nurses to provide home foot care
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STATE HOUSE – The House of Representatives today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Boylan to help homebound patients access foot care at home.
The legislation (2025-H 6088Aaa), which now heads to the Senate, would allow nurses to provide routine foot care in patients’ homes, provided they get proper training and demonstrate clinical competency.
The bill addresses a critical unmet need for basic, routine, and preventative foot care in the home. Many elderly or disabled patients need special care for their feet, particularly if they have diabetes. Older Rhode Islanders who struggle to leave the home are simply not getting the care they need.
“The health care crisis and shortage of providers affects every level of care in Rhode Island. Accordingly, home foot care services have become nearly nonexistent, leaving many older patients without safe options. It’s especially unsafe for those with diabetes, since they are prone to infections and other foot problems that can lead to serious complications and even death,” said Representative Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence). “Allowing nurses to become qualified and to provide this care will address this unmet need, providing safety, health and comfort to patients and their caregivers.”
Under the bill, nurses would need to have knowledge of and demonstrate clinical competency in structure and function of feet and nails, common foot pathology and related nursing interventions, use of appropriate instruments and other related matters. They would be required to ensure that two of the 10 hours of continuing education they are required to complete per certification period be focused on foot care.
“This bill addresses a clear and unmet need in our state. Notably, similar practices are already permitted in 49 other states, and this legislation is modeled on a Massachusetts Board of Nursing Advisory Ruling. Allowing trained professionals to deliver such care in the home helps older adults maintain mobility, avoid serious health complications, and continue aging in their communities with dignity,” said Meghan Grady, chairwoman of the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Aging, in a letter supporting this legislation and other bills.
Representative Boylan said the change would provide relief not only to patients, but to their family and caregivers, many of whom are forced to choose between foregoing necessary treatment or taking the risk of trying to provide foot care themselves. Even the seemingly simple task of trimming toenails presents a risk of infection for those with diabetes.
“Properly trained nurses are allowed to provide home foot care in other states. We need them to be allowed to do so here in Rhode Island for the protection of those who have no safe options for foot care right now,” said Representative Boylan. “I am hopeful that the Senate will pass my bill this year so that older Rhode Islanders who are trying to age in place can have access to this care as soon as possible.”
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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