Every day, NATA and the NATA Government Affairs Department are working on behalf of the athletic training profession. With staff members experienced in all aspects of the legislative process, the NATA Government Affairs Department is the sole department focused on advocacy for the profession. NATA’s goal is to ensure that all ATs can work to the fullest extent of their education and skill set. These bipartisan efforts consist of five key areas: state legislation, federal legislation, regulatory, reimbursement and NATAPAC.
NATA Beat, a quarterly eblast, is dedicated to these government affairs efforts, ensuring members have the latest insight into the work being done to advocate for the profession. Accompanying NATA Beat, NATA Now will provide further highlights each quarter in a quick, easy-to-digest format.
Members are encouraged to visit the Advocacy section of the NATA website for further information, exclusive member-only resources and to get involved.
Visit NATA’s Legislative Alert Center to see what advocacy campaigns we currently have active at the state and federal level.
State Legislation
In 2025, all state legislatures will be session, and it’s expected that more than 135,000 state bills will be introduced across the country. Health care is again at the forefront of state policy discussions. Multiple athletic training bills have been introduced in several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia. If you would like more information about specific bills in your state, reach out to NATA Senior Manager of Government Affairs Deanna Kuykendall at deannak@nata.org, and she will provide you with details.
State Legislative Advocacy At-a-Glance
- 2,100-plus emails have been sent to legislators so far this year using NATA’s advocacy software
- NATA is actively tracking 115 state bills that directly impact the athletic training profession
- NATA Legislative Boot Camps have been held this year in Iowa and California. New Mexico and Missouri boot camps are scheduled in May and June.
Federal Legislation
- The recent elections have led to significant changes across the executive and legislative branches of government. Following January’s presidential inauguration, the Trump Administration has aggressively issued executive orders overturning policies related to international trade, immigration and social issues. In addition, the Department of Government Efficiency has taken action to limit both agency programs and employee numbers across executive branch agencies. The NATA government affairs team is actively monitoring activity across all government agencies that may impact the athletic training profession.
- The Senate has been working for the past 10 weeks to confirm President Trump’s political nominees. As of today, the Senate has confirmed 25 appointments. This process will continue well into the summer. The Senate is also focused on negotiating the budget resolution with the House of Representatives. Once final, the budget resolution will lead to consideration of extending or reauthorizing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. This legislation will remain the top priority for the legislative branch throughout 2025.
- As part of NATA’s ongoing legislative advocacy efforts, NATA government affairs staff welcomed Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne to the NATA headquarters in Carrollton, Texas, to discuss health care policy. Several local athletic trainers participated in the roundtable discussion, including three AT students.
- At the end of the month, NATA leadership will be traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with legislators about issues important to the athletic training profession. Be sure to watch NATA social media channels and future publications for updates.
119th Congress At-a-Glance
- 5,033 bills have been introduced so far during the 119th Congress
- 2,497 bills in the House and 2,536 bills in the Senate
- 147 health-related bills have been introduced in the House and 64 in the Senate
NATA’s Federal Legislative Activity
- NATA is actively tracking more than 15 federal bills in the House and Senate
- NATA staff has held more than two dozen meetings with federal legislative offices
- NATA has covered more than 19 Congressional hearings and committee markups
- NATA has publicly endorsed two bills so far this session
Recent NATA-Endorsed Legislation
Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 1151)
Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 1151) would expand eligible uses of 529 savings plans to cover costs associated with workforce training and credentialing programs, such as professional certifications. The legislation provides tax-advantaged resources for workers who pursue career growth, mid-career changes or alternative career pathways.
Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R. 929/S. 266)
Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R. 929/S. 266) will help ensure that hospitals, health systems, and other health care organizations can continue, expand, and build on the successes seen with numerous initiatives funded by the law. The original Lorna Breen Act was signed into law in March 2022, and is named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician who died by suicide. The reauthorization legislation will enable health care organizations to address system-level risk factors that lead to occupational burnout, contribute to mental health conditions, and cause intensive stress and strain.
Regulatory
NATA is actively engaging with legislators, federal agencies and health care coalitions and organizations to raise the profile of the athletic training profession and promote the recognition of athletic trainers in major federal government-related programs. Learn more about our regulatory efforts and key developments affecting the athletic training profession in the Regulator section of the NATA website.
Reimbursement
Meetings and Encounters
Since January, 38 meetings and encounters have taken place with state associations, employers, athletic training education programs and payors. Since 2018, more than 1,567 meetings and encounters have taken place.
NATA Third Party Reimbursement Boot Camp
NATA recently conducted a Third Party Reimbursement Boot Camp with Idaho leadership. Next steps are in the process. NATA is anticipating boot camps in Idaho, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and potentially New York in the next three to six months. All states are eligible for a Third Party Reimbursement Boot Camp. These may take place either in-person or virtually.
NATA Third Party Reimbursement Boot Camp content includes:
- The NATA Third Party Reimbursement Initiative
- The State Association and Reimbursement: Optimizing your Practice Act, Support Structure and Resources
- Best Practices in Payor Communication and Advocacy: Establishing Athletic Training Reimbursement for Medically Necessary Care
- Implementing Effective, Compliant & Reimbursable Athletic Training Services
- Optimizing Your Documentation for Reimbursement
NATA Third Party Reimbursement Resources
- NATA is pleased to report that after final analysis of the data, our outcomes study using ATs as autonomous billing providers in an outpatient rehabilitation setting has the following characteristics:
- 15 years of data from academic medicine setting
- Patient age demographics
- 40 to 64 years old: 3,428 (44.0%)
- 65-plus years old: 137 (1.8%)
- 7,789 unique patients and episodes of care
- Third Party Reimbursement resources are available on the NATA Third Party Reimbursement webpage.
NATAPAC
2024 In-Review
More than 840 NATA members contributed a total of $62,651 to NATAPAC in 2024 to pursue our federal advocacy goals. A huge thank you and appreciation to our 2024 Olympian Level contributors ($500-plus annually):
- Adam Annaccone, EdD, LAT, ATC
- Eve Becker-Doyle
- Marisa Brunett, MS, LAT, ATC
- Michelle Cleary, PhD, ATC
- Kathy Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATC
- A.J. Duffy III, MS, ATC, PT
- Tony Fitzpatrick, MA, LAT, ATC
- Ky Kugler, EdD, ATC
- Mark Letendre, ATC
- B.J. Maack, LAT, ATC
- Eric McDonnell, MEd, LAT, ATC
- Kim Morris, PhD, LAT, ATC
- Robert Nickell
- Robert Ramos, MS, LAT, ATC
- Craig Voll, PhD, ATC, PT
New NATAPAC Board Members
The NATAPAC Board of Directors welcomed two new directors: Carolyn Peters, MA, ATC, EMT-B, from District Eight; and Amy Hamilton, MA, LAT, ATC, from District Eleven.
Chuck Kimmel Memorial NATAPAC Luncheon
Don’t miss the NATAPAC’s premier event and biggest annual fundraiser from noon to 1:30 p.m. June 26 during the 76th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Orlando. This year’s keynote speaker is Mark Coberley, MS, LAT, ATC. Tickets are now available and can be purchased with (or added to) your convention registration. Tickets are limited to 200 so get yours before they sell out!
If you would like more information about NATAPAC or would like to make a contribution, contact NATA Senior Government Affairs Coordinator Madison Sequenzia at madisons@nata.org.
