After several years of collaborative work with members of Congress, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (H.R. 921) was passed by the House of Representatives Monday, Sept. 12, a historic event for NATA and the athletic training profession.
H.R. 921, introduced by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Cedric Richmond (D-LA) last year, clarifies medical liability rules for athletic trainers and other medical professionals to ensure they’re properly covered by their liability insurance while traveling with athletic teams in another state. Under the bill, health care services provided by a covered athletic trainer or other sports medicine professional to an athlete, athletic team or a staff member in another state will be deemed to have satisfied any licensure requirements of the secondary state. In addition, the providers will be able to treat injured athletes across state lines without the fear of incurring great professional loss. This bill reinforces the sports medicine team collaborative approach to care among physicians, athletic trainers and others. It is also vital in light of playoffs, championship games and college bowl games where teams travel a great distance with little notification.
NATA is proud to have championed this legislation that will not only benefit more than 43,000 athletic trainers and the millions of patients they serve, but will also support health care professionals all over the country, including our initial partners in this effort, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM).
Now that H.R. 921 has been approved by the house, the bill will move to the Senate for consideration. Once the bill receives a passing vote in the Senate, it will go to the president’s desk for the final signature to make it a law.
What can you do to help? Call your U.S. Senator TODAY and encourage them to co-sponsor the Senate version of the bill, S. 689. There is a very limited time left in the legislative calendar, and we need quick action from the Senate. Email your Senator.
