The Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (S. 808), has just been re-introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The house version of the bill, H.R. 302, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 9 of this year only three days after being reintroduced.
The legislation, which would protect athletic trainers and other sports medicine professionals who travel out of state with an athletic team to provide care, ultimately ensures that the medical care of athletes is not jeopardized. The bill was first introduced in Congress in 2015. If it passes in the Senate, it will go to the president’s desk for final signature to make it a law.
S. 808 clarifies medical liability rules for athletic trainers and other medical professionals to ensure they are 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.
“The National Athletic Trainers’ Association continues to spearhead this legislation which ensures that medical care is not jeopardized for the athlete,” said NATA President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC. “The bill protects athletic trainers and other sports medicine professionals and is vital to the health and well-being of athletes of all ages.”
Athletic trainers are asked to contact their senators to ask for support. Our Federal Legislative Alert Center makes it simple to contact your senator.
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