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Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act Reintroduced in Senate

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) just re-introduced The Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (S. 808) in the Senate. On January 9, 2017 the house version of the bill, H.R. 302 passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation which protects athletic trainers and sports medicine professionals who travel with an athletic team out of state to provide care would ensure the athlete’s medical care is not jeopardized. The first bill was introduced in 2015 to Congress and if passes the Senate will go to the President for final signature to make it a law.

S. 808 states medical liability rules for athletic trainers and medical professionals to make sure they are covered properly by liability insurance while traveling to other states with athletic teams. With the bill, health care services to an athlete, athletic team or staff member, which are provided by a covered athletic trainer or sports medicine professional in another state, will be deemed to have satisfied any licensure requirements of the secondary state.

NATA President Scott Sailor said “The National Athletic Trainers’ Association continues to spearhead this legislation which ensures that medical care is not jeopardized for the athlete”. “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 can contact their senators to ask for support.