Athletic Trainers Expanding Scope of Practice Bill- New York State

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Just received this from NYPTA and wanted to pass it on to you all. Definitely...ahem...interesting.

URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT – ATHLETIC TRAINERS - EXPANDING SCOPE OF PRATICE BILL

Dear Member,

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY

NYPTA has been collaborating with the New York State Athletic Trainers’ Association (NYSATA) as they work toward licensure in New York State. NYPTA has significant concerns with their most recently amended bill which is up for a vote in the Senate Higher-Education Committee on Tuesday May 17th. IF YOUR STATE SENATOR IS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE (listed below), WE NEED YOU TO CALL AND URGE THEM TO VOTE DOWN S.4499B. Not sure of who your Senator is, click on the following link: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator

Neil Breslin, 44th District Kevin Parker, 21st District
Thomas Croci, 3rd District Jose Peralto, 13th District
Adriano Espaillat, 31st District Patty Ritchie, 48th District
Rich Funke, 55th District Gustavo Rivera, 33rd District
Patrick Gallivan, 59th District Joseph Robach, 56th District
Joseph Griffo, 47th District Sue Serino, 41st District
Liz Krueger, 28th District James Seward, 51st District
Kenneth P. LaValle, 1st District Toby Ann Stavisky, 165h District
Robert Ortt, 62nd District David Valesky, 53rd District
Michel Venditto, 8th District

Current Concerns:

1. Removal of ANY limitation on practice setting. Currently, the practice of athletic training is limited to secondary schools, colleges, professional athletics, or under a physician in a healthcare organization. All language related to settings appropriate for AT care have been stripped in their current language.
   
   
2. Removal of language requiring a physician’s order for treatment. Section 8352 of the education law which requires that AT treatment is pursuant to a physician’s order would be repealed if this bill passes
   
   
3. Undue expansion in level of care provided.Current NYS law permits athletic training services for “athletic injuries”, specifically listing “preconditioning, conditioning and reconditioning” as areas of management. The proposed bill eliminates the “athletic injury” requirement and expands services to “prevention, recognition, examination, evaluation, assessment, management, treatment, and rehabilitation” of ANY injury occurring in ANY “active individual”.
   
   
4. No restrictions in services performed. Proposed bill language states that “athletic training may include use of various therapeutic modalities and techniques.” This statement would create EXTREMELY permissive practice privileges with no restrictions in the treatments that athletic trainers are able to provide. This creates a significant concern related to public protection.
   

In summary, the proposed legislation would not only remove current practice setting limitations and loosen required physician oversight, it will greatly expand the services provided by athletic trainers to a much larger faction of the general population which is well beyond their customary practice patterns. Based on these concerns we are urging that all members of the NYS Senate Higher Education Committee vote NO on S.4499B. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR IMMEDIATELY. IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW TO PROTECT OUR PROFESSION NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

Thank you in advance for your continued dedication to the profession of physical therapy.

Jake McPherson - Chairperson, Advisory Panel on Legislation

Michael Mattia – President, NYPTA

 

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