The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) wishes to be
recorded in opposition to H.1142/S.1263, “An Act Relative to the Practice of
Athletic Training.”
H.1142/S.1263 would broaden the scope of practice for
athletic trainers by allowing athletic trainers to treat all injuries, not just
athletic injuries; replaces the word “athlete” with “patient” thus allowing
athletic trainers to treat any patient, not just athletes; strikes the word
“temporary” before splinting and bracing; and changes an athletic trainer’s
current requirement to work “under the discretion of a physician” to “in
collaboration with physicians or dentists.”
Current law limits the practice of athletic training to
schools, teams and organizations.
According to the National Association of Athletic Trainers, the goal is
to expand into “specialized health care that provides preventative programs,
immediate and emergency care, and rehabilitation.” These bills are a bold step in that direction
and, if passed, would pave the way towards independent practice and third party
billing. The extent and type of
education and clinical training of athletic trainers does not safely warrant an
expansion of their scope of practice to encompass the treatment of nonathletic
injuries.
Thousands of athletes are expertly cared for on and off the
playing field by athletic trainers under the supervision of physicians. The MMS
feels strongly that the physician led team approach is the gold standard of
health care. We see no reason to change
that relationship at this time.
We urge the Committee on Public Health to report
H.1142/S.1263 out of committee ought not to pass.
