Fact Sheet - Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts

Proposed Legislation:
AN ACT PROMOTING CONSUMER CHOICE IN HEALTH CARE
Summary
The Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts (ATOM) is proposing legislation that would provide
health insurance reimbursement for "athletic training services" administered by a physicianreferred “state-licensed athletic trainer."
The change would allow individuals who are referred by their physician to a licensed athletic
trainer to have the services reimbursed by their insurance carrier in the same manner they
would receive reimbursement for other Physical Medicine and rehabilitation services.
Why is this bill needed?
Athletic trainers in Massachusetts are licensed to provide evaluation, treatment and
rehabilitation services for individuals involved with physical activity. Unfortunately, athletic
training services are not being reimbursed by Massachusetts insurance companies. As a result,
people are being denied their right to choice when it comes to using the services of a licensed
athletic trainer.
Athletic Trainers have been licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied
Health Professions since 1982. Athletic Trainers receive the same state oversight as Physical
Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, and Occupational Therapy
Assistants. However, athletic trainers are the only health profession Massachusetts insurance
companies are refusing to reimburse for services within their scope of practice.
The lack of reimbursement has significantly restricted athletic trainer employment opportunities
throughout the state, most notably employment in hospitals and outpatient rehabilitation clinics.
Without reimbursement for these services, hospitals and clinics have been forced to reduce
their athletic training staff.
This places Massachusetts at a competitive disadvantage within the athletic training profession,
even though our colleges and universities have been graduating athletic trainers more than 40
years. Athletic training graduates are forced to leave Massachusetts to find employment in
other states due to insurance companies not providing reimbursement and the resulting limited
job market.
The reduction in AT staffing has limited the number of athletic trainers available to
Massachusetts school districts. This has come at a time when there is an urgent need to
provide school-based care for student athletes with concussions and other sports related
injuries. Athletic trainers are one of only three licensed healthcare professional with the legal
authority identified by the MA Department of Public Health to evaluate and care for a concussed
student athlete under our state’s sports head injury management law.
Thirteen States have laws addressing reimbursement of athletic trainers. Most recently,
Vermont and Indiana have passed legislation to allow for the reimbursement of athletic training
services. Vermont has reported strong job growth of athletic training jobs since assuring
reimbursement of athletic training services.
ATHLETIC TRAINERS OF MASSACHUSETTS P.O.BOX 397063 CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
www.athletictrainersofmass.org
What is the financial impact of this bill?
The Bill will add consumer choice but will not increase the total dollars spent on services. In fact,
athletic trainers provide efficient and cost effective care that has been shown to have a cost
benefit to the health care system. This will aid the Commonwealth in ongoing efforts to control
the costs of health care services.
Health insurers already reimburse for physical medicine and rehabilitation services. This bill
would simply allow for the public to choose the service of a licensed athletic trainer in the same
way they choose the services of other providers.
In addition, passage of the bill may result in economic development and job growth in the
Commonwealth for the athletic training industry. Hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient
clinics, and other employers will be able to justify employing and expanding their athletic training
staff since they will be able to evaluate their productivity the same way they evaluate other
providers.
Who Benefits?
Consumers who are physically active
Physicians and medical practices
Elementary and Secondary Schools
State economy through job growth of athletic trainers
Hospitals
Outpatient clinics
Youth sports organizations
Student and youth sports participants
ATHLETIC TRAINERS OF MASSACHUSETTS P.O.BOX 397063 CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
www.athletictrainersofmass.org