March is National Athletic Training Month
Certified athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in preventing, recognizing, managing and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. As part of a complete health care team, the certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with other health care professionals, athletics administrators, coaches and parents.
Students who want to become certified athletic trainers must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum. Accredited programs include formal instruction in areas such as injury/illness prevention, first aid and emergency care, assessment of injury/illness, human anatomy and physiology, therapeutic modalities, and nutrition. Classroom learning is enhanced through clinical education experiences. More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers hold at least a master’s degree.
Athletic training is not the same profession as personal training. And certified athletic trainers work with more than just athletes – they can be found just about anywhere that people are physically active.
To become certified, athletic trainers must pass a comprehensive test administered by the Board of Certification. Once certified, they must meet ongoing continuing education requirements in order to remain certified.
Currently athletic trainers are seeking support of Medicare Access to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Improvement Act (H.R. 1846). To support certified athletic trainers use the sample letter below and submit it to your State's Congressional Representative and your State's U.S. Senators.
Link to find your State's Congressional Representative:
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
Link to find State's U.S. Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm)
(Sample letter for patient, consumer, parent)
Please Support Medicare Access to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Improvement Act (H.R. 1846)
I am an ATHLETE, PATIENT, COACH or PARENT. I support and trust my Certified Athletic Trainer to provide medically appropriate health care services under the direction of a physician. I value their services, education and skills. Athletic trainers provide services to an estimated 16 million patients a year, which takes on added significance due to the current shortage of health care workers in this country.
However, my access to athletic trainers and quality health care services is restricted by an unfair rule implemented by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in July 2005. By cosponsoring the Medicare Access to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Improvement Act and pressing for its speedy vote and passage, you can help restore physicians’ authority in choosing appropriate health care professionals for patient referral. This bill will save money for the Medicare program and beneficiaries. A recent MedPAC report found that the cost of therapy provided in physician offices was 30 percent less than the overall average of therapy services provided in all settings.
Without this legislation, the CMS policy is a threat to me and my ability to have a voice in my medical care. Athletic trainers work under the direction of physicians, and are fully qualified by their skills. Athletic trainers are state-licensed or regulated, nationally certified and are a valuable resource for people of all ages and physical conditions. It is a mistake to limit the ability of athletic trainers to treat patients.
Please regard this letter as a statement supporting athletic trainers. I urge you to cosponsor the act and press for a quick passage to correct this harmful federal policy that is trickling down to private insurance companies. If the current ruling stands, power of choice for quality, affordable, accessible medical care will be in the hands of insurance companies, not in the hands of the physicians and patients where it belongs.
SIGNATURE: _____________________________
NAME: _________________________________
DATE: ________________________
ADDRESS:____________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP:_____________________________________ E_MAIL:___________________________________________________
