Our
latest
legislation:
During
the last
session
of the
Georgia
General
Assembly,
HB1055
was
passed
and
subsequently
signed
by
Governor
Perdue.
This
legislation
does not
expand
or
change
the
educational
requirements,
supervision,
or scope
of
athletic
trainers
in
Georgia.
However,
it does
impact
our
profession
in a
major
way:
HB1055
clarifies
our
existing
practice
act for
employers,
patients,
insurance
companies,
and
others
about
who we
are and
what we
do as
allied
healthcare
providers.
This
newest
practice
act
amendment
does not
expand
what
athletic
trainers
can do
in
Georgia,
but it
clarifies
the
existing
practice
act that
has been
in place
since
1998.
The
practice
of
athletic
training
was
incorrectly
interpreted
by many
inside
and
outside
of the
profession
to be
limited
to
treating
only
patients
who were
involved
in
traditional
athletics.
The
legislative
intent
of our
current
practice
act was
to treat
these
traditional
jersey-wearing
ball-carrying
athletes
as well
as any
“comparable
injury”.
The
legislative
belief
was that
although
individual
vocational
differences
do exist
in a
construction
worker
with
epicondylitis
and a
high
school
pitcher
with
epicondylitis,
their
injuries
and
rehabilitation
needs
would be
“comparable”.
Finally,
the
legislation
clarifies
and
underscores
the
requirement
that all
we do is
supervised
by a
physician,
stating
“Nothing
in this
paragraph
shall be
construed
to
expand
the
scope of
practice
of an
athletic
trainer
beyond
the
determination
of the
advising
and
consenting
physician…”
How
does
HB1055
affect
me?
In the
clinical
setting,
the
clarifications
of
HB1055
have a
great
impact:
-
Athletic
trainers
will
be
recognized
as
healthcare
providers
who
treat
traditional
athletes
as
well
as
“comparable”
injuries
that
occurred
off
the
field
of
play.
-
Employers
will
not
limit
athletic
trainers
to
outreach
positions
alone
because
of
the
understanding
we
are
able
to
rehabilitate
any
patient
referred
to
us
by a
supervising
physician.
-
Applicants
for
new
positions
can
better
answer
potential
employers
the
question
“Tell
me
what
you
can
do
for
our
company?”
-
Insurance
companies
cannot
limit
reimbursement
for
our
work
when
we
treat
those
who
suffered
outside
of a
competitive
athletics
setting.
Overall,
these
clarifications
should
enhance
the
understanding
of who
we are
and what
we do—in
all
settings.
Although
the
final
vote
across
both
houses
in the
General
Assembly
was
196-3,
the
opposition
getting
to The
Gold
Dome was
fierce.
We have
already
been
warned
that our
opponents
will
seek to
overturn
the
clarifications
of
HB1055
in the
next
legislative
session.
What
can I
do?
-
We
are
looking
for
50
people
willing
to
donate
$50
for
the
GATA
to
strengthen
its
legislative
influence
and
to
invest
in
the
protection
of
our
practice
act.
-
Individuals
who
donate
at
least
$50
will
be
placed
in a
drawing
for
a
complimentary
registration
at a
2009 annual
meeting--either
GATA,
SEATA,
or
NATA.
-
Donors
who
give
$100
will
be
designated
as
Century
Club
members.
-
All
donors
will
be
listed
on
the
GATA
website,
unless
they
wish
to
remain
anonymous.
-
The
50/50
Program
will
run
until
November
1.
During
this
5-month
program,
donors
may
give
in
installments
to
reach
the
$50
threshold
necessary
to
qualify
for
the
drawing.
Donations
can be
sent to
the
Region
Reps or
mailed
directly
to our
Treasurer:
Jeff
Hopp,
ATC, LAT
Marietta
High
School
1171
Whitlock
Ave.
Marietta,
GA
30064
If you
are
unsure
of your
GATA
Region,
consult
the GATA
Leadership
Directory
.
Donations
can also
be made
online
.
Sincerely,
Paul
Higgs
MEd, ATC,
LAT,
CSCS
GATA
President |
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