H.B. 242

1

INSURANCE BILLING FOR ATHLETIC TRAINERS
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Paul Ray
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends the Athletic Trainer Licensing Act to include athletic trainers as health
10 care providers for purposes of health insurance.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . amends the scope of practice of athletic trainers to include an athletic trainer in the
14 definition of health care provider under the Insurance Code so that certain health
15 benefit plans cannot unfairly discriminate between athletic trainers and other health
16 care providers that offer similar covered services; and
17 . preserves the exceptions to the non-discrimination requirements in the Insurance
18 Code for health maintenance organizations and certain preferred provider plans.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 58-40a-303, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 206
26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28 Section 1. Section 58-40a-303 is amended to read:
29 58-40a-303. Scope of practice.
30 (1) An athletic trainer may:
31 [(1)] (a) prevent injuries by:
32 [(a)] (i) designing and implementing physical conditioning programs, which may
33 include:
34 [(i)] (A) strength and range of motion testing;
35 [(ii)] (B) nutritional advisement; and
36 [(iii)] (C) psychosocial intervention and referral;
37 [(b)] (ii) performing preparticipation screening;
38 [(c)] (iii) fitting protective equipment;
39 [(d)] (iv) designing and constructing protective products; and
40 [(e)] (v) continuously monitoring changes in the environment;
41 [(2)] (b) recognize and evaluate injuries by:
42 [(a)] (i) obtaining a history of the injury;
43 [(b)] (ii) inspecting an injured body part and associated structures;
44 [(c)] (iii) palpating bony landmarks and soft tissue structures; and
45 [(d)] (iv) performing clinical tests to determine the extent of an injury;
46 [(3)] (c) provide immediate care of injuries by:
47 [(a)] (i) initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
48 [(b)] (ii) administering basic or advanced first aid;
49 [(c)] (iii) removing athletic equipment; and
50 [(d)] (iv) immobilizing and transporting an injured athlete;
51 [(4)] (d) determine whether an athlete may return to participation or, if the injury
52 requires further definitive care, refer the athlete to the appropriate directing physician;
53 [(5)] (e) rehabilitate and recondition an injury by administering therapeutic exercise
54 and therapeutic and physical modalities, including cryotherapy, thermotherapy, and intermittent
55 compression, electrical stimulation, ultra sound, traction devices, or mechanical devices as
56 directed by established, written athletic training service plans or protocols or upon the order of
57 a directing physician;
58 [(6)] (f) provide athletic training services administration, including:

59 [(a)] (i) implementing athletic training service plans or protocols;
60 [(b)] (ii) writing organizational policies and procedures;
61 [(c)] (iii) complying with governmental and institutional standards; and
62 [(d)] (iv) maintaining records to document services rendered; and
63 [(7)] (g) educate athletes to facilitate physical conditioning and reconditioning by
64 designing and implementing appropriate programs to minimize the risk of injury.
65 (2) An athletic trainer is a health care provider for purposes of Sections 31A-22-617
66 and 31A-22-618 .




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-7-11 10:01 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel