Practice act letters & info

Sample Letter to Legislator
• Your Home Street Address
• Town, State, Zip
• Date
• Street Address of legislator (in Albany office)
•
• Re: S.4465 (for Senate)
• A.6678 (for Assembly)
•
• Dear Senator or Assemblymember/Assemblyman (choose only one) __enter last name________,
•
• I am writing to ask for your support of changes to the current laws regulating Certified Athletic Trainers. I currently reside in your District, and am
employed as a Certified Athletic Trainer… (list place of employment if you wish – or add other personal information about your career to help connect
with them)
• Many people are already aware of the value that Certified Athletic Trainers provide to athletes and people who are physically active. This is evident in
the inclusion of our profession in the language of the recently passed Concussion Management Act of 2011. But unfortunately, our ability to continue
providing these services is limited by our 20-year-old Practice Act. Its outdated language no longer reflects the growth of our profession over the last
twenty years, and limits the much-needed services we are capable of providing.
• Under the current scope of Practice, we are permitted to manage and recondition orthopedic athletic injuries. The proposed changes simply remove
the artificial distinction over when an injury occurs (currently only an athletic endeavor), without expanding the types of injuries we treat. Doing so
will enhance the healthcare provided to the growing physically active population in this state in a cost-effective manner. The value of Athletic
Trainers is evident in the many lives that have been saved, and the potential for reducing long-term healthcare costs is significant if this profession is
fully utilized.
• After much work and preparation, our state organization (New York State Athletic Trainers’ Association - NYSATA) is supporting an updated Practice
Act in the 2013 legislative session: A.6678 / S.4465. (include only one)
• We would greatly appreciate your support when this bill comes before the Higher Education Committee and the full house. I am happy to answer any
questions you may have pertaining to this update. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at (list your email address _______).
•
• Thank you,
•
• [signature]
•
• **Make sure you delete instructions in italics before sending!!! And please take some time to personalize it!!**

Sample Letter to Physician
• Your Home Street Address
• Date
• Street Address of Physician/Administrator
•
•
• Dear _______________,
•
• I am writing to ask for your support of changes to the current laws regulating Certified Athletic Trainers in New York state. Because of
the work that we do together, you are already well aware of the contributions that Athletic Trainers make to the care of athletes and
the physically active. Unfortunately, there are others who do not share the same understanding.
• [include more here if you like – you are writing to someone you already work with, so make it personal and genuine]
•
• The inclusion of our profession in the language of the recently passed Concussion Management Act of 2011 was a step in the right
direction, however our ability to continue providing these services is limited by our 20-year-old Practice Act. Its outdated language no
longer reflects the growth of our profession over the last twenty years, and limits the much-needed services we are capable of
providing.
• Under the current scope of Practice, we are permitted to manage and recondition orthopedic athletic injuries. The proposed changes
simply remove the artificial distinction over when an injury occurs (currently only an athletic endeavor), without expanding the types of
injuries we treat. Doing so will enhance the healthcare services provided to the growing athletic and physically active population in this
state in a cost-effective manner. As you’re already aware, the value of Athletic Trainers is evident in the many lives that have been
saved, and the potential for reducing long-term healthcare costs is significant if this profession is fully utilized.
• After much work and preparation, our state organization (New York State Athletic Trainers’ Association - NYSATA) is supporting an
updated Practice Act in the 2013 legislative session (bill numbers: A.6678 / S.4465).
• As Physicians/Administrators, your voice is well respected within the community – and this is something that could be very helpful to us
as we continue to educate the public, school administrators, athletes, and parents about our profession. Please consider this in your
everyday communications with these individuals. Or, if you have a specific story to tell or testimonial to offer, we would love to hear it.
And lastly, please let me know if you have any contacts with legislators that could be of potential benefit to us.
•
• Thank you,
•
• [signature]
•
• **Make sure you delete instructions in italics before sending!!! And please take some time to personalize it!!**

Certified Athletic Trainers Save Lives
• CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINERS
• SAVE LIVES!
•
•
•
• HEAD INJURIES:
•
• The incidence of sports-related concussions is increasing!*
– 2 million brain injuries are suffered by youth athletes every year
– Concussion rate in high schools has increased 15.5% over the last 11 years
•
• We are just beginning to learn about the long-term negative effects:
– Football players with a history of concussion are 7.7 times more likely to suffer memory loss
– Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which degenerates portions of the brain in a similar way as Alzheimer’s disease, is being found
in the brains of former football players
•
• We aren’t doing all we can do to help…
– Up to 85% of all sports-related concussions go undiagnosed~
– 41% of athletes with concussions return to play too soon y
– Only 42% of high schools nationwide have an ATC on staff. The % is even lower in New York^
•
• If present, Certified Athletic Trainers can help!
– Certified Athletic Trainers are listed as one of the healthcare providers integral to the assessment and management of head injuries in the
newly passed Concussion Act in New York
– “Having a Certified Athletic Trainer may have changed his outcome”, Superintendent Beverly Reep stated following the death of a high
school football player from head injury. (2012 CNN Documentary “Big Hits, Broken Dreams” )
•
•
• DEHYDRATION & HEAT ILLNESS:
•
• The annual death rate for heat stroke has risen to 2.8 deaths per year in high school sports*
• 6 high school football players and 1 coach died in the summer of 2011 from heat stroke*
• “Deaths from heat stroke are 100% preventable. I sit with families and tell them if they’d had an Athletic Trainer, their child’s life would have been
saved” Doug Casa (lead researcher at University of Connecticut’s Korey Stringer Institute)
•
•
• Sources:
• * cdc.org, ~ acsm.org, Y American Academy of Neurology, ^nata.org
•

Certified Athletic Trainers Save Money
• CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINERS SAVE MONEY!
•
• In the CLINIC:*
• The use of Certified Athletic Trainers (AT’s)can increase a Physician’s productivity up to 22%.
• The use of AT’s can increase revenue up to 42%.
• For every $1 invested in preventative care, employers gain up to a $7 return on investment.
• AT’s provide the same, or better, outcomes in clinical setting compared to Physical Therapists in orthopedic cases.
•
• In HIGH SCHOOLS: ^
• With 2 AT’s on staff, 11,127 treatments were provided within one year – this is valued at $1,669,050 compared to the cost of similar
treatments using other healthcare means.
•
• 3 AT’s provided 13,766 treatments for student-athletes, valued at $2,753,300 compared to the cost of similar treatments using other
healthcare means.
•
• REDUCED Liability:
• From 1996-2008, 31 serious injuries or deaths occurred in student-athletes of schools without ATC coverage. The presence of AT’s
reduces this number greatly.
•
• MORE Benefits:
• Reduced student absenteeism - fast care & rehabilitation from AT’s allows student-athletes to stay in school!
• Public Relations – hiring an ATC shows that the school cares about the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff.
• In-house Provider to give training to coaches, faculty, staff (CPR, first aid, AED, head injury management).
•
• Sources:
• *“An Evaluation of Their Effect on Patient Throughput and Revenue Generation in a Primary Care Sports Medicine Practice”
• Forrest Q. Pecha, MS, ATC, CSCS, Spero G. Karas, MD, John Xerogeanes, MD, Tom Dougherty, MD, Brandon Mines, MD, Sameh
Labib, MD, Ashley Kane, MS, ATC. 2008. From the Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta GA . Reimbursement of Athletic Training by
Albohm, MJ; Campbell, Konin, pp.25
•
• ^www.nata.org (data from 2000, 2006 respectively)
• Information provided by a review from United Educators General, a general liability insurance company. 2008.

The Facts About Athletic Trainers
• DID YOU KNOW?
• The FACTS about Certified Athletic Trainers
•
• FACT: All athletic trainers (AT’s) have a BACHELOR’S DEGREE from an accredited college
• or university.
•
• FACT: 70-percent of athletic trainers have a MASTER’S or DOCTORAL DEGREE.
•
• FACT: An independent national board certifies athletic trainers.
•
• Applicants to the independent Board of Certification (BOC) must pass a national examination and hold a bachelor’s degree to become a
Certified Athletic Trainer. To retain certification, they must obtain 80 hours of medically related CEU’s every 3 years. The BOC is
accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
•
• FACT: Athletic trainers ARE regulated and licensed health care workers.
•
• AT’s are licensed professionals within NY State recognized by the Office of Professions and Department of Education.
•
• FACT: Athletic trainers are recognized Allied Healthcare Professionals.
•
• AT’s have long been recognized as an Allied Health Profession by the American Medical Association. The American Academy of Family
Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine – among others – are all strong
clinical and academic supporters of athletic trainers.
•
• FACT: ALL Athletic Trainers practice under the direction of Physicians.
•
• FACT: Athletic trainers ARE qualified in the assessment and management of head injuries, including concussions.
•
• These skills are included as part of the Educational Competencies mandated in every AT Education program. AT’s are also listed as a
healthcare provider under the newly passed Concussion Act in NY.
•
• FACT: More than 50 percent of NATA’s certified athletic trainer members work
• OUTSIDE of school athletic settings and provide services to people of ALL AGES.
•
• FACT: Athletic trainers HAVE designated CPT/UB Codes. CPT and UB codes are NOT provider specific. PT’s and other types of
therapists are not the exclusive providers of general physical medicine examinations, evaluations and interventions.

Legislator Appointment How-To’s
• Legislator Appointment How-to’s
• Here are some tips to help you be prepared when you meet with your local legislators. You may end up meeting with someone on their
staff (legislative aid/assistant) – this happens sometimes and it’s perfectly okay.
• (make sure you have a plan before going in...you can even bring some notes with you to follow to make sure you hit all of these points)
•
• WHAT TO DO:
• 1) Start the meeting off by introducing yourself (where you work, where you live). You may want to find out how much time they have
for a meeting, so you can be respectful of their time. It may also tailor how much you say.
• 2) Then, explain the basics of our profession (what we do, where we work. Feel free to give specific examples of the work you’ve done –
specific injury you dealt with, etc..).
• 3) Next, outline the simple changes that we’re proposing in this legislation
• - remind them of bill # first
• - Updating our 20 year-old practice act to reflect the growth in our profession
• - Simple change to remove the artificial distinction over when an injury occurs (currently only an athletic endeavor), without expanding
the types of injuries we treat.
• 4) Why this is needed (AT’s save lives! This change will enhance healthcare in a cost-effective manner, possibly reduce long-term
healthcare costs if we’re fully utilized.) You can also mention the fact that we were included in the language of the recently passed
Concussion legislation
• 5) End with thanking them for their time. Ask them for their support of the bill. Leave with them some supporting materials (handouts
attached to the email – AT’s save lives, fact sheets, etc. – make sure you drop these off at the end of the meeting, if you do at the
beginning they will be distracted by reading the material why you’re talking)
• *If time allows, or you feel the right vibe, you can try to draw a connection with them. “Did you ever play sports growing up?” If they
have kids, “Do any of your kids play sports”? You may be surprised at how this can more clearly demonstrate to them what we do.
•
• WHAT NOT TO DO:
• Don’t say “we’re expanding our scope of practice”. If this question comes up, go back to the line stated above - Simple change to
remove the artificial distinction over when an injury occurs (currently only an athletic endeavor), without expanding the types of
injuries we treat.
• Stay positive, don’t get defensive – no matter what! They may not be interested in what you’re saying, but the worst thing to do is give
them a reason to have a negative outlook on us!
• Don’t mention any specific resistance we think we’ll encounter (i.e. PT’s). If this comes up, you can say that there might be some
opposition, but that we’ll address those issues if and when they come up.
• Avoid the words “diagnose” and “treating neurological conditions”. Instead use injury “assessment” and “managing concussions”.
• I can’t state enough the importance of feeling out the vibe in the room. We don’t want to anger these people, so be attentive to what
they’re like and proceed accordingly. Listen to the things they have to say and be respectful…but you can still be confident in what
you’re saying and the importance of these issues.

Practice act letters & info

More Related Content

Similar to Practice act letters & info (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Practice act letters & info