Bill Text: PA HB2177 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Further providing for definitions and for athletic trainers.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-6)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-12-15 - Referred to PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE [HB2177 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB2177-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  3030

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

2177

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, GERGELY, WAGNER, KORTZ, BELFANTI, BRENNAN, CARROLL, DEASY, J. EVANS, FABRIZIO, HANNA, HORNAMAN, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH AND STABACK, DECEMBER 15, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, DECEMBER 15, 2009  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112),

2

entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine

3

and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts;

4

reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and

5

Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for

6

its composition, powers and duties; providing for the

7

issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and

8

revocation of licenses and certificates; providing penalties;

9

and making repeals," further providing for definitions and

10

for athletic trainers.

11

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

12

hereby enacts as follows:

13

Section 1.  The definitions of "athletic training services,"

14

"certified athletic trainer," "physically active person,"

15

"referral" and "written protocol" in section 2 of the act of

16

December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical

17

Practice Act of 1985, added December 10, 2001 (P.L.859, No.92),

18

are amended and the section is amended by adding a definition to

19

read:

20

Section 2.  Definitions.

21

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

 


1

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

2

context clearly indicates otherwise:

3

* * *

4

"Athletic training services."  The management and provision

5

of care of injuries to a physically active person as defined in

6

this act with the direction of a licensed physician. The term

7

includes the rendering of emergency care, development of injury

8

prevention programs and providing appropriate preventative and

9

supporting devices for the physically active person. The term

10

also includes the assessment, management, treatment,

11

rehabilitation and reconditioning of the physically active

12

person whose conditions are within the professional preparation

13

and education of a [certified] licensed athletic trainer. The

14

term also includes the use of modalities such as mechanical

15

stimulation, heat, cold, light, air, water, electricity, sound,

16

massage and the use of therapeutic exercises, reconditioning

17

exercise and fitness programs. Athletic training services shall

18

not include surgery, invasive procedures or prescription of any

19

controlled substance.

20

* * *

21

["Certified athletic trainer."  A person who is certified to

22

perform athletic training services by the State Board of

23

Medicine or State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.]

24

* * *

25

"Licensed athletic trainer."  A person who is certified to

26

perform athletic training services by the State Board of

27

Medicine or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

28

* * *

29

"Physically active person."  An individual designated by a

30

physician as physically active, including an individual who

- 2 -

 


1

participates in organized, individual or team sports, athletic

2

games or recreational sport activity or an individual who the

3

physician believes would benefit from athletic training.

4

* * *

5

"Referral."  An order from a licensed physician, dentist or

6

podiatrist to [a certified] an athletic trainer for athletic

7

training services. An order may be written or oral, except that

8

an oral order must be reduced to writing within 72 hours of

9

issuance.

10

* * *

11

"Written protocol."  A written agreement developed in

12

conjunction with one or more supervising physicians which

13

identifies and is signed by the supervising physician and the

14

[certified] licensed athletic trainer. It describes the manner

15

and frequency in which the [certified] licensed athletic trainer

16

regularly communicates with the supervising physician. It

17

includes standard operating procedures developed in agreement

18

with the supervising physician and [certified] licensed athletic

19

trainer that the [certified] licensed athletic trainer follows

20

when not directly supervised on site by the supervising

21

physician.

22

Section 2.  Section 51.1(a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of the

23

act, added December 10, 2001 (P.L.859, No.92), are amended to

24

read:

25

Section 51.1.  Athletic trainers.

26

(a)  General rule.--An athletic trainer [certified] licensed 

27

by the board may, under the direction of a physician, podiatrist

28

or dentist, provide athletic training services to a physically

29

active person under the care of a physician, dentist or

30

podiatrist. An athletic trainer [certified] licensed under this

- 3 -

 


1

section shall refer a physically active person with conditions

2

outside the scope of athletic training services to a physician,

3

dentist or podiatrist.

4

(b)  Temporary [certifications] licenses.--Any athletic

5

trainer who holds a valid certificate issued by the State Board

6

of Physical Therapy under the act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383,

7

No.110), known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act, relating to

8

the practice of athletic training, prior to the effective date

9

of this act shall, on and after the effective date hereof, be

10

deemed to be [certified] licensed by the State Board of Medicine

11

or State Board of Osteopathic Medicine as provided for in this

12

act, unless his or her certification has expired or been revoked

13

prior to the effective date of this act.

14

(c)  [Certification] Licensure, title and limitation on

15

practice.--An athletic trainer who meets the requirements of

16

this section shall be [certified] licensed, may use the title

17

"athletic trainer" or the abbreviation for the title,

18

["A.T.C.,"] "A.T.L.," and may perform athletic training

19

services. A person who is not [certified] licensed under this

20

section may not use the designation of [certified] licensed

21

athletic trainer, athletic trainer or any of the listed

22

abbreviations for that title, including ["C.A.T." or "A.T.C.,"]

23

"L.A.T." or "A.T.L.," or any similar designation. This section

24

shall not prohibit any person trained and licensed or certified

25

under any other law from engaging in the licensed or certified

26

practice in which the person is trained.

27

(d)  Regulations.--The State Board of Medicine and the State

28

Board of Osteopathic Medicine shall jointly promulgate

29

regulations which:

30

(1)  establish approved education and training programs

- 4 -

 


1

for certification; and

2

(2)  define the circumstances and protocol under which a

3

certified athletic trainer may perform athletic training

4

services.

5

[Until such regulations are promulgated by the State Board of

6

Medicine and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, the

7

athletic trainer shall be regulated by the regulations, duly

8

promulgated by the State Board of Physical Therapy prior to the

9

enactment of this amendatory act governing the activities of

10

certified athletic trainers, which are not inconsistent with

11

this act.] All references in the current regulations referencing

12

certification or certified athletic trainers shall be deemed to

13

be references to licensure or licensed athletic trainers after

14

the effective date of this act.

15

* * *

16

(f)  Jurisdiction.--The State Board of Medicine shall be

17

responsible for the [certification] licensure of athletic

18

trainers. Jurisdiction will be determined by the type of

19

physician who supervises and directs the [certified] licensed 

20

athletic trainer. [Certified] Licensed athletic trainers

21

supervised by physicians regulated by the Medical Practice Act

22

of 1985 shall fall within the jurisdiction of the State Board of

23

Medicine.

24

Section 3.  The board shall issue licenses in the course of

25

its normal biannual process. Any athletic trainers with a valid

26

certification prior to the effective date of this act may refer

27

to themselves as licensed athletic trainers upon the effective

28

date of this act, even though the board has not issued a license

29

in lieu of certification.

30

Section 4.  This act shall take effect in 30 days.

- 5 -

 


feedback