H.B. 4789 (H-3), 5736 (H-2), & 5737 (H-2): COMMITTEE SUMMARY

H.B. 4789 (H-3), 5736 (H-2), & 5737 (H-2): - REGISTER ATHLETIC TRAINERS

COMMITTEE SUMMARY

House Bill 4789 (Substitute H-3 as passed by the House)

House Bill 5736 (Substitute H-2 as passed by the House)

House Bill 5737 (Substitute H-2 as passed by the House)

Sponsor: Representative Joseph Palamara (H.B. 4789)

Representative Gerald Law (H.B. 5736)

Representative Kirk Profit (H.B. 5737)

House Committee: Health Policy

Senate Committee: Health Policy and Senior Citizens

Date Completed: 11-12-98

CONTENT

House Bill 4789 (H-3) would add Part 179 to the Public Health Code, to provide for the registration of athletic trainers; establish the Michigan Board of Athletic Training within the Department of Consumer and Industry Services; require the Department to promulgate rules establishing standards for registration; establish fees for registration as an athletic trainer; and specify that the bill would not require new or additional third party reimbursement for services rendered by an individual registered under the bill. House Bill 5736 (H-2) would amend the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act (which governs Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM)), and House Bill 5737 (H-2) would amend the Worker's Disability Compensation Act to provide that BCBSM or an employer, respectively, would not be required to reimburse for services performed by a profession licensed or registered after January 1, 1998.

House Bill 4789 is tie-barred to House Bills 5736 and 5737.

House Bill 4789 (H-3)

The bill provides that upon its effective date a person could not use the titles "athletic trainer", "registered athletic trainer", "certified athletic trainer", "athletic trainer certified", "A.T.", "A.T.R.", "C.A.T.", "A.T.C.", or similar words that indicated that the person was a registered athletic trainer, unless the individual was registered. "Registered athletic trainer" would mean an individual who engaged in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of the physically active, under the direction and supervision of a licensed allopathic physician or a licensed osteopathic physician.

The Department of Consumer and Industry Services (DCIS) would have to issue a registration as a registered athletic trainer to a person who applied to the Department on a form provided by the DCIS; met the requirements for registration contained in rules promulgated by the DCIS; and paid the required fees. The application processing fee would be $20, and the annual registration fee would be $60. A registration issued by the DCIS would be renewable upon payment of the registration renewal fee and, beginning with the third renewal period after the bill's effective date, submission to the Department of proof of satisfactory completion of at least eight continuing education units within a three-year period in subjects related to athletic training and approved by the Board of Athletic Training (proposed by the bill).

In addition to the continuing education requirements, a registered athletic trainer would have to submit, along with his or her application for registration renewal, proof satisfactory to the Board of both of the following:

-- That he or she had successfully completed a course of training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and foreign body obstruction of the airway approved by the Department and offered or approved by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or a comparable organization.

-- That he or she held, at the time of application for renewal, and at all times during the previous registration period, a valid certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation issued by the organization offering the training.

The bill would create the Michigan Board of Athletic Training in the DCIS. The Board would consist of nine voting members: five registered athletic trainers; two public members; one licensed physician; and one licensed physical therapist. The Department, in consultation with the Board, would have to promulgate rules to establish the minimum standards for registration as an athletic trainer. In promulgating the rules, the Department could consult the professional standards issued by the National Athletic Trainer's Association, by the National Athletic Trainer's Association Board of Certification, or by another nationally recognized professional association.

The bill specifies that its provisions would not require new or additional third party reimbursement for services rendered by a person registered under the bill.

House Bill 5736 (H-2)

The bill provides that for health care coverage offered under a contract or a prudent purchaser agreement, BCBSM would not be required to reimburse for services otherwise covered if the services were performed by a member of a health care profession that was not licensed or registered by the State on or before January 1, 1998, but that became licensed or registered after that date. The prohibition would not change the status of a health care profession that was licensed or registered by the State on or before January 1, 1998.

House Bill 5737 (H-2)

The bill provides that an employer would not be required to reimburse for services performed by a profession that was not licensed or registered by State law on or before January 1, 1998, but that became licensed, registered, or otherwise recognized by State law after that date.

MCL 333.16131 et al. (H.B. 4789) - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

550.1502 & 550.1502a (H.B. 5736)

418.315 (H.B. 5737)

FISCAL IMPACT

Senate Bill 4789 (H-3)

This bill would create a new Board of Athletic Training and establish a registration process for athletic trainers. The bill would allow the Department of Consumer and Industry Services to collect fees. It is difficult to determine the total amount of revenue that would be collected through these fees, however, as there is no information available on the number of athletic trainers in the State. According to the Department, the proposed fee structure should be adequate to offset the cost of implementing and administering this new program; therefore, the fiscal impact should be minimal.

House Bills 5736 (H-2) & 5737 (H-2)

The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

- Fiscal Analyst: M. TyszkiewiczS9798\S4789SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.