05/09/2022
For more than three years, Michael Roberts, ATC, an athletic trainer at OrthoNebraska, has been working with a group of like-minded individuals across the state to pass new legislation that will benefit weekend warriors and other active people who don’t participate in organized sporting activities. In April, this legislation known as LB436 passed in the Nebraska Unicameral and will go into effect in July.
What This Legislation Means for Athletic Trainers
- Expands the patient populations athletic trainers can care for by focusing on injuries, common illnesses and conditions (including orthopedic) that an athletic trainer is educated and trained to treat. Removing a limitation of services only to “athletes.”
- Increases access to athletic trainers through an expanded group of health care providers who can refer patients to athletic trainers. Expanded providers include licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, or chiropractors, where previously limited only to licensed physicians.
- Expands the list of treatment options, or modalities, that athletic trainers can provide to patients and clarifies rehabilitation services that can be provided.
- Ensures consistent communication with referring health care providers through specified documentation requirements for whom athletic trainers are providing care.
- Ensures a commitment to public safety. Athletic trainers collaborated with more than 20 professional organizations through the credentialing review and legislative process.
OrthoNebraska is proud of the work Roberts has done on this project to benefit patients in the Nebraska community.
