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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Taylor

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/20/07

HB 88

SHORT TITLE Athletic Trainer as Health Care Provider

SB

ANALYST Hanika-Ortiz

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA)

Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 88 adds New Mexico athletic trainers licensed pursuant to Chapter 61, Article 14D

NMSA 1978 to the definition of a healthcare provider within the Workers’ Compensation Act.

House Bill 88 further amends the Act by replacing the term “chiropractor" with “chiropractic

physician" as one licensed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 61, Article 4 NMSA 1978.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Physicians are realizing the significance of using the licensed athletic trainer in the evaluation,

treatment, and follow-up care provided as part of the physician visit. Outcome studies at the

national level prove that patients utilizing athletic trainers demonstrate a significant reduction in

patient re-injury rates, restricted workdays, and lost work time.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

House Bill 88 will allow licensed athletic trainers to receive referrals and be reimbursed for

services under the Worker’s Compensation Act.

House Bill 88 – Page

2

Athletic Training is an allied health care profession recognized by the American Medical

Association (AMA) that specializes in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, management and

rehabilitation of athletic related injuries and illnesses. Athletic Training programs are accredited

by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) with the

National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) responsible for

complex written, and oral/practical certification exams.

In over 43 states certified and/or licensed athletic trainers were recognized as health care

professionals. This change in law will allow licensed athletic trainers to receive referrals and be

reimbursed for services under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 88 will expand the availability of health care providers available to provide services

to individuals under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Workers’ Compensation Administration reports that the amendment proposed under HB 88

should be easily implemented administratively.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Workers’ Compensation Administration reports that their Advisory Council has not

reviewed this bill at this time.

The titles Chiropractic Physician, Doctor of Chiropractic and Chiropractor appear to be

interchangeable. For the avoidance of confusion for patients, it is unclear how these health care

providers make it obvious to their patients that they are not medically qualified physicians.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Licensed athletic trainers may be restricted in their ability to evaluate, treat, and be reimbursed

for specifically diagnosed athletic injuries.

AHO/nt