One of the concerns for many AT’s is how will the ACA (Affordable Care Act) affect the student athlete in the collegiate setting. This is one of the many discussion points brought up during the NATA Joint Committee Meeting that was held in Dallas in January. I understand that the possibility of having an insurance plan that meets the needs for everyone is very valuable and may end up helping athletic departments in collegiate institutions with regards to financial costs incurred due to injuries resulting from conditioning or play. However, how will the overall cost in finding an ACA compliant insurance plan that will take on the risk of a student-athlete affect the institution? The costs for medical care will rise.
The modern day AT will need to take on more of a risk manager approach and the domain of Prevention will assume an even more involved role. The AT waiting to manage an injury will never go away. We do though, as professionals, need to continue to help develop ways of improving our clinical practice and developing intervention strategies to lessen risk.There are so many questions with many possible outcomes…and, at the end of day we really do not know what will be the final answer. I am optimistic that the AT will continue to persevere and demonstrate that prevention is the key to our success. This is where we will make a difference among our healthcare colleagues.
Also, check out the resources that the NATA provides to guide the AT along the way of healthcare reform.
Written by:
Jerry Hilker
College University AT Committee Chair
“The mission of the SWATA CUATC is to promote communication between athletic trainers practicing in the collegiate setting and governing bodies of collegiate athletics. The committee will support the efforts of the NATA-CUATC in representation of the membership who are employed in college and university practice settings.”
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