REPORT ON BILLS FAVORABLY REPORTED BY COMMITTEE

COMMITTEE:

Public Health Committee

TITLE OF BILL:

AN ACT CONCERNING ATHLETIC TRAINERS AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS.

SPONSORS OF BILL:

Public Health

  

REASONS FOR BILL:

To mandate licensure of athletic trainers and physical therapy assistants. Both professions believe that licensure will ensure a higher standard of care in Connecticut.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

Cynthia Denne, Department of Public Health, stated that the current regulation of these professionals is adequate to protect public health and safety. The Department would require additional staff and resources to license both professions.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

The Connecticut State Medical Society supports the licensure of athletic trainers and is in agreement with the substitute language.

Dr. Kane of the Connecticut Chiropractic Association expressed reservations about the language in the original bill, which could keep an athletic trainer from referring the patient to a doctor. Additionally, they feel that an athletic trainer is not capable of making a differential diagnosis, a subject studied at the doctorial level. The substitute bill more narrowly defined the scope to athletes only and requires a referral for athletes under the age of 14.

Reisa Fedorchuck is a physical therapist who teaches PTA's views this legislation as a safeguard against nonqualified or incompetent practicing PTA's. For example, under our current statute a potential PTA in another state can fail his/her test, move to Connecticut and be able to practice. Licensure of PTA's provides for an objective measurement of a candidate's knowledge and enforceable sanctions against providers who fail to comply with standards of care.

John Gilmour, Chair if the Licensure Committee of the Connecticut Athletic Trainers' Association, supports this bill because it would raise the standards of athletic training. Mistreatment by individuals representing themselves as an athletic trainer could seriously harm an injured athlete.

The Connecticut Physical Therapy Association represented by Victor Vaughn supports 5794 because it would ensure that PTA's posses the education and skill to practice their trade. It would also provide accountability to the Physical Therapy Board of Examiners. Connecticut is the only New England state that does not license PTA's.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

None

 

Louis J Mangini

3/27/00

 

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