What efforts are being made to obtain Medicare recognition for athletic trainers?
A. NATA and the Council on Revenue are working diligently to accomplish this. Currently Medicare states that for athletic trainers to receive recognition and payment from Medicare a change in federal law (statute) needs to take place. A change in the statutes can only be accomplished through Congressional action. NATA hired a full-time Washington D.C. lobbyist in June of 2004, and has a full-time federal legislative manager on staff. The NATA team’s primary goal is to gain Medicare recognition of athletic trainers as “covered providers.” Q. Which commercial insurance companies currently reimburse athletic trainers? A. This varies from state to state and company to company. A company may reimburse in one state and not in another because of state laws/regulations or practice patterns. It may also vary from setting to setting. You should check with your state association or directly with the insurance company for information. Q. Whose provider number can be used for billing? A. See previo
