GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

CHAIR

TOM BAIR, MEd, LAT, ATC

wsataga@gmail.com

The WSATA President and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair work closely with our lobbyist throughout the year to monitor any issues that have the potential to affect the practice of athletic trainers. They work to communicate with other health care professions about active legislation and future health care legislation that may or may not be directly initiated by WSATA. If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns about any issues you feel should be monitored or addressed by WSATA please contact us so we can be as active as we need to in a timely fashion depending on the urgency of the issue. The regulation of our profession is only as effective as the advocacy of our members and we want to be as available as possible when urgent issues come up.

Practice Act Monitoring

WSATA Board of Directors and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair play an active role in monitoring our practice act. If you have questions related to the practice act please contact any of these people and we will be happy to help. If you have a concern about unlicensed or unlawful practice of athletic training in a specific part of Washington we recommend that you contact your respective WSATA Region Representative who will be the initial resource and link to the process of evaluating the issue and moving forward from there.

LICENSURE IN WASHINGTON STATE

As of July 1, 2008 athletic trainers are required to obtain a license from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to legally practice in Washington state. Licensed athletic trainers are regulated by the scope of practice set forth in Washington statute RCW 18.250 . Licensure must be maintained annually through the DOH on the applicant’s birth date and continuing education requirements must be maintained per rule WAC 246-916-060 which are consistent with current BOC requirements.

Athletic trainers are assigned a Program Manager by the DOH who acts as a contact for athletic trainers and is also responsible for coordinating regular meetings with the Athletic Training Advisory Committee which is made up of four practicing athletic trainers and a public member. The Athletic Training Advisory Committee meets at least two times a year to discuss any issues related to the practice act including practice act regulation, DOH policies and procedures, legislative updates and anything related to the practice of athletic training.

As a part of the initial licensure application health care professionals, including athletic trainers, are required to obtain 7 hours of HIV/AIDS education and verification. WSATA offers an online course that satisfies this requirement and is also approved for 4 BOC CEUs. The DOH HIV/AIDS education course can be found here. Instructions for completing the WSATA HIV/AIDS Education Test and to obtain your certificate of completion can be found here – WSATA HIV/AIDS Test.

You can find answers to FAQs related to the athletic training practice act here.

Legislative Accomplishments

Governor Inslee Signs ESSB 5688 Into Law

On May 9, 2019, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed ESSB 5688 into law marking the second time in five years that athletic trainers in the state have modified the athletic training practice act. This latest legislative effort was aimed at improving title protection for licensed athletic trainers as well as adding language to allow ATs to administer and store OTC medications and allowing ATs the ability to administer epinephrine to someone suffering from anaphylaxis who does not have a prescription. ESSB 5688 also added language requiring licensed ATs to obtain suicide prevention training consistent with other health care professionals in Washington State.

Pictured below, Gov. Inslee signs Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5688, May 9, 2019. Relating to athletic trainers. Primary Sponsor: Annette Cleveland

WASHINGTON STATE

ATHLETIC TRAINERS'

ASSOCIATION