Ohio House Passes Athletic Training Modernization Legislation

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Twp.) today announced the House passage of House Bill 484, legislation that modernizes the practice act for Ohio’s athletic trainers. The updates made in HB 484 will reflect the current practice of athletic training, and allow them to keep pace with other health care providers.

“Ohio was the first state to license athletic trainers, and it’s been nearly 30 years since their practice act was updated,” said Abrams. “This legislation better reflects the current practice and changes in the athletic training curriculum so our healthcare system can fully utilize their skills and expertise.”

There are currently over 2,300 licensed athletic trainers (ATs) in Ohio. Athletic trainers are licensed healthcare providers of physical medicine and rehabilitation who partner with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

“As we continue to explore ways to keep healthcare costs low and identify effective pain management techniques in response to the opioid crisis, expanding access to the expertise provided by athletic trainers will help to keep Ohioans of all ages and abilities healthy and active,” said Carfagna.

H.B. 484 updates the Ohio Athletic Trainer’s Practice Act with the following provisions:

- Modernizes the definition of athletic training to better reflect their training and education
- Codifies the current best practice of athletic trainers operating in direct collaboration with a physician
- Eliminates language in current law that restricts ATs by only allowing administering of “topical” care
- Allows an AT to provide care for a visiting team through a referral from one AT to another AT, under the guidance of the collaborating physician

In Ohio, Athletic trainers are severely limited by their current practice act. House Bill 484, when enacted, will allow Athletic Trainers to practice at the top of their licensure in Ohio and continue to provide important care for our increasingly active population.

The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.