Business
Ill. seeks coverage for trainers
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 8, 2004
A bill has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly that would require health plans to pay for the services of certified athletic trainers who help patients recover from sports injuries.
The bill would require that any managed care plan or group or individual insurance policy that is amended, renewed or issued after the bill passes must pay for care given by athletic trainers if the treatment was ordered by a physician.
The legislation is being sponsored by state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson. She told the News-Gazette of Champaign, Ill., that even though the work athletic trainers do is medically necessary, some health plans refuse to cover it unless a physician is actually present during the rehab.
The bill is being opposed by the Illinois Assn. of Health Plans, which claims that any government-mandated health insurance coverage will cause premiums to rise.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/03/08/bibf0308.htm.
