LEGISLATIVE WATCH

This page describes some of the items and issues we are following at the State and Federal Level.

March Madness and Cessation of the “Session”

As you know, March annually brings forth National Athletic Training Month and a “March Madness” that creates frenzy on the hardwood as well as the marble floors of the Legislature. This March also saw the sun set on the 2007-2008 legislative session. Over the past year, the WATA Legislative Committee frequently solicited your assistance in contacting legislators to express opinions on behalf of the WATA and its members. As always, our membership responded with a dedicated professionalism that exceeded all expectations. Previously it would have been unrealistic for our association to stand alone in opposition or promotion of any legislative issue and expect a favorable outcome.  However, our voice was heard and the seemingly impossible became achievable. Of note, the PT Independent Examining Board Bill stalled in the Senate health committee effectively killing the bill for this legislative session. Those of you who reside in Senator Erpenbach’s district will be contacted directly with an opportunity to thank him for listening to our concerns regarding this bill and not taking it to executive committee session.

If you wish to learn more about the rationale behind our opposition of the PT Examining Board bill please follow this link (Legislative Communication). This “open letter to the membership” essentially explains our reasons for opposing the PT bill as well as why we have decided to amend our own practice act. Please note that the emergence of the PT bill was not the sole factor eliciting amendment to our practice act. While the two items are and should stand alone as separate entities, it is frankly difficult to completely isolate any legislation that impacts the health care environment. Our goal simply is to ensure the Licensed Athletic Trainer remains a viable choice for physicians and their patients who seek physical medicine and rehabilitation services. Likewise those services should be fairly reimbursed regardless of the setting or patient population served. Our practice act amendments will be introduced with the onset of the next legislative session in early 2009.

Of any issue this committee has tackled, I am most proud of the evolution of our profession toward one that is equally recognized under the lights on Friday night as well as under the dome of our State Capitol. Importantly, with recognition comes responsibility and I ask you to remain critically educated and purposefully engaged in the political processes that shape our profession.

On behalf of this committee I wish to express a heart felt THANK YOU to each and every LAT who took precious time to play an active role in the politics of our profession. Likewise, our student members were more active in this setting than ever. Their involvement and the reaction it helped elicit in the Capitol is proof that legislators will listen to constituent concerns regardless of economic, professional or social status. Our future indeed is bright. Lastly, the invaluable contributions of Scott Stenger and Mindy Walker at Stenger Government Relations allowed us to continually evolve our political personality and promote professional awareness among those at the Capitol. Feel free to send a short note of thanks and appreciation to Scott and Mindy at scott@stengergov.com

NATM Legislative Letter Campaign: Positively Proactive!
On behalf of NATM, we humbly ask you to indulge this committee one final time by helping to proactively close out the legislative session with a role-reversal reflection and a positive note of thanks.

For a brief instant, imagine yourself in the role of a State or Federal Legislator. Day after day they are bombarded with demands and aggressively courted by special interests, associations and the individuals of their constituency. Nearly all of these contacts are precipitated by an event or pending legislation that has or will affect someone or something in a negative fashion. Rarely, if ever, do legislators receive a word of thanks or gratitude for their dedicated service.

This letter (NATM Letter) is a way for our association to simply demonstrate our appreciation for the service our officials in government provide to the citizens of Wisconsin. It is also a vehicle to positively convey information regarding our profession and the designation of March as NATM. It is basically PR without “demand” and will hopefully reflect the collegial nature of those who comprise our association and the profession of Athletic Training.

The letter correlates the “behind the scenes” duties many LATs, Legislators and their staff members must perform to accomplish the goals and ideals of an overall “team”, organization or community. LATs and Legislators alike often work long, unheralded hours and must often communicate with those they serve in situations that are inherently negative in nature. In either profession, anything less than an empathetic response and swift action is unsatisfactory and can often create expectations that can be difficult to live up to. The end result or final decision of any given circumstance may not always be satisfactory to all persons involved. However, that decision is usually made with the best interest those most affected by their actions. Be it a piece of health care legislation or an acute injury evaluation, the goal is to endow swift action to ensure the health and safety of our citizens, athletes and patients.

While we are well aware that NATM has officially passed, the message conveyed is basically timeless in nature. Please take a moment to proactively thank your legislators for their dedicated service and willingness to serve on behalf our state wide team. We feel that the concurrent closure of NATM and the Legislative session is a fantastic way to make a positive connection between Athletic Trainers and our State and National government officials.  

Hit the Hill Day
Wisconsin was represented on Capitol Hill by Mark Gibson, Craig Halls and Mike Van Veghel. We individually met with our respective representatives and or their health care policy staffers and collectively dialogued with the staff of Senators Kohl and Feingold. Unfortunately we did not obtain any firm commitments to sponsor HR 1846. However, each of our discussions was productive and we continue to educate those in Washington DC regarding to the importance of this bill.

What is clear is that constituent contacts and an engaged coalition will be crucial if this bill has a chance at finding its way to the House floor. We will continue to formulate our state-wide strategy as well as brainstorm ideas to promote this bill both locally and nationally. Further discussion will take place at our state meeting. Likewise feel free to access the NATA-PAC or Legislative Alert Pages via the NATA website.

Thank you for your time. If you have any questions please contact Mike Van Veghel LAT, WATA Governmental Affairs Committee Chair

Mike Van Veghel
mvanveghel@uwhealth.org
608-265-1208
608-243-4390