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Committee updates scope for athletic trainers and physical therapists; chiropractors raise concerns
Summary
Lawmakers passed House Bill 12 13 to modernize definitions and the practice environment for athletic trainers and add physical therapists to an approved list of concussion service providers; some chiropractic representatives said the bill excluded providers who also treat concussions.
The House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee voted to pass House Bill 12 13, a measure that updates statutory definitions and practice rules for athletic trainers and adds physical therapists to a list of providers authorized for student concussion education and return‑to‑play decisions.
Representative Acre presented the bill and said it clarifies who qualifies as an "athlete" and brings Arkansas law more in line with other states by allowing treatment of athletic injuries regardless of the formal venue. "A sprained ankle is a sprained ankle," the sponsor said, arguing that athletic trainers have the training to assess and treat injuries that occur during training, police and fire exercises, or informal athletic events.
The bill removes a requirement that a physician be physically on-site for certain athletic-trainer services and instead allows work under the direction or consultation of a physician, aligning practice with field conditions.
Opposition testimony came from chiropractic physicians who said they had not been included in the statutory list of approved concussion evaluators. Michael Courtney, a chiropractor and chairman of the Arkansas Chiropractic Society, said chiropractors regularly evaluate and manage concussion patients and asked that the statutory list be broadened. He also recommended restoring the original language referring to physician direction in one section of the bill.
Chris Cathy, a longtime chiropractor and member of a university sports-medicine team, said university programs already integrate chiropractors in concussion diagnosis and urged inclusion.
Sponsor Acre and Representative Gramlich said they were willing to work with providers not included in the current draft and suggested an interim study or future amendment to address the issue.
After discussion the committee adopted the amendment as offered and passed the bill. The measure's changes were presented as updates to modernize practice and reduce uncertainty about when athletic trainers and physical therapists may provide concussion-related services.
