NATA Beat: Fall 2025 Advocacy Updates
Every day, NATA and the NATA Government Affairs Department are working on behalf of the athletic training profession. With staff members experienced in all aspects of the legislative process, the NATA Government Affairs Department is the sole department focused on advocacy for the profession. NATA’s goal is to ensure that all ATs can work to the fullest extent of their education and skill set.
HIPAA's 20th Anniversary
By Kara Gainer
Did you know HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) recently celebrated its 20th anniversary? As you may recall, President Bill Clinton signed HIPAA into law on Aug. 21, 1996. After having noticed various media outlets reporting on HIPAA’s 20th anniversary, I was prompted to look more closely at the law whose acronym we all are at least somewhat familiar with.
Tribute to Jack Baynes
By Jeff Stone
Past President – ATOM
Past District One Director
Our little “Athletic Training World” lost a true gentleman on Wednesday…
Jack Baynes’ star shined brightly throughout his career and on all whom he cared for…a warm, humbling, caring practitioner of sports medicine, he balanced his profession with a love of family and friends…
Share Weight Management Handout
Sometimes, an athlete will associate their weight and appearance with their athletic performance. They might feel pressure to look a certain way in order to perform at their best. Unsafe weight-control behaviors can threaten the athlete’s health, however, there are ways an athlete can safely manage their weight and body composition.
Get To Know Bucky Taylor
The October NATA News features a profile on longtime Mesquite Independent School District athletic trainer Bucky Taylor, MEd, ATC, LAT. Throughout his 36-plus-year career, Taylor has focused on concussion management and care. In addition to writing hisschool district’s return-to-play policy, Taylor, along with friend Dennis Hart, ATC, LAT, helped create Texas’ concussion law.
Update on SOC and S. 689
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system is utilized by Federal statistical agencies to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data. The SOC differs from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which provides information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations.
Watch NATA History as it Happened
This past Monday (Sept. 12), was a significant day for NATA and the athletic training profession. For the first time in our history, a piece of legislation championed by NATA was passed by Congress. The Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (H.R. 921) was passed by the House of Representatives.
New CPT Codes in Jan. 2017
By Karen Fennell, MS, ATC
NATA Representative to the AMA CPT Coding Panel
H.R. 921 Passes in the House
After several years of collaborative work with members of Congress, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (H.R. 921) was passed by the House of Representatives Monday, Sept. 12, a historic event for NATA and the athletic training profession.
Update: House Will Vote on H.R. 921 Today
The Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (H.R. 921), which was passed unanimously by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee July 13, is going to be voted on by the full House of Representatives today, Monday, Sept. 12. This is a historic event for NATA and the athletic training profession as it is the first time a piece of NATA legislation has progressed to this step in the legislative process.