There were 4 changes to our practice act during the 2021 Sunset Review Process:

• Allowing for the direction of athletic trainers by physicians and physician assistants. The prior language included “dentists" and “health care professionals.” However, “health care professional” is not defined, which left the amount of expertise needed for direction wide open and could have put a client or patient at risk. Since the BOC already requires the direction of a physician, CATA felt this change in language was appropriate.

• Adding a waiting period after license revocation or surrender. Specifically, amend §12-20-404(3), C.R.S, which is incorporated by reference into the Act (§12-205-111(2), C.R.S.). Currently, an athletic trainer whose license is revoked or who surrenders his or her license may immediately apply again for licensure. This amendment brings athletic trainers in alignment with other licensed health care professionals.

• Adding additional enforcement action options. Specifically, add authority for the director to issue a Letter of Admonition (LOA), issue a Confidential Letter of Concern (LOC), or place a licensee on probation which is incorporated by reference into the Act (§12-205-111(2), C.R.S.). These amendments provide the Director a broader choice of disciplinary tools to utilize when taking disciplinary action. Also, the licensee can be held accountable, while remaining a part of the active workforce, and consumer protection is still provided. Under current language, if a registrant commits any act that is grounds for discipline, the Director’s only disciplinary options are revocation, suspension, entering into a stipulation, or a denial of a registration renewal. However, for some violations, these types of discipline do not match the level of violation.

• Updating language addressing violations related to excessive use or abuse of alcohol, habit-forming drugs, or habitually using a controlled substance. Current language states “Has an alcohol use disorder, as defined in section 27-81-102, or a substance use disorder, as defined in section 27-82-102, or is an excessive or habitual user or abuser or excessively or habitually uses or abuses alcohol or habit-forming drugs or is a habitual user of a controlled substance, as defined in section 18-18-102 (5), or other drugs having similar effects…”. The current statutory language is antiquated and does not conform with current terminology used by mental health professionals.