GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Chair
Matthew D. Hambleton, MSA, AT, ATC
mats.gac@gmail.com
MDHHS
Co-Chair:
Marcus Ebejer, AT, ATC
Detroit Medical Center
Members:
Ethan Nayback, M.Ed., AT, ATC, CEIS™, CEAS II
About Us:
The Governmental Affairs Committee of MATS (MATS GAC) is focused on legislative and regulatory issues that affect the practice of Athletic Training in the State of Michigan. The GAC serves to review, analyze, educate and provide recommendations regarding any legislation that may affect the profession of athletic training.
Goals, Functions, and Responsibilities:
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Attend Executive Board meetings in a non-voting capacity at the request of the President.
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Provide a written report for presentation to the Executive Board at all scheduled meetings.
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Oversee and coordinates activities relative to legislation, political action, and regulatory activity within the State.
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Continuously update MATS GAC website regarding current legislative issues potentially affecting athletic trainers in Michigan.
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Serve as a liaison to MATS lobbyist.
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At a minimum, annually review and analyze all State regulatory bills.
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Participate in and organize conference calls, online and/or face-face meetings as deemed necessary with GAC members to plan strategies and address current legislative issues.
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Provide direction and assistance to MATS members in the areas of legislation, political action, and regulatory activity.
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Work collaboratively with the Professional Education Committee to provide educational programming regarding legislation, political action, and regulatory activity for members.
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Coordinate and develop projects for members that will enhance areas of legislation, political action, and regulatory activity.
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Communicate, educate, and assist with State efforts to obtain support from other medical professions.
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Serve as a member of the GLATA GAC.
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Participate in monthly GLATA GAC calls to discuss strategy, State updates, and NATA updates.
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Submit Bi-Annual State Report to the GLATA GAC.
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Assists the president with all financial considerations of the legislative process and grant applications by the State in coordination with the Finance Committee and Executive Board.
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Submit an annual budget request per Finance Committee specified timelines.
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Address individuals or organizations utilizing the terms associated with “athletic training” inappropriately and submits the proper allegation complaint forms to Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
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Annually signs and submits the MATS Disclosure Statement, to be kept on file by the President.
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Provides additional duties as assigned by the President.
STATE LEGISLATION
BILLS PASSED INTO LAW
HOUSE RESOLUTIONS
House Resolution 47 of 2023: Introduced by Representative Curtis VanderWall on March 1, 2023.
Summary: The Resolution declares March 2023 as Athletic Trainer Month in the state of Michigan.
Status: Adopted on March 1, 2023.
Associated Link: Michigan Legislature - House Resolution 0047 (2023)
HOUSE BILLS
House Bill 4291 of 2023: Introduced by Representative Felicia Brabec on March 16, 2023
Summary: The bill would require the department to develop educational materials and training program regarding sudden cardiac arrest in athletes and their return to athletic activity.
Status: Introduced on March 16, 2023.
Associated Link: Michigan Legislature - House Bill 4291 (2023)
SENATE BILLS
Notice from the Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA):
The BPL within LARA would like to inform you that the Public Health Code – General Rules have been revised which will require implicit bias training for your profession, effective June 1, 2022.
The new training requirements are the product of numerous workgroup meetings over the past year and represent feedback from 86 organizations including our health professional boards, insurance providers, health systems, health care associations, legislators, state agencies, higher education, and community and advocacy groups. The requirements apply to both new applicants as well as those renewing their existing licenses or registrations.
Below are the changes in the rules that pertain to the new training requirements:
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The term “implicit bias” is defined as:
(A)n attitude or internalized stereotype that affects an individual’s perception, action, or decision making in an unconscious manner and often contributes to unequal treatment of people based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, age, disability, or other characteristic. (R 338.7001 (c) )
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Specifically, the new rule (R 338.7004) requires the following:
Rule 4. (1) Beginning 1 year after promulgation of this rule, an applicant for licensure or registration under article 15 of the code, MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838, except those seeking to be licensed under part 188 of the code, MCL 333.18801 to 333.18838, shall have completed a minimum of 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years immediately preceding issuance of the license or registration.
(2) Beginning 1 year after promulgation of this rule and for every renewal cycle thereafter, in addition to completing any continuing education required for renewal, an applicant for license or registration renewal under article 15 of the code, MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838, except those licensed under part 188 of the code, MCL 333.18801 to 333.18838, shall have completed a minimum of 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the applicant’s license or registration cycle.
(3) The implicit bias training must be related to reducing barriers and disparities in access to and delivery of health care services and meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Training content must include, but is not limited to, 1 or more of the following topics:
(i) Information on implicit bias, equitable access to health care, serving a diverse population, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and cultural sensitivity.
(ii) Strategies to remedy the negative impact of implicit bias by recognizing and understanding how it impacts perception, judgment, and actions that may result in inequitable decision making, failure to effectively communicate, and result in barriers and disparities in the access to and delivery of health care services.
(iii) The historical basis and present consequences of implicit biases based on an individual’s characteristics.
(iv) Discussion of current research on implicit bias in the access to and delivery of health care services.
(b) Training must include strategies to reduce disparities in access to and delivery of health care services and the administration of pre- and post-test implicit bias assessments.
(c) Acceptable sponsors of this training include any of the following:
(i) Training offered by a nationally-recognized or state-recognized health-related organization.
(ii) Training offered by, or in conjunction with, a state or federal agency.
(iii) Training obtained in an educational program that has been approved by any board created under article 15 of the code, MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838, except under part 188 of the code, MCL 333.18801 to 333.18838, for initial licensure or registration or for the accumulation of continuing education credits.
(iv) Training offered by an accredited college or university.
(v) An organization specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.
(d) Acceptable modalities of training include any of the following:
(i) A teleconference or webinar that permits live synchronous interaction.
(ii) A live presentation.
(iii) Interactive online instruction.
(4) Submission of an application for licensure, registration, or renewal constitutes an applicant’s certificate of compliance with the requirements of this rule. A licensee or registrant shall retain documentation of meeting the requirements of this rule for a period of 6 years from the date of applying for licensure, registration, or renewal. The department may select and audit a sample of a licensees or registrants and request documentation of proof of compliance with this rule. If audited by the department, a licensee or registrant shall provide the proof of completion of training, including either of the following:
(a) A completion certificate issued by the training program that includes the date of the training, the program sponsor’s name, the title of the program, and licensee’s or registrant’s name.
(b) A self-attestation by the licensee or registrant that includes the date of the training, the program sponsor’s name, the title of the program, and licensee’s or registrant’s name.
Please send any questions you may have about these revised rules to BPLHelp@michigan.gov .
Thank you,
Debra Gagliardi, Director
Bureau of Professional Licensing
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs