§8601 Protections for covered sports medicine professionals

Summary

If a sports medicine professional has medical liability insurance in their primary State and they agree in writing to care for an athlete or team in a different State, their home-State insurance must cover those services like they were done at home. Also, if the professional is licensed in the primary State to give those services, the secondary State must treat that person as meeting its license rules when the two States’ licenses are substantially similar. This does not let the professional do more than their primary-State license allows, or more than what a similar license in the secondary State allows. It also does not replace any reciprocity or interstate compact between the States, or a licensure exemption the secondary State already gives. Definitions: athlete — someone paid to play, someone in an event run by a national governing body, or someone for whom a high school or college provides a covered sports medicine professional. Athletic team — a team made up of paid players, a team in a national governing body event, or a team for which a high school or college provides a covered sports medicine professional. Covered medical services — general or emergency medical care, athletic training, or physical therapy, but not care at a health care facility or care given while a licensed provider is taking an injured person to a facility. Covered sports medicine professional — a physician, athletic trainer, or other health pro licensed in the primary State who has a written agreement to provide services and who told their home-State insurer what they will do. Health care facility — a place that gives inpatient or outpatient medical care, not including arenas, stadiums, practice sites, or temporary event facilities. Institution of higher education — a college or university as defined in federal law. License/licensure — approval under primary-State rules to provide covered services (may include registration or certification). National governing body — a sports governing organization as defined in federal law. Primary State — the State where the professional is licensed and where most of their liability coverage is underwritten. Secondary State — any State that is not the primary State. State — includes the States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Substantially similar — both States have a form of licensure that lets the professional provide the covered services.