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Mississippi Wins SEATA Congressional Contact AED Challenge

Congratulations to the membership of the Mississippi Athletic Trainers Association for their district leading response to the challenge to write letters or make phone calls to their lawmakers, asking them to support the Access to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Improvement Act of 2006, S. 3963.  Of note, the MATA also had the fourth best response percentage of all states nationwide.  The MATA membership will be presented a Medtronic LIFEPAK CR Plus AED at the 32nd Annual SEATA Clinical Symposium & Members Meeting on March 24, 2007 for their efforts.
 

Even though the current Congress has essentially finished, we are working to have the bill reintroduced in the next session.  Your continued efforts are needed.  Reach your U.S. Senators and Representatives via the NATA’s Legislative Alert Center at http://www.nata.org/members1/documents/alert_center.cfm.

Apply for SEATA funding to participate in Capitol Hill Day

The SEATA Executive Board has allocated $7,000 to be used in assisting members from each state with travel expenses to attend NATA's 4th Annual Capitol Hill Day on February 26, 2007.  To apply for these funds follow the steps as outlined below:

1. Contact your state presidents as they are assisting in the selection process to ensure appropriate representation for contacting the most influential legislators.
2. Download the SEATA Funding Request Form from http://www.seata.org/SEATACapHillFundReq.doc, then complete and submit as the form indicates by Jan. 26, 2007.
3. As part of the SEATA approval process, all applicants will need to register online by Feb. 2 via the NATA Capitol Hill Day registration form at https://www.nata.org/capitolhillday/07reg.htm.
4. Application does not insure approval.  Please wait for approval from SEATA President MaryBeth Horodyski before committing to expenditures you are not prepared to pay yourself.
5. Expenses will be reimbursed as per the process detailed on the form upon submission of the required documentation.

There will be an issues briefing and evening reception from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Tyson's Corner Marriott in Washington, DC.

Your members of Congress want to hear from YOU on issues at stake at the federal level.  In 2007, we'll be focused on gaining co-sponsors to the Access to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Improvement Act (S. 3963).

NATA will coordinate Congressional appointments for you and others from your state.  We'll prepare you with an insider's briefing from NATA's Washington, DC representative ... and arm you with the latest talking points for discussion with members of Congress.

Please register to attend today.  There is no charge for participation, but your travel, meals and lodging expenses are your financial responsibility.  Please contact Terri Tillison, NATA meetings coordinator, at 800.879.6282 ext. 137 or territ@nata.org for hotel reservations.  The room rate is $115, subject to availability.

This important legislative effort is being held in conjunction with the annual joint meetings of Government Affairs, Clinical/Industrial/Corporate, Committee on Revenue and Council on Employment committees.

For more registration information, please contact Yvette Robinson at 800.879.6282 ext. 149 or yvetter@nata.org.  For general information, contact Cate Brennan Lisak at 800.879.6282 ext. 148 or catel@nata.org.

Upcoming SEATA Deadlines

Dec. 20, 2006: Deadline for electronic submissions to the Call for Case Study Abstracts authored by athletic training students for the 22nd Annual SEATA Athletic Training Student Symposium in Atlanta, GA, Feb 9-10, 2007.  Go to www.seata.org/casestudy07.htm

Dec. 31, 2006:  Deadline for Athletic Training Student organizations to sign up at http://www.natafoundation.org/pages/BU_SHU_Challenge07.html for the NATA Research & Education Foundation BŪ / SHŪ Challenge.

Dec. 31, 2006: Deadline to receive a 2006 tax deduction for contributions to the NATA Research & Education Foundation by using one of the options below:

• YES Donation Form 2006

• Credit Card Donation Form

• Bank Draft Donation Form

• Online Donation Form

Jan. 1, 2007: Nominations close for the 2007 SEATA Honors and Awards Program.

Jan. 1, 2007: Submission deadline for all SEATA Scholarships applications and related support materials.  Apply at www.seata.org/Scholarshipdetails.htm

Jan. 10, 2007: Postmark deadline for mail-in advance registration for 22^nd Annual SEATA Athletic Training Student Symposium registration, Feb. 9-10, 2007, Crown Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta, GA.  Jan. 15, 2007: Online submission deadline for advance registration.

Jan. 14, 2007: SEATA Research Seminar Abstract submission due. Go to www.seata.org/SEATACallforAbstracts07.pdf

Jan. 26, 2007: Deadlineto submit the Funding Request Form for District IX Members to attend NATA Capitol Hill Day, on Monday, Feb. 26, 2007.  Go to http://www.seata.org/SEATACapHillFundReq.doc, then complete and submit as the form indicates.

Feb. 14, 2007: SEATA Research Grant Award applications due. Go to www.seata.org/SEATAResearchGrant2007.pdf

March 3, 2007: Postmark deadline for mail-in advance registration for 32nd Annual SEATA Clinical Symposium & Members Meeting.

March 10, 2007: Online submission deadline for advance registration. Go to www.seata.org/Meetings.htm

SEATA Annual Clinical Symposium & Members Meeting Agenda close to being finalized

SEATA Hall of Fame Committee initiates planning for 1st Hall of Fame Induction

Committee on Revenue Report

On Dec. 12th the NATA COR held a conference call and moved forward with the following issues.

1. Members of NATA COR will be meeting Feb. 24-27 in Washington DC.  This meeting will take place during the joint committee meet and is in conjunction with the annual ‘Capitol Hill’ day.  

2. H.B. 3963, the  ‘Access to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Act of 2006’.  When discussing this legislation with others please, for the time being, refer to it by the title.  Due to the legislative process that bill will be assigned a new number when the new congress convenes in January.

3. Sen. Craig Thomas of Wyoming who is the sponsor of the Access to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Act of 2006 has been diagnosed with Leukemia and is battling very hard against it.  All members are encouraged to send a personal card of encouragement; not because he has made efforts to help us but because he is our friend.  Please address the cards to Sen. Thomas, c/o Bill Finerfrock, Capitol Associates, 426 C Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

4. HCPAC. (HealthCare Professional Advisory Committee)  NATA has been allotted representation on the AMA HCPAC committee.  This committee provides their opinions on CPT code change requests.   David Jones of Alabama is our rep. and Patty Mosley is the NATA staff assistant.  The next meeting is in Feb where 95 code changes will be reviewed.  This provides protection from outside attacks on the AT codes, helps form alliances.

5. NORA - we have refocused the NORA team, included 3 researchers Ingersoll, Merrick and Cordova.  They helped to explain the IRB processes and will help describe the data collected in a way which will minimize detractors-criticism.  We continue to collect data, in fact, an other award was just earned by an other member for entering 100 assessments!  Some initial #’s 894 assessments collected to date, 348 cases.

6. ASH: Dr. Metz had an accident, suffered multiple injuries - this has slowed down progress a little.  Paul Plummer has been working w/ ASH in developing the rollout to start with Anthem in IN.  He continues to work with Dr. Metz's assistant, but ASH wants Dr. Metz to be in charge & we await his return.

7. NPI contest.  Set to Close in January.  We have planned to present a certificate to the winning state at their District Meeting.

SEATA Communications Committee established

LATA Winter Business Meeting & Hall of Fame Enshrinement