College administrators are facing challenges dealing with Health Care Cost Containment. Our administration is facing unbelievable challenges as we move forward. As you review your benefits, we see increases in deductibles and the insured person’s financial responsibility for their portion of insurance. Further, there are decreasing benefits . . . all pointing to increased health care costs. The challenge for college administrators continues to be: find ways to cover the claims primary insurance does not. Those student-athletes with no insurance, must be dealt with.

No longer is it prudent to accept (as college administrators or departments) a simple percentage discount off of medical charges. Insurance companies reap significant discounts for services; and it is prudent for Athletic Departments to obtain such discounts for student-athletes. This standard of care must be done to stay on the cutting edge of providing services today.

Finally, today’s health care reform has no provisions for cost containment or the rising cost of health care to the insured. This rising cost is facing college administrators as they must deal with the portion of care that is not covered. Based on the literature and recent trends; it seems prudent that out-of-pocket medical costs which have been covered by college athletic departments could increase three-fold in the coming years. Yes, three-fold. An institution with out-of-pocket health care costs of $300,000 will approach $1 million in the next couple of years!

In closing, failing to plan is planning to fail.

There are significant discussions taking place daily around water company coolers specific to health care reform and specifically how it will impact Americans – rich and poor; insured and uninsured.

As an Athletic Trainer, and more specifically as an Athletic Administrator – I dealt with the administration of health care benefits of student-athletes on a variety of athletic budgets from a Division III school (Lenoir-Ryhne College) to a FCS school (Appalachian) to an elite Southeastern Conference school in the NCAA Division I (South Carolina). Further, the NCAA now allows member institutions to cover any and all medical benefits/medical services to student-athletes.

While Congress has not created this law to deal with health care specific to student-athletes, Athletic Administrators will now have to see how this will impact what they are providing as they are faced with the challenge to cover those portions of health care charges not covered by either primary accident insurance, excess accident insurance (purchased by the institution) or managed care programs negotiated by the institutions.

I certainly have enjoyed researching this subject as I prepare to present to the Mountain West Athletic Trainers and Team Physicians at their annual conference meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada May 1st, 2010. My challenge will be to interject my thoughts specific to “The Effect of Health Care Reform on Intercollegiate and Professional Sports”. How will this significant event impact the provision of care by Athletic Administrators, and will this reform increase the responsibility for institutions and professional sports clubs.

I’d like to share some thoughts on cost containment relative to the administration of health care in today’s collegiate athletics. As I reflect on my 28 years of service to this sector, the ability to provide the highest level of care in an economic means is a challenge. As a rule, institutions have been more willing to pay non-covered medical expenses of student-athletes at a greater rate in Division I, with less willingness in lower divisions. The financial ability is just greater to provide such services in the higher level divisions.

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