Sports Medicine

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Policy Number:

UW-610

Responsible Office:

Athletics

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

To describe the requirements and procedures for the continuation of medical coverage for the student-athlete until the 26th year of age for athletically-related injuries in the interest of promoting and maintaining the health and welfare of the student-athlete at UW–Madison. This policy will be made known to each athlete through a published Department policies and procedures document provide to the student-athlete. It will be re-enforced through verbal communication with the sports medicine staff.

Definitions:

Athletically-related injury

An injury sustained during a student-athlete’s participation in an intercollegiate athletic program for UW–Madison that was timely reported by the student-athlete to sports medicine staff. Medical conditions that existed prior to participation in an intercollegiate athletic program at UW–Madison or did not result from the participation in an intercollegiate athletic program for UW–Madison are excluded from the definition of athletically-related Injury.

Claim

A request made by a former student-athlete to UW–Madison for the necessary medical treatment to address an athletically-related injury, whether via institutional treatment and/or rehabilitation or direct medical expenses. The request is to be made via the form provided online for completion by the former student-athlete.

Direct medical expenses

The reimbursement or direct payment by UW–Madison of fees or expenses on behalf of the former student-athlete to the appropriate non-UW–Madison health care professionals and/or medical facilities, as designated by the Board.

Former student-athlete

A student-athlete who has separated from UW–Madison.

Institutional treatment and/or rehabilitation

Medical treatment and/or rehabilitation conducted at the UW–Madison facilities by UW–Madison health care professionals, as designated by the Board.

Separation or separated

The latter of a UW–Madison student-athlete’s undergraduate graduation from UW–Madison or permanent withdrawal from all classes at UW–Madison. However, in the event a student-athlete receives an undergraduate degree from UW–Madison and continues to participate in an intercollegiate athletic program at UW–Madison with remaining National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility, separation shall not take place until the student-athlete exhausts his or her NCAA eligibility.

Student-athlete 

Any UW–Madison student who participates in an intercollegiate athletic program at or for UW–Madison.

Policy:

Reporting

1. Injuries & Illnesses: All student-athletes are required to timely report any athletically-related injury to the sports medicine staff in accordance with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Student-Athlete Injury and Illness Reporting Acknowledgement Form signed by the student-athletes at the start of each academic year.
2. Exit Interview Form: All UW–Madison student-athletes are required, as an express condition of receiving benefits from UW–Madison under this program, to fully complete, execute, and if requested, participate in an in-person interview and/or physical examination (exit interview) with the UW–Madison sports medicine staff and/or other medical professionals within 21 days after their last date of practice or competition for a UW–Madison intercollegiate athletic program, whichever occurs earliest.
   1. The Exit Interview Form (and exit interview, if conducted) and the medical records for each student-athlete will document each student-athlete’s health status, any athletically-related injuries and allow each student-athlete to disclose any ongoing or unresolved athletically-related injuries. Any and all injury concerns and ongoing or unresolved athletically-related injuries should be disclosed on the Exit Interview Form and at the exit interview, if conducted.

Loss or Limitations of Benefits

1. Exit Interview Form: Failure of a former student-athlete to fully complete, execute, and submit the Exit Interview Form, and where required, participate in the in-person exit interview/physical examination within 21 days of their last date of practice or competition for UW–Madison, whichever is earlier, will release UW–Madison from any medically-related financial obligation under this program.
2. Required Pre-Approval: Failure of a student-athlete to obtain the required pre-approval for a medical treatment or service for an athletically-related injury will release UW–Madison from any financial obligation for the medical treatment or service sought under this program.
3. Declination of Recommended Treatment: After fully completing, executing, and submitting the Exit Interview Form, certain student-athletes may be requested (or may request themselves) to participate in an in-person exit interview with the assistant athletic director for sports medicine or other medical professionals, which may result in a recommended course of medical treatment. If a student-athlete declines to follow that recommendation, the student-athlete may forfeit any and all benefits under this program.
4. Transfer by the Student-Athlete from UW–Madison to Another Institution: Should a student-athlete transfer to another institution before their undergraduate graduation from UW–Madison, the student-athlete will only be eligible under this program for two years from their separation from UW–Madison, and then only if all other eligibility requirements under this program are met.
5. Practice or Competition with a Professional Team or Organization: Once a former student-athlete has successfully passed a pre-participation physical with a professional team/organization and participates in practice or competition for or with the professional team/organization, the student-athlete will only be eligible under this program for two years from their separation from UW–Madison, and then only if all other eligibility requirements are met.

Other Coverage

Should a former student-athlete have any policy of insurance or other medical benefits coverage pursuant to which coverage may be available for the medical issues contemplated by this program, any and all benefits under this program will respond and be provided to such former student-athlete, if at all, after the exhaustion of such insurance or other medical benefits coverage.

Procedure:

Procedures

1. All student-athletes will be provided a copy of the Exit Interview Form before the student-athlete’s last day of practice or competition, through the athlete portal of the Department medical record system, or via email or paper copy by the respective sport administrator, head coach, director of operations, or athletic trainer.

2. The student-athlete must fully complete, execute, and submit an Exit Interview Form within 21 days of their last date of practice or competition for UW–Madison, whichever occurs earlier.

   1. Student-athletes who have NOT sustained an athletically-related injury will fully complete, execute, and submit the Exit Interview Form without the need for an exit Interview. In order to utilize this option, the student-athlete must verify that they have not sustained any athletically-related injury while participating in intercollegiate athletics at UW–Madison.

   2. Student-athletes who HAVE sustained an athletically-related injury but do not have any currently ongoing or unresolved symptoms or medical issues will also fully complete, execute, and submit the Exit Interview Form without the need for an exit interview. In order to utilize this option, the student-athlete must verify that they are not experiencing an injury concerns, ongoing or unresolved medical issues from any athletically-related injuries.

   3. Student-athletes who HAVE sustained an athletically-related Injury and are currently experiencing ongoing or unresolved medical issues will fully complete, execute, and submit the Exit Interview Form within 21 days of their last date of practice or competition for UW–Madison, whichever is earlier, and contact the team athletic trainer to schedule an in-person exit interview and/or physical examination. After the exit interview, UW–Madison will provide such student-athletes with an evaluation and recommended course of treatment, where appropriate or necessary.

3. The assistant athletic director for sports medicine or their designee will review each Exit Interview Form within 21 days of receipt and verify that the disclosure contained in the Exit Interview Form is consistent with the student-athlete’s medical records.

Medical Treatment Claim Process

1. Subject to all of the requirements and conditions aforementioned, UW–Madison will provide eligible former student-athletes with reasonable medical treatment or services which are reasonably necessary for an athletically-related injury, in accordance with the guidelines below, up until the beginning of the 26th year of age (unless the student-athlete qualifies under a limitation of benefits).
2. UW–Madison requires, as a condition of eligibility for any benefits under this program, that the former student-athlete obtain pre-approval from the UW–Madison Post Separation Medical Coverage Review Board for any medical treatment or services, except under exceptional extenuating circumstances or emergency necessity. The Board will include UW–Madison’s assistant athletic director for sports medicine, athletic director (or designee), and a team physician.
3. To make a claim under this program, the former student-athlete will fully complete, execute, and submit the UW–Madison Intercollegiate Athletics Post-Separation Medical Authorization Claim Form at least 10 days prior to any scheduled medical treatment related to the claim. The claim must include all relevant information and documentation for any requested medical treatment, service, and/or direct medical expenses regarding the athletically related injury sought by a former student-athlete, a Medical Release Form authorizing the Board to obtain and review any and all relevant and necessary medical records concerning the request and the claimant’s email address.
4. Once a claim and all relevant documents necessary to evaluate the claim have been received, the Board will review the claim within 10 business days.
5. The Board’s review of each claim will be based upon:
   1. Any prior approvals associated with the claim.
   2. The immediate injury or symptoms associated with or related to the athletically-related injury.
   3. The circumstances surrounding or causing the need for medical treatment.
   4. The former student-athlete’s Exit Interview Form and/or exit interview/physical examination.
   5. The information submitted with the claim form.
   6. Any other relevant information pertaining to the claim (e.g., emergency circumstances, geographical location of the former student-athlete, the athletically-related injury involved, the treatment requested, required or performed relative to the injury, the nature/type of the medical treatment sought, etc.).
6. If approved in whole or in part, the Board will inform the student-athlete via email and U.S. mail:
   1. Further information or a physical examination is required before a final determination regarding the claim can be made, or
   2. The student-athlete is entitled to:
      1. The necessary medical treatment, whether via:
         1. Institutional treatment and/or rehabilitation to address the athletically-related injury (including reasonable travel and lodging expenses associated with);
         2. UW–Madison’s reimbursement or direct payment of some or all direct medical expenses needed to address the athletically-related injury; or
         3. The procurement by UW–Madison of insurance or other funding sources for the medical treatment or service requested by the former student-athlete relating to their athletically-related injury.
7. The option (from those set for the above) selected by the Board will be within UW–Madison’s sole discretion and will be based on each claim’s case-by-case review and decision.

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:

UW Director of Athletics

Policy Manager:

Athletics Training Director

Contact:

Athletics Training Director -- Michael Moll, mkm@athletics.wisc.edu, (608) 262-6134

Date Issued:

09-01-2019

Retrieved:

04-19-2024 06:40:51