A Sports Clearance Evaluation is a brief evaluation specifically addressing issues related to sports participation. The sports clearance evaluation does NOT replace your adolescent’s annual wellness visit. Sports clearance evaluations are for adolescents whose yearly wellness visit was less than a year ago (since commercial insurances generally allow only one preventive wellness check every 365 days).
- The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) requires that a participation physical take place after May 1st the summer before the school year that they are participating in their sport.
- If your child’s most recent wellness check doesn’t fall into the NSAA required time period, we offer a Sports Clearance Evaluation.
- You may wish to check with your insurance provider to determine if they will cover the cost of this exam.
- Since many commercial insurance policies will not cover a visit for sports clearance, we offer a discounted same day fee, $75, paid at the time of service.
- The Sports Clearance Evaluation is a brief evaluation focused on ensuring that your child can be cleared for physical activity required for their competitive activities. It is scheduled with an advanced practice provider and is not intended to address health issues unrelated to sports clearance.
- If you have other concerns you wish to have addressed, please call schedule an appointment for your concerns. Your primary physician or APP can address your health concern and, if appropriate, provide a sports clearance form at the time of that appointment (and a separate sports clearance evaluation will not be needed).
Sports Participation Evaluation Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: My child is due for an annual wellness visit and it’s after May 1st. Do they need a separate Sports Clearance Evaluation?
A: No. Your physician or APP will complete a sports clearance form at the time of your wellness visit if it is safe for your child to participate in sports.
Q: My child had their wellness visit in February and they were healthy. They will need a sports clearance form to play their fall sport. Will they need a sports clearance visit?
A: Yes, your child needs a sports clearance evaluation visit. Unfortunately, the NSAA will not accept a sports clearance form with an examination that was done prior to May 1st even if it is less than a year before the beginning of their sport season.
Q: My child had their wellness visit in February and they were healthy. They will need a sports clearance form to play their fall sport. Can I just schedule another wellness visit?
A: Most commercial insurances will only cover one preventive wellness visit every 365 days. If you schedule a wellness visit with one of our physicians or APPs it may not be covered and the charge will become your responsibility. If you are unsure check with your insurance provider regarding their policy. Medicaid insurance will cover an additional wellness visit in this scenario and you do not need to schedule a Sports Clearance Evaluation.
Q: My Child has Medicaid insurance. Does Medicaid cover a sports clearance evaluation?
A: Yes, Medicaid currently allow you to have an additional preventive wellness visit if needed for sports clearance purposes.
Q: I don’t know if my insurance will cover a Sports Clearance Visit. If you submit it to my insurance and they don’t cover it what will happen?
A: If you choose, we will submit a charge to your insurance. If it is not covered the full charge will become your responsibility.
Q: What if my child is not cleared for sports participation because of a health issue/concern at the time of their appointment?
A: If an issue is found at the time of your appointment that does not allow the medical provider to clear you they will start the process for this issue to be evaluated/treated. In this case we can change the type of visit to an evaluation and management visit and submit it to your insurance for payment which typically will result in a copay depending on your insurance plan. If you have chosen to pay the flat rate for sports clearance we will credit that charge and submit the evaluation and management visit charge to your insurance company.
For example: Patient A comes in for sports clearance. He is with mom and they pay the flat rate of $75 at the time of service. During the visit A has a new heart murmur that is a concerning problem that should be evaluated further by the cardiologist. The medical provider asks further questions about A’s past medical history and family history and lets the family know that they need to be seen by the cardiologist to determine if it is safe for them to participate. The patient is unable to receive a clearance form at the time of the visit. The code for the evaluation and management of the heart murmur is sent to insurance and a credit of $75 will be applied to the family’s account. The family responsibility for this visit is their copay amount as determined by their insurance plan which will be reflected on their account in addition to the $75 credit.
Q: What kind of evaluation should my child expect at a Sports Clearance Evaluation?
A: You and your child will be asked to complete questionnaires regarding their general health, symptoms, and family history related to their ability to safely participate in athletic activity. The medical provider completing the evaluation will do an examination. If your child’s history and physical examination show that they are healthy enough to participate a form will be completed and sent to the portal for you to share with your child’s school.
Q: If my adolescent is due for vaccines at the time of their sports clearance will they be able to get them that day?
A: Yes! At CCH we know vaccines are very important. Any time your child is due for vaccinations they can receive them (if there is no contraindication due to illness or other concern). Your child can be vaccinated at a sports clearance evaluation, nurse visit, psychology visit, or any other reason they are seen at CCH!
Q: My child plays a non-NSAA club sport. Do they need a sports clearance evaluation or a wellness visit?
A: Club sports typically don’t have restrictive date requirements regarding sports clearance. If your child is up to date on their wellness visits we can complete a clearance form based on their last wellness check. If they are due for a wellness visit we can schedule that and clear them at the time of their appointment.
Q: My child has asthma and needs a sports clearance form for school sports. It is less than a year since their last asthma or wellness visit. Do they need a sports clearance evaluation?
A: In this case you could schedule a sports clearance evaluation with an APP OR you could schedule an asthma recheck appointment. If you schedule an asthma recheck appointment, your child’s asthma is under good control, and it is safe for your child to participate in sports your child will get their form as a part of that visit. If you schedule a sports clearance evaluation and your child’s asthma is not under good control you will need to schedule an asthma recheck appointment prior to clearance.
Q: My teenager is having some medical complaints (perhaps acne, abdominal pain, or behavior concerns). They need sports clearance and their last wellness check was less than a year ago. Should I schedule a sports clearance evaluation?
A: No! Please schedule an appointment for your medical concern. Your physician or APP will then help with the medical concern. If there is no contraindication to sports participation they can fill out your sports clearance form at the time of that visit. Just make sure to tell us at the time of scheduling that you need a clearance form too and we’ll make a note in the appointment information!