Scope of practice is always a hot topic in state legislatures and this year is no different. The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) is tracking more than 58 scope of practice bills across 22 states with more expected to be considered. Below is a snapshot of some of the bills that have been introduced related to scope or practice and other healthcare related topics.
Scope of Practice
Arizona
House Bill (HB) 2134 would remove physician supervision from the physician assistants (PA) collaborative practice statute.
HB 2181 would allow physical therapists (PTs) to order durable medical equipment (DME).
HB 2310 would enjoin Arizona into the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) compact. This compact allows APRNs who meet their eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.
HB 2583 would allow PTs to order diagnostic imaging.
Arkansas
HB 1244 would grant full independent practice authority to a certified nurse practitioner (CNP) or a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) who has completed 2,000 hours of practice.
Senate Bill (SB) 117 would provide for the licensure of naturopathic physicians in Arkansas and create a naturopathic physician advisory committee to the Arkansas State Medical Board.
SB 119 would enjoin Arkansas into the interstate medical licensure compact. This allows physicians who meet the compact’s eligibility requirements to practice medicine in other compact states.
Colorado
SB 25-032 would increase the prescriptive authority of naturopaths and allow them to prescribe medical devices and Schedule 1 and 2 drugs.
Connecticut
HB 6835 would enjoin Connecticut into the PA licensure compact. This compact allows PAs who meet their eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.
Illinois
HSB 87 / SB 209 would enjoin Illinois into the PA licensure compact.
Iowa
SSB 1052 would enjoin Iowa into the PA licensure compact.
Kansas
SB 126 would enjoin Kansas into the PA licensure compact.
Mississippi
HB 1357 would allow APRNs who have completed 5,000 clinical practice hours to practice independently.
SB 2672 would allow CNPs, certified nurse midwives (CNM), and clinical nurse specialists (CNS) licensed to practice advanced practice nursing who have completed 3,600 practice hours to practice independently.
SB 2673 would allow a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) who has completed 8,000 clinical practice hours to practice independently.
Michigan
HB 4032 would enjoin Michigan into the interstate medical licensure compact. This allows physicians who meet the compact’s eligibility requirements to practice medicine in other compact states.
New York
S 3916 would enjoin New York into the interstate nurse licensure compact and the advanced practice registered nurse compact. These compacts would allow individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.
Oklahoma
HB 2298 would allow APRNs who have completed 6,240 clinical practice hours to prescribe and order independent of supervision.
South Dakota
HB 1071 would allow a PA to practice without a collaborative agreement if the PA meets the following requirements:
- Is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
- Completes 2,080 practice hours.
Out-of-Network / Surprise / Balance Billing
New York
A 3488 / S 4012 would require the billing entity, before any medical procedure, to notify the patient that an out-of-network physician may be used in their procedure and that such physician’s services would not be covered by the patient’s insurance plan. This bill would also require the patient’s insurance plan to cover the cost of an out-of-network physician if the patient did not receive proper notification before their procedure.
Prior Authorization
Maryland
HB 820 would require carriers, every quarter, to submit the following to the Maryland Commissioner of Health:
- Whether artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other software tools were used in making adverse decisions.
- That artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other software tools do not base their determination solely on a group dataset.
- Artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other software tools do not replace the role of healthcare providers in the determination process.
For more information about these bills, contact Dillon Harp, American College of Radiology® (ACR®) Senior State Government Relations Specialist.
ACR is committed to supporting its chapters in their state-level advocacy efforts. The College also has resources available for members through the State Issues homepage and can assist with delivery of legislative calls-to-action and grassroots mobilization.
ACR has partnered with Fiscal Note, a legislation and regulation tracking service, to provide continuous, comprehensive updates on radiology- and healthcare-related legislation. To stay current on state legislative developments relevant to radiology, view the ACR policy map or receive state-specific reports from Fiscal Note.
For state-level calls to action or to sign up to receive Fiscal Note reports, chapter leaders should contact Eugenia Brandt, ACR Senior Government Relations Director, or Melody Ballesteros, ACR Assistant Director Government Relations.
