South Dakota Radiological Society Helps Defeat Dangerous Scope Bill

The South Dakota Radiological Society (SDRS) and the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) was successful in their campaign to defeat Senate Bill (SB) 175, legislation introduced in the state senate earlier this year that would have allowed a physician assistant (PA) that completed 2,080 practice hours to perform medical services — including taking X-rays and performing radiologic procedures — without a collaborative agreement with a physician.

The bill was immediately opposed by SDRS and ACR, along with other medical specialty societies. SDRS and ACR used a collaborative approach to advocate against this harmful scope bill and sent a joint letter expressing concerns and objections to the South Dakota Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, where the bill was referred for consideration. While the bill passed the committee,

ACR and SDRS members in the state responded to a call-to-action urging them to email their state senators and to oppose SB 175. Shortly thereafter, the bill was considered before the full Senate and failed to pass. The bill will no longer be considered this session.

If you have any questions, contact Eugenia Brandt, ACR Senior Government Affairs Director, or Dillon Harp, ACR Senior Government Relations Specialist. If states would like assistance with calls-to-action, contact Melody Ballesteros, ACR Assistant Director of Government Relations.