State Legislatures Address Scope of Practice Legislation

As more state legislatures adjourn for the year, take a minute to see how some scope of practice (SOP) expansion legislation the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) tracked has fared.

Colorado

Senate Bill (SB) 24-018 awaits action by Gov. Jared Polis. This bill would enjoin Colorado into the physician assistant (PA) licensure compact. This compact allows PAs who meet its eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

Maryland

SB 359 failed. This bill would have enjoined Maryland into the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) compact. This compact allows APRNs who meet its eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

Mississippi

House Bill (HB) 37 failed. This bill would have removed the requirement for a referral by a physician before a physical therapist could provide physical therapy services.

SB 2377 failed. This bill would have allowed an APRN who has completed 3,600 practice hours to be exempt from the requirement of entering a collaborative relationship with a physician.

HB 1490 failed. This bill would have allowed an APRN to practice without a collaborative agreement with a physician, under any of the following conditions:

• If an APRN completed 10,000 clinical practice hours under the direct supervision of a physician or nurse practitioner (NP) who has practiced for at least 10 years.
• If an APRN completed 3,000 clinical practice hours in critical care units, emergency departments, or medical-surgical floors and completed 2,000 clinical practice hours under the direct supervision of a physician or NP who practiced for at least 10 years.

New Hampshire

SB 486 failed. This bill would have enjoined New Hampshire into the PA licensure compact.

Rhode Island

SB 2181 would repeal the July 1, 2025, sunset provision of the interstate medical licensure compact. The interstate medical licensure compact allows physicians who meet the compact’s eligibility requirements to practice medicine in other compact states. SB 2181 passed the state Senate and was referred to the House Committee on Health and Human Services.

Vermont

HB 572 failed. The bill would have enjoined Vermont into the PA licensure compact.

ACR partners 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.

ACR is always looking to highlight our members’ advocacy efforts. If you would like to highlight someone for their advocacy work, share your advocacy experience, or share pictures from your recent state advocacy day, contact Eugenia Brandt, ACR Senior Government Affairs Director, or Dillon Harp, ACR Senior Government Relations Specialist.