Dangerous Scope of Practice Bills Fail in States

Every year hundreds of scope of practice bills are introduced in state legislatures. ACR® advocates for proper supervision and interpretation of imaging exams by trained radiologists. Below are a few bills that ACR tracked this year that did not pass. 

Scope of Practice

Idaho

House Bill (HB) 77 failed to advance in committee. This bill would have established a limited licensure system for assistant physicians who meet certain criteria.

Kentucky 

Senate Bill (SB) 88 died in committee. It would have replaced “supervision” with “collaboration” in the Physician Assistant (PA) Practice Act. 

Minnesota

House File 88 died in committee. This bill would have changed the title "physician assistant" to "physician associate." 

Missouri

HB 392 failed to advance in committee. It would have allowed advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice independently after completing 4,000 hours of practice in a collaborative practice arrangement.

SB 144 died in committee. It would have allowed APRNs to practice independently after completing 2,000 hours of documented collaborative practice.

Nevada

SB 397 did not advance in committee. The bill would have allowed naturopaths to order and perform physical and laboratory examinations for diagnostic purposes.

SB 294 failed to advance in committee. It would have allowed PAs with more than 4,000 hours of supervised practice to practice independently.

Oklahoma

HB 1812 failed to advance in committee. It would have required the supervising physician of an APRN to be fully trained and qualified in the field of the APRN’s specialty or in the services and procedures the APRN is to provide. 

South Dakota

SB 102 died in committee. It would have changed the physician and PA relationship from one of supervision to one of collaboration.

Texas

SB 3021 died in committee. This bill would have allowed APRNs, nurse midwives (CNMs), nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) to practice independently after practicing for three years under physician supervision.

HB 3415 failed to advance in committee. This bill would have required healthcare professionals to use specific designations based on their qualifications and licenses.

West Virginia

SB 660 died in committee. This bill would have allowed PAs and APRNs to practice independently.

For more information about these bills or any additional state legislative information, contact Dillon Harp, ACR Senior State Government Relations Specialist.