States Adjourn – Update on Radiology-related Bills

As we approach the middle of June, most state legislatures have adjourned for the year. Below, we take a look at how bills that may impact radiology have fared this year.

Scope of Practice

Arkansas

Senate Bill (SB) 117 died in committee. It would have provided for the licensure of naturopathic physicians in Arkansas and would have created a naturopathic physician advisory committee to the Arkansas State Medical Board.

SB 119 was signed into law by Governor Huckabee Sanders. This bill enrolls Arkansas in 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 died in committee. This bill would have increased the prescriptive authority of naturopaths and would have allowed them to prescribe medical devices and Schedule I and II drugs.

Connecticut

House Bill (HB) 6835 failed in committee. It would have enrolled Connecticut into the physician assistant (PA) Licensure Compact. This compact allows PAs who meet their eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

Illinois

SB 209 is awaiting action by the Senate Assignments Committee. This bill would enroll Illinois in the PA licensure compact.

Iowa

SF 312 was withdrawn from consideration. It would have enrolled Iowa in the PA licensure compact.

Kansas

SB 126 was signed into law by Governor Kelly. The bill enrolls Kansas into the PA licensure compact.

Mississippi

HB 1357 died in committee. It would have allowed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who have completed 5,000 clinical practice hours to practice independently.

SB 2672 died in committee. It would have allowed certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists who are licensed to practice advanced practice nursing and who have completed 3,600 practice hours to practice independently.

SB 2673 died in committee. This bill would have allowed a certified registered nurse anesthetist who has completed 8,000 clinical practice hours to practice independently.

Michigan

HB 4032 passed the House and is awaiting action by the Senate. If passed, it would enroll Michigan in the interstate medical licensure compact.

Oklahoma

HB 2298 became law in Oklahoma, despite the veto of Governor Stitt. This bill allows certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and midwives who have completed a minimum of 6,240 hours of physician-supervised practice to independently prescribe medications.

South Dakota

HB 1071 was signed into law by Governor Rhoden. This bill allows PAs 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.

 

Prior Authorization

Maryland

HB 820 was signed into law by Governor Moore. This bill requires 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.
• That 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, ACR Senior State Government Relations Specialist.