Focus on Scope: Latest Status of State Healthcare-Related Bills

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) tracks hundreds of bills at the state level each year. The following is a roundup updating the status of several in this year’s state legislative sessions related to scope of practice.

Indiana

Senate Bill (SB) 246, died in committee. It would have allowed: advanced practice registered nurses (APRNS) to only practice in collaboration with a licensed practitioner that specializes in the same practice area as the APRN; and allow a physician to enter into a collaboration agreement with a maximum of four APRNs. 

SB 383 and House Bill (HB) 1116 both died in committee. They would have removed the requirement that an APRN have a practice agreement with a collaborating physician and remove a provision requiring an APRN to operate under a collaborative practice agreement or the privileges granted by a hospital governing board.

Montana

HB 183 was signed into law by Governor Gianforte. The bill enjoins Montana into the physician assistant (PA) licensure compact, which allows PAs who meet their eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

HB 199 died in committee. It would have increased the number of PAs that sit on the Montana Board of Medical Examiners from one to two.

Mississippi

HB 98 died in committee. The bill would have allowed APRNs who have completed 3,600 practice hours to be exempt from entering and maintaining a collaborative/consultative relationship with a licensed physician.

Missouri

SB 144 would permit an APRN that has completed 2,000 hours with a collaborating licensed physician in good standing to no longer be required to enter or remain in a collaborative agreement. The bill was voted out of the Senate Committee on Emerging Issues and Professional Registration and awaits further action.

New York

SB 352 was referred to the Senate Health Committee. It would allow PAs to use fluoroscopy to guide diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

SB 684 was referred to the Senate Health Committee. It would create a limited-scope radiographer license after completion of the following requirements:

• A total of 80 hours of didactic content, including but not limited to radiographic anatomy, human physiology, radiation protection and medical terminology.
  
• A minimum of 240 hours of clinical training.
  
• Passage of a standardized accreditation examination.

A licensee would only be allowed to practice radiography on the chest, extremities, skull/sinus and spine/sacrum at urgent care centers. They also would not be permitted to use fluoroscopy or to inject intravenous contrast media.

SB 1505 was referred to the Senate Higher Education Committee. It would enjoin New York into the interstate medical licensure compact, which would allow physicians that meet the compact’s eligibility requirements to practice medicine in other compact states.

North Dakota

SB 2108 died in committee. This bill would have enjoined North Dakota into the PA licensure compact. 

South Carolina

SB 45 was referred to the Senate Committee on Medical Affairs. It would grant APRNs full practice authority, and also permit nurse practitioners to engage in ionized fluoroscopy.

Texas

HB 1731 was voted out of the House Public Health Committee favorably and awaits further action. This bill would enjoin Texas into the PA licensure compact and allow those that meet their eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

HB 1756 was referred to the House Public Health Committee. It would allow APRNs to order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests.

For more information about these bills, contact Dillon Harp, ACR Senior State Government Relations Specialist.

ACR is committed to supporting its chapters in their state-level advocacy efforts. The College also offers resources for members through the State Issues page and can assist with delivering legislative calls to action and grassroots mobilization.

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 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 of Government Relations.