The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) and state radiological societies closely watch scope bills to safeguard patients and protect patients’ access to a radiologist. ACR here provides an update on some bills introduced during the current legislative session and how they have fared.
Indiana
House Bill (HB) 1059 would remove the requirement that an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) have a practice agreement with a collaborating physician. This bill would also remove the provision that requires an APRN to operate under a collaborative practice agreement or the privileges granted by a hospital governing board.
HB 1059 was referred to the House Committee on Public Health.
Michigan
Senate Bill (SB) 279 would give broad scope expansion to nurse practitioners (NPs), including "ordering, performing, supervising and interpreting laboratory and imaging studies."
The Michigan Radiological Society opposes the bill; SB 279 was referred to the Senate Health Policy Committee.
Minnesota
House File 3440 would allow an APRN to practice without a collaborative agreement after completing 2,080 practice hours.
HF 3440 was referred to the House Committee on Health Finance and Policy.
Mississippi
SB 2079 would allow APRNs who have 6,240 practice hours to practice without a collaborative/consultative relationship with a physician.
SB 2079 was referred to the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare.
Missouri
HB 2534 would mandate that healthcare practitioners use appropriate titles and abbreviations. For example, only physicians could use the titles physician, medical doctor, MD or DO.
HB 2534 was referred to the House Committee on Health and Mental Health Policy.
New Hampshire
SB 486 would enjoin the state of New Hampshire into the physician assistant (PA) licensure compact. This compact allows PAs who meet its eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.
SB 486 passed the Senate and awaits committee assignment in the House.
New York
Assembly Bill (AB) 8247 would allow licensed NPs and licensed PAs to directly supervise the intravascular administration of contrast media by a radiographer.
AB 8247 was referred to the Assembly Committee on Health.
SB 2126 would allow a PA to use fluoroscopy for guidance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures if the PA completes an educational program with 40 hours of didactic and 40 hours of clinical training and completes a competency exam.
SB 2126 was referred to the Senate Health Committee. The New York State Radiological Society opposes both bills.
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 was referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.
South Dakota
HB 1013 enjoins the state of South Dakota into the APRN compact.
HB 1013 was signed into law by Gov. Kristi Noem Feb. 5.
Virginia
HB 324 would enjoin the Commonwealth of Virginia into the PA licensure compact. This compact allows PAs who meet its eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.
HB 324 passed the House and was referred to the Senate Education and Health Committee.
HB 971 would reduce an APRN’s number of post-graduate years of physician-supervised clinical experience required for autonomous practice from five years to three years.
HB971 passed the House and was referred to the Senate Education and Health Committee.
The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) has partnered 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.
For more information about state legislative activities, or if you’d like to have access to Fiscal Note contact Eugenia Brandt, ACR Senior Government Affairs Director, or Dillon Harp, ACR Senior Government Relations Specialist.