State legislatures have been busy in 2022 addressing many healthcare issues impacting radiologists and their patients. This year, the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) has tracked numerous scope of practice bills in virtually all 50 states. While the ACR, state radiological chapters and other specialty medical associations have been successful in defeating many harmful scope expansion bills for non-physicians, there are some states that did grant independent practice to non-physicians.
In 2021, the American College of Radiology Association® (ACRA®) created a Scope of Practice (SOP) Fund in order to safeguard patients and patient access to radiologist expertise by fighting state and federal non-physician SOP expansion legislation. As more and more non-physician groups seek to expand their scope of practice, it is vital for the ACR and state radiological chapters to continue to fight against these harmful overreaches.
The ACR encourages any state radiological chapter that is currently facing or is expecting a scope battle in 2023 to apply for the fund.
If you have any questions about the SOP fund, please contact, Eugenia Brandt, ACR Director of State Government Affairs or Dillon Harp, ACR Senior State Government Relations Specialist.