Keep a Keen Eye on State Legislative Activity

As we enter March, state legislators are hearing bills in committees and considering them in their full sessions. It is important for American College of Radiology® (ACR®) members to stay vigilant and keep track of bills in their state as things can move very quickly. Below is a snapshot of some of the bills the College is tracking.

Scope of Practice

California

Assembly Bill (AB) 460 would allow a licensed physician or surgeon to either be physically present within the facility and immediately available to intervene or available immediately via telephone or other real-time audio communication when supervising a radiological technologist who is performing venipuncture in an upper extremity. Currently, supervision of this procedure requires the physician to be physically present.

AB 511 would prohibit a person from claiming to be a radiologist assistant (RA) unless the person meets certain requirements, such as having passed the radiologist assistant examination. This bill would also reaffirm that RAs are required to practice only under the supervision of a radiologist.

Connecticut

Senate Bill (SB) 246 would require a study to be conducted to explore the viability of allowing “naturopathic physicians” to serve as primary care providers.

SB 1069 would allow “naturopathic physicians” to prescribe all medications.

In Connecticut, the naturopathic scope of practice includes manual therapies (physical medicine), natural oral agents such as vitamins, supplements, herbs, and homeopathy, nutrition and dietetics, and naturopathic counseling. Naturopathic providers are also able to order diagnostic tests and perform venipuncture for lab testing purposes.

Illinois

House Bill (HB) 2468 would permit physician assistants (PAs) to order, perform and interpret diagnostic studies and therapeutic procedures without delegation of authority by a physician.

Kentucky

HB 117 would allow physical therapists (PTs) to order imaging and other “tests” with no limitations.

SB 88 would update laws regarding PAs in Kentucky. The legislation changes references from a “supervising physician” to a “collaborating physician.” This bill would also allow a PA who is working under a collaboration agreement with a physician to order, perform and interpret diagnostic studies and therapeutic procedures.

New York

A 1220 / S 2360 would grant independent practice to nurse practitioners permanently. Nurse practitioners in New York are currently practicing independently but that law is due to sunset in 2026.

A 4524 would enjoin New York into the interstate nurse licensure compact and the advanced practice registered nurse compact. These compacts would allow individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

S 2302 would allow for independent practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA).

North Carolina

HB 67 would enjoin North Carolina into the interstate medical licensure compact. This allows physicians who meet the compact’s eligibility requirements to practice medicine in other compact states.

Oklahoma

SB 809 would permit independent practice for PAs who have completed 6,240 hours of postgraduate clinical practice experience.

Rhode Island

SB 198 would remove a sunset provision in Rhode Island that permits PTs to order diagnostic imaging through Dec. 31, 2025.

Texas

HB 1756 would allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests.

HB 2532 would allow APRNs to order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests.

SB 911 would grant independent practice to APRNs who have completed 3,000 clinical practice hours.

Out-of-Network/Surprise/Balance Billing

Illinois

HB 3721 would require that after Jan. 1, 2027, any health insurance or managed care plan must provide coverage for emergency medical services delivered by an out-of-network provider on the same terms as coverage that would be provided for an in-network provider.

Oklahoma

SB 1047 would make the following changes regarding surprise billing in Oklahoma:

• An out-of-network provider or out-of-network facility shall not surprise bill a covered person for emergency care.
• An out-of-network provider shall not surprise bill a covered person for health care services that are not emergency care and are rendered at an in-network facility.

Telemedicine

West Virginia

SB 167 would allow medical providers, who were permitted to practice telemedicine in West Virginia during the COVID-19 state of emergency, to continue to practice telemedicine in the state.

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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 has resources available for members through the State Issues page and can assist with delivery of legislative calls-to-action and grassroots mobilization.

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 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 Government Relations.