Scope of Practice Bills Rampant in State Legislatures

State legislative sessions are in full swing, with many bills beginning to see committee and floor action. This week, the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) state government relations team continues to see state legislators introduce bills regarding scope of practice, certificate of need, network adequacy and telemedicine.

Certificate of Need

Kentucky

Senate Bill (SB) 284 would mandate certain health insurance policies provide coverage for positron emission tomography (PET) scans ordered by a healthcare provider and not implement any utilization management procedures. SB 284 also states that a hospital could not require a patient to be discharged prior to receiving a PET scan if the patient will be immediately returning to the hospital after the scan is performed.

Network Adequacy

Texas

SB 1140 would enable the Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC) to:
• Monitor the adequacy of networks offered by managed care plans in Texas by reviewing related filings, applications and requests.
• Advocate on a consumer’s behalf.

Scope of Practice

Iowa

House File 424 would repeal the requirement that a physician assistant (PA) practice under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Missouri

House Bill (HB) 407 would enjoin Missouri into the interstate medical licensure compact. The compact allows physicians who meet eligibility requirements to practice medicine in other compact states.

Montana

HB 409 would enjoin Montana into the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) compact. The compact allows APRNs who meet its eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

HB 810 would require that an APRN with less than two years experience practice under a collaborative agreement with a physician. This provision would not apply to certified nurse anesthetists.

New York

Assembly Bill 4860 would enjoin New York into the interstate medical licensure compact. The compact allows physicians who meet eligibility requirements to practice medicine in other compact states.

Texas

HB 2544 would enjoin Texas into the PA licensure compact. The compact allows PAs who meet eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

HB 2551 would mandate that an associate physician practice for at least five years under a collaborative agreement with a physician. The bill would also allow an associate physician to be licensed as a physician after they have practiced under a collaborative agreement with a physician for five years and passed an endorsement exam.

Telemedicine

Michigan

HB 4131 would make the following changes regarding how health insurers cover telemedicine:
• A provider would not be allowed to exclude a service for coverage solely because the service is provided through telemedicine services and is not provided through in-person consultation or contact.
• A provider would not be allowed to impose any additional annual or lifetime dollar maximums on coverage for telemedicine services.
• Services provided via telehealth would not be subject to prior authorization requirements.
• An insurer would be required to reimburse the treating or consulting physician at the same rate for telemedicine services as they would for in-person services.

The College 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. You can also access information and ACR resources about scope of practice.
For more information about state legislative activities, contact Eugenia Brandt, ACR Senior Government Affairs Director, or Dillon Harp, ACR Senior Government Relations Specialist