State Legislatures Continue to March Forward With Legislation

Most state legislatures are in session and now is a great opportunity to connect with your state radiological chapter and with the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) government affairs department to discuss any bills that you are concerned about. Below is a glimpse of what we are seeing in the states that could impact the practice of radiology. 

Scope of Practice

Alaska

Senate Bill (SB) 89 would permit independent practice by physician assistants (PA) after 4,000 hours of practice. 

California

Assembly Bill (AB) 876 would allow Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to order, evaluate, interpret diagnostic laboratory and radiological studies. This bill would also allow CRNAs to “use” and supervise the use of ultrasound, fluoroscopy, and other technologies for diagnosis and care delivery. 

Georgia

House Bill (HB) 571 would make the following changes regarding radiologist assistants (RAs) in Georgia:

• Would permit the Georgia Composite Medical Board (GCMB) to license and regulate RAs starting July 1.
• Would require RAs to be certified and registered as an RA with the American Registry of Radiological Technologists (ARRT) or as a radiology practitioner with the Certification Board for Radiology Practitioner Assistants and ARRT.
• Would require a radiologist who is supervising an RA to be directly on site.
• Would mandate that any rules and regulations, pertaining to the scope of practice of RAs, adopted by the GCMB must be consistent with guidelines from ACR, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and ARRT.

Kansas 

HB 2219 would enjoin Kansas into the PA licensure compact. This compact allows PAs who meet the compact’s eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

HB 2266 would enjoin Kansas into the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensure compact. This compact allows APRNs who meet the compact’s eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

Michigan

SB 60 would remove the sunset provision, which would have required Michigan to leave the interstate medical licensure compact. This compact allows physicians who meet the compact’s eligibility requirements to practice medicine in other compact states.

Montana 

HB 459 would increase the number of PAs on the Montana Board of Medical Examiners from 1 to 2. 

New York

S 4933 would enjoin New York into the PA licensure compact. 

Washington

HB 1784 would allow a medical assistant to enter an order for health care services into an entry order system and activate such order if there is a standing written protocol that authorizes designated medical assistants-certified to enter and activate an order for certain health care services, and the protocol. Such orders could include:

• Routine screening tests, such as mammograms, fecal occult stool cards, and bone density scans.
• Routine diagnostic imaging tests, such as x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ultrasound.

Medical Malpractice

Montana

HB 458 would make the following changes regarding medical malpractice:

• Would change the current noneconomic damage maximum limit in Montana from $250,000 to $300,000.
• Would increase the maximum noneconomic damage limit by $50,000 each year, for the years 2026–2029.
• Would mandate that starting Jan. 1, 2030, and on Jan. 1 of each subsequent year the maximum noneconomic damage limit must be increased by 2% of the prior year’s limit.
• Includes PAs as a medical provider that could be named in a medical malpractice suit.

HB 526 would enjoin Montana into the APRN compact. 

Certificate of Need CON

West Virginia

HB 2007 would mandate that on Jan. 1, 2026, no healthcare facility will be required to obtain a certificate of need (CON) to operate in West Virginia. 

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 Government Relations.