Bill would require licenses for many medical imaging workers

The State Board of Medicine would license medical imaging professionals and radiation therapists, and unlicensed people could not perform covered work unless exempt. Covered work includes diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy, and radiography performed on people for diagnosis or to guide medical procedures. Applicants would need to be at least 18, pay a fee, satisfy the law's character requirement, complete an approved course, and pass an approved certification exam. Licensees could work only in an area for which they were trained and certified, with a valid prescription and supervision by a licensed practitioner. They could not interpret images, diagnose patients, or prescribe medicines or treatments. Exemptions cover certain licensed clinicians, supervised students and staff, focused and unrecorded ultrasound used to assess an immediate condition, federal workers on official duties, and work on nonhuman subjects or cadavers. Some physician assistants and nurse practitioners would need specified training, physician supervision, direct reporting, and other credentials. The proposal would repeal the radiologic-procedure section shown in the Medical Practice Act and one section of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to carry out the licensing framework. The proposal would take effect 60 days after enactment. The license requirement would begin two years after the licensing section takes effect, and the board would have 24 months to issue final rules.

The board would license radiologist assistants to perform advanced imaging procedures under a supervising radiologist. Permitted work could include injections, image-guided procedures, fluoroscopy, directed orders, and obtaining a patient's informed consent. Applicants would need approved education and examinations, plus current certifications in radiography and as a radiologist assistant. The assistant and supervising radiologist would need written protocols identifying the supervisor, permitted work, and level of supervision. The protocols would take effect when submitted to the board and would not require board approval. Radiologist assistants could not interpret images, diagnose patients, or prescribe medicines or treatments.

The board would offer a two-year licensing path for current practitioners and could issue one temporary license to a qualifying student or graduate. The current-worker path would cover people practicing as medical imaging professionals, radiation therapists, or radiologist assistants who hold a current license or certification from a board-approved medical imaging certification group. A current practitioner would also need to be at least 18, apply and pay the fee, and satisfy the law's character requirement. A trainee would need to attend or have graduated from an approved college, submit a board-approved application and fee, and work under a supervising radiologist's direct and immediate personal supervision. The board could issue temporary trainee rules only during the first six months. Those rules would expire no later than two years after publication. Current practitioners would need to meet the pathway's requirements within two years after the licensing section takes effect. A temporary license would end after one year or when the trainee receives a regular license, whichever comes first.

License holders would renew every two years and maintain professional liability insurance. These requirements would apply to medical imaging professionals, radiation therapists, and radiologist assistants licensed under the proposed section. Renewal would require an application, a fee, proof of continuing education, and current certification from a board-approved certification group. Applicants would need proof of coverage before receiving a license. An insurer's letter promising coverage upon licensing would qualify initially. After receiving a license based on an insurer's letter, a licensee would have 30 days to provide the insurance certificate or policy declaration page.

The board would individually assess applicants with criminal convictions when applying the law's character requirement. This would cover several medical professions, including respiratory therapy, genetic counseling, and prosthetic care, as well as applicants considered under the Medical Practice Act's general licensing qualifications. Applicants would still need to satisfy the law's character requirement. The proposal does not provide the details of the referenced Pennsylvania assessment law.