During the 2005 MSRT Annual Conference, the MSRT Board of Directors was asked to consider pursuing legislation to change the exam required for x-ray operators. The Board approved the project and began the process. Although a bill was ready for introduction in the Minnesota House during the 2006 legislative session, it lacked enough sponsors in the Senate. We were, however, able to begin the important education process with the legislators.

During the summer and fall of 2006, we attempted to identify and address concerns of any other interested parties. Gene Frank and I met Dr. Maddox in Rochester in March, who was instrumental in getting our issue in front of the MMA (Minnesota Medical Association) Policy and Practice Committee. Gene and I met with the Committee in September to provide information and address any concerns they had. It was an extremely successful meeting. As a result of our efforts, the MMA remained neutral on our bill.

Included at the end of this article is the timeline of the activities in the legislature during the 2007 session. The fact that we were successful in changing the minimum requirements for x-ray operators in one legislative session is a huge success. Of the 2300-2500 bills that were introduced in the House and Senate during the 2007 session, we were one of 150 that were signed into law by the Governor. However, this time line does not include the countless hours of prep work done for testimony and educating the legislators, nor does it include the countless emails, phone calls and follow-ups made by the members of the MSRT to keep this issue on the front burner.

The session was not without its frustrations. I worked very closely with legislators and staff on both the House and Senate side to make sure that the bill was both legally and fiscally sound. The House Licensing Subcommittee attempted to add very minimal continuing education for x-ray operators and to require that the MDH issue a certificate to x-ray operators. These were additions to the language we submitted for consideration. After three hearings in the Senate Finance Committee process, the CE and certificate were removed because of the cost. This then took the bill back to where we began. The discussion on the House floor during both segments of the bill was lively, partly due to the fact that there were a number of licensing issues all rolled into this bill.

None of this would have been possible without the dedication of the main sponsors of the bills, Senator Michelle Fischbach and Representative Mary Ellen Otremba. These two women were very committed to making sure these bills passed and assuring that the quality of care was raised closer to a national level. Reps. Abeler, Fritz, Erin Murphy, and Thao also took a very active role.

Also, this would not have happened without the contacts made by technologists to their legislators. Thank you to everyone who was diligent in educating their representatives and senators. A huge special thank you goes to Gene Fischbach who spent hours at the capitol with me on a cold day in January trying to obtain sponsors; and to Gene Frank who was instrumental in making contact with the MMA and who went with me to testify in front of both the House and Senate Committees.

I would like to thank the members of the MSRT for trusting me with coordinating this project. It is truly the highlight of my involvement with the MSRT and is a great way to retire from the Board!

Professionally yours,
Linda Coster, B.S.R.T.(R)(M)(ARRT)FASRT
MSRT Board Chair

SF 26 SUMMARY

Effective date: January 1, 2008

Anyone who performs x-ray exams must pass a nationally recognized exam, such as the ARRT Limited Scope Exam or the ARCRT Limited Scope Exam for chiropractic assistants.

The exam must include: radiation protection, equipment maintenance and operation, image production and evaluation and patient care and management; and at least one of the following regions of human anatomy: chest, extremities, skull and sinus, spine, or ankle and foot. The examinations mUst include the anatomy of, and positioning for, the specific regions.

A limited x-ray operator may only practice medical radiography on limited regions of the human anatomy for which the operator has successfully passed an examination. They may do only routine procedures and cannot perform computed tomography, the use of contrast media, the use of fluoroscopic or mammographic equipment.

Exemptions: limited x-ray machine operators who have passed the exam that was required before January 1, 2008; certified radiologic technologists; licensed dental hygienists; registered dental assistants; certified registered nurse anesthetists; registered physician assistants; individuals who are licensed in Minnesota to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, podiatry or dentistry; and individuals who are participating in a training course for any of the above for the duration and within the scope of the training course.

The commissioner may grant a variance to a facility for the scope of practice of an x-ray operator in cases where the delivery of health care would otherwise be compromised if a variance were not granted.

LEGISLATION TIME LINE

01/16/07 Gene Fischbach and Linda Coster at the Capitol meeting with ten Senators and Representatives to gain support and sponsors for the bill.
01/23/07 Notification received that the MMA would be neutral on the bill.
02/01/07 SF445 was introduced in the Senate.
02/05/07 HF645 was introduced in the House.
02/19/07 HF645 was heard by the House Health Licensing Subcommittee.
02/21/07 Linda Coster met with Reps. Abeler, Otremba, Murphy and Fritz to work on amendments to the bill. Also met with the MDH to inform them of the potential amendments.
03/22/07 HF645 was rolled into the House Licensing Omnibus bill, SF26 and passed out of Committee to the full House.
04/02/07 SF26 was placed on the House General Register.
04/11/07 SF445 was heard in the Senate Health Committee and referred to the Senate Health Finance Subcommittee.
04/17/07 SF445 was heard in the Senate Health Finance Subcommittee and referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
04/27/07 SF445 heard by the Senate Finance Committee and amended.
05/03/07 SF445 heard again by the Senate Finance Committee and passed onto the floor of the Senate.
05/08/07 SF26 passes the House.
05/09/07 SF445 passes the Senate.
05/15/07 The House and Senate met in Conference Committee to work out the differences in the bills, the Conference Committee agreed on the terms of the bill.
05/18/07 The Senate accepts the Conference Committee report and passes SF26.
05/19/07 The House accepts the Conference Committee report and passes SF26.
05/24/07 Gov. Pawlenty signs the bill.