Minnesota Society of Radiologic Technologists Legislative News

Advocacy Committee Update

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 21:45:49 GMT

Greetings all

Just an update on our Day at the Capitol journey. Tuesday morning the MSRT had approximately 175 students and technologists assembled at the state capitol rotunda to lobby our state legislators about the lack of licensure in the state. We were very well received and had positive comments from various legislators. Going forward we are going to have another Day at the Capitol next year as at that time we will have a bill and need to advocate the need to pass the bill. Please feel free to contact me with any comments or concerns about this and why there is a need for licensure for our state. I have stories about the need.

Going forward the next couple of months the advocacy core group is going to work on the proposal summary/overview for the language to be put into the bill. This summer we will be meeting with the Senate legal counsel to put the final language to the bill. This year, even if we had a bill we could not introduce as new bills can only be introduced every other year.

My hope is that each of you can contact your state representative and senator for their support of this bill when it comes to a vote.

I will keep you informed about the progress and we really need your support by writting letters of support when necessary.

Also we are working with the ASRT and ARRT to help with hiring a lobbyist and all the political language in this journey.

Check out the Capitol Day link to see our talking points.

Thanks

Sharon Zigan RT. R. M. MRI.

MSRT Advocacy Chair

Update on MSRT Advocacy 2025

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 21:06:11 GMT

Update on MSRT Advocacy 2025

Here is what the advocacy MSRT has been working on couple of months.

1. Scott and Sharon did a virtual meeting with the Medi-Sota group Nov, 6 2024. This is a group of

31 Hospitals that share and work through all aspects of the hospital concerns or issues. Very

well received. Sharon has been updating the work of the advocacy group with them.

2. December 2, 2024 the advocacy group (Scott Haglund, Kate Cheney, Abby Mumm and Sharon

ZIgan with Ann Bell-Pfeifer and Dr. Anne Reddy, representing MRS, per virtual) met with Senator

Paul Utke who is Sharon’s District senator, at his office in St. Paul. It was a very favorable

meeting as the Senator listened and asked questions along the way. We explained

encroachment and the importance of proper education in imaging patients. Ann told of the

North Dakota’s quest for licensure which seemed to spark even more interest in licensure. The

Senator would like to contact his fellow senator’s in North Dakota about this bill. After that we

can work with the Senator’s office to draft up a bill. It was a short meeting but we feel we made

a great start.

3. Per Sharon’s email she received information from the DOH office of rural health and primary

care. There is a Minnesota Rural Health Conference June 9-10, 2025 in Duluth. We have put in

a proposal to do a 1 hour presentation and a vendor booth to further educate the attendees of

who we are and what we do. Sharon, Scott, and Kate will do the presentation and Ann and

Abby will be at the booth. We will know in March if we will do the presentation but we are

going forward with the booth.

4. At this time Sharon is planning to organize a “Day at the Capital” which looks to be March the

earliest as there are organizational issues in the House.

5. Sharon has been keeping Dr. Anne Reddy updated. She thought attending the conference is a

way to get a positive message out there. She also commented that she or one of her colleagues

can attend the conference. She was not sure how to gauge the potential reaction of the MMA.

She is the MRS rep to the MMA and maybe we can craft a message to present to them.

This is the update today 1-22-2025 as there is always something happening.

Thank you and please contact any of the Advocacy group as we are very open to thoughts and ideas.

Sharon Zigan, RT(R)(MR)

MSRT Advocacy Chair

MSRT Advocacy Report

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:15:09 GMT

August 14th, 7 pm via Zoom

December 3, 2024

Greetings

This is a hot off the press report. Yesterday Dec. 2 our group meet with Senator Paul Utke at the Minnesota Senate building to discuss our attempt to obtain licensure for the technologists in the state.

It was a very favorable meeting as the Senator listened and ask questions along the way. We explained encroachment and the importance of proper education in imaging patients. Ann Bell-Pfeifer told of the North Dakota’s quest for licensure which seemed to spark even more interest in licensure. The Senator would like to contact his fellow senator’s in North Dakota about this bill. We are going to contact other states with licensure to try to sort through what would work for us. After that we can work with the Senator’s office to draft up a bill. It was a short meeting but I think we made a great start.

Respectfully

Sharon Zigan RT

Acupunture Encroachment Bill

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 23:50:08 GMT

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=house&f=HF2508&ssn=0&y=2023

Includes language adding medical imaging to the scope of practice for Acupuncturists.

The Find Act of 2023

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:41:17 GMT

Dear MSRT Membership,

It has come to ASRT’s attention that Cullari Communications Global has contacted several ASRT affiliate societies regarding support of the Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics (FIND) Act.

ASRT is an adamant and vocal supporter of this legislation. The FIND Act will change the reimbursement structure of diagnostic radio-pharmaceuticals at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), allowing critical access to more patients.

Please use the ASRT Advocacy Action Center to contact members of Congress asking them to support and co-sponsor this legislation.

Sincerely,

ASRT Government Relations

GovernmentRelations@asrt.org

The FIND Act of 2023

Proposed legislation HF 1324

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 23:16:49 GMT

HF 1324 recently came to our attention (please see attached). This bill, as written would allow certified nurse midwives to order, perform, supervise, and interpret diagnostic procedures. ASRT has drafted a letter to the chair of the committee and sponsor requesting the language is amended.

Bill: HF1324.0.pdf

Proposed amendment: GR23_MN_HF 1324_MidwifeScope.pdf

Please reach out to MSRT Representatives with any questions, comments, or feedback.

Check our event page to get involved! Attend a legislative advocacy meeting to learn more and voice your opinions.

Chapter 4732 Rules Rewrite Advisory Committee First Meeting

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 17:42:21 GMT

X-ray Advisory Committee Agenda online

Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 01/24/2017 09:26 AM CST

The first meeting of the Advisory Committee for the X-ray Rules Revision of Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4732 will be held January 31, 2017, 1:00 - 3:00 pm.

This is a public meeting with limited seating. If you are interested in attending and observing the Advisory Committee Meeting, please contact Kelly Medellin at kelly.medellin@state.mn.us or 651-201-4568.

The Advisory Committee agenda is available on the "Committees and Groups" page at
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/radiation/xray/rules/xrayrulerev.html.

X-ray Rules Revision Advisory Committee Meeting

January 31, 2017, 1:00-3:00 pm

Minnesota Department of Health

Orville Freeman Building, Room B149

625 Robert Street North

St. Paul, MN 55164

Chapter 4732 X-ray Rules Update

Thu, 10 Nov 2016 15:10:19 GMT

The Minnesota Chapter 4732 X-ray Rule process is moving forward.

There is a modification summary posted on the Minnesota Department of Health website that outlines the changes that will be pursued at this time. Take a moment to review this summary and contact the MDH with any suggestions or comments you may have x-rayrules@state.mn.us

Next up in the process will be a review of this summary by a rule writing committee and the beginning of the rule drafting process.

Updates on this rule writing process will be made available on the MDH website, including meeting minutes from the rules drafting committee.

As these rules directly affect our profession, the MSRT will be keeping a watch on this process and keeping membership informed.

Legislative Committee 2016 Fall Conference Documents

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 23:29:04 GMT

Here are all the items from 2016 MSRT Fall Conference Legislative Committee display. Contact us for more information or to learn how you can help with any of our new initiatives.

How Bill becomes law flow chart.pdf

MN rulemakingprogresschart.pdf

State Law Process.pdf

Licensure White Paper .pdf

Membership Growth Proposal .pdf

MGP Handout .pdf

MN X-ray Rules Chapter 4732 Rewrite Process Begins

Thu, 08 Sep 2016 02:20:58 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Health began the process of rewriting the Chapter 4732 x-ray rules. This is a process that could take up to two years. These rules are the majority of x-ray regulations that directly pertain to our profession. Below is a link to the MDH website, which explains more about the process and offers ways to submit proposals for changes to the rules.

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/radiation/xray/rules/xrayrulerev.html

Action Needed!!! From ASRT President

Thu, 08 Sep 2016 02:20:18 GMT

The recent decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to slash Medicare film-based x-ray payments by 20 percent will have unintended consequences on patient care. CMS omitted language in its proposed payment-reduction rule that would require registered radiologic technologists to perform all radiography procedures billed within the Medicare system. By leaving out a measure requiring registered radiologic technologists to perform procedures, CMS is conceding that uneducated, unqualified and unprepared personnel could perform radiologic technology duties.

Submit your comments to ask CMS to include language in the proposal that would require that only registered radiologic technologists perform radiography procedures billed within the Medicare system. There are two proposed rules: the physician fee schedule and hospital outpatient prospective payment system. Please submit comments for both proposals.

Access the ASRT advocacy action center for comments you can customize and submit to CMS.

The public comment period is open until Sept. 6, 2016.

Thank you for taking the time to support your profession. By submitting comments to CMS, you’re taking an important step in making sure the federal government knows that only registered radiologic technologists who have the education, skills and experience necessary to ensure safe and accurate exams should perform medical imaging procedures.

Sincerely,

Michael Latimer, M.S.R.S, R.T.(R)
ASRT President