Legislative Committee Update

Action Needed

There is now an open comment period for the public on the Minnesota Department of Health rule revision process for Ionizing Radiation, Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4732.

This is the Chapter that contains the majority of the rules that directly regulate our profession in MN, so we should be active in this process to ensure that the interests of the public and our profession are best being met.  You can submit any ideas you have for revisions to the rule here:

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

After this open period for comments, the drafting of the rules will begin.  There will be further opportunities to submit comments after the first draft is completed and again before it is finalized.  This entire process will likely take more than a year.

The Legislative Committee will be monitoring this process, and will notify membership if there are any specific items that may require our attention.

ASRT Members:

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

 

VA proposal puts veterans at risk for medical radiation errors

July 11, 2016

By Sal Martino, CEO of ASRT 

A proposal by the Department of Veterans Affairs intended to help our nation’s veterans receive more timely health care could instead lead to a lower standard of care and ultimately put them at risk. The proposed rule would give full practice authority to advanced practice registered nurses, which includes allowing them to perform medical imaging procedures that use ionizing radiation. 

This proposal is disturbing and could lead to serious consequences for veterans. Ionizing radiation can be extremely dangerous if administered incorrectly. Registered radiologic technologists have the education, skills and expertise to perform high quality medical imaging procedures, while keeping radiation dose as low as possible. Yet, the VA’s proposal would give certified nurse practitioners, a group without necessary education in radiation protection, full practice authority to “order, perform, supervise, and interpret laboratory and imaging studies.” It is a dangerous precedent to allow personnel who have not undergone rigorous training in radiation safety, radiation physics and patient positioning to assume medical imaging responsibilities. 

Re-posted from the ASRT Communities website:

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has introduced a proposal that would allow nurses to, "Order, perform, supervise, and interpret laboratory and imaging studies." The ASRT strongly opposes this measure as only registered radiologic technologists should perform procedures that use ionizing radiation. Certified nurse practitioners do not have the education, experience or skills required to perform highly technical procedures like x-ray, computed tomography, nuclear medicine, vascular-interventional or bone densitometry. This proposal is a threat to patients and registered radiologic technologists.
We encourage all radiologic technologists to join in our effort to oppose this shortsighted proposal. Please submit your comments to the federal government and let them know that you strongly oppose the VA’s efforts to bypass patient safety measures by allowing non-qualified certified nursing professionals to perform medical imaging procedures. You can submit comments to the Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/05/25/2016-12338/advanced-practice-registered-nurses#h-4.  
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Liana Watson, D.M., R.T., RDMS, FASRT, CAE
ASRT Associate Executive Director of Operations and Governance
Executive Vice President, ASRT Foundation
Albuquerque, NM

So far only about 100 RT's have submitted comments to the VA about this proposal.  There are over 150,000 ASRT members alone, so collectively, we should be able garner a much larger response.   

This is a very important issue, as it affects millions of veterans.  They fought for our country, we need to help fight for their right to responsible healthcare.  

Please take a minute to submit a comment to the VA about your opposition to this proposal.  You can also contact your local congressperson and ask them to voice their opposition as well.  Below is a suggested template from Donna Long posted on the ASRT Communities website:

I strongly oppose the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs proposal that would allow certified nurse practitioners to, "Order, perform, supervise, and interpret laboratory and imaging studies." Certified nurse practitioners do not have the education, experience or skills required to perform highly technical procedures like x-ray, computed tomography, nuclear medicine, vascular-interventional or bone densitometry. Only registered radiologic technologists should perform procedures that use ionizing radiation because they are the healthcare professionals who are specifically educated and certified in providing safe, high quality imaging studies.

From the ASRT Communities:

Medicare Recognition of the Radiologist Assistant

House Resolution 4614 and its Senate companion bill to be introduced by Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is supported by more than 50 organizations including the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, American College of Radiology and the Society for Radiology Physician Extenders.

Read H.R. 4614 text and use these guidelines to communicate with your member of Congress.

Send an email now!

H.R. 4614, the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2016, was introduced on Feb. 25 by Rep. Pete Olson, R-Texas. This bill provides for Medicare recognition of registered radiologist assistants certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and radiology practitioner assistants certified by the Certification Board for Radiology Practitioner Assistants (jointly referred to as radiologist assistants). Joining Congressman Olson as co-sponsors are Reps. Dave Reichert, R-Wash.; Bill Pascrell, D-N.J.; and Michael Doyle, D-Penn. All of the sponsors sit on congressional committees with jurisdiction over this bill. Reps. Reichert and Pascrell are assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee, and Reps. Olson and Doyle are members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark, will introduce a companion bill in May.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists, ARRT, American College of Radiology and the Society for Radiology Physician Extenders are working together to obtain Medicare recognition of the RA as a midlevel provider of health care services working under the supervision of a radiologist.

Medicare currently pays for services performed by a radiology physician extender who is working under the personal supervision of a radiologist. The ASRT, ARRT, ACR and SRPE are advocating for the adoption of statutory language that will set radiologist supervision levels for RAs at levels consistent with state licensure laws. By amending CMS reimbursement policy and supervision levels to match state licensure standards, RAs will be able to work more independently and be more efficient health care providers. The adoption of this language would enable radiologists to devote more focused time reviewing and interpreting complex medical images or urgent cases, thus increasing patients’ access to care.

RAs have advanced education and training and can expertly and safely perform radiologic assessments and certain procedures that traditionally were performed only by radiologists.

Without Medicare’s recognition of RAs, the profession is in peril. As a direct result of Medicare’s current policy RAs are losing their jobs and universities are on the verge of suspending or terminating their training programs.

Please contact your federal representative and senators in Washington, D.C., today and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4614 and Sen. Boozman’s Senate companion bill ­— legislation that will improve the quality of patients’ access to care provided by qualified RAs.

ASRT members can stay up to date on this effort by accessing the RA Community. 

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Liana Watson, D.M., R.T., RDMS, FASRT, CAE
ASRT Associate Executive Director of Operations and Governance
Executive Vice President, ASRT Foundation
Albuquerque, NM
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The meeting will be held at:

Radiologic Education Center  8421 University Ave NE

Spring Lake Park, MN  55432

9AM - 1PM

There are several awards available to MSRT students and technologist. Consider applying for any of the following:

Scientific Essays: Student technologists and radiologic technologists...

Scientific Exhibits: Student technologists and radiologic technologists...

Life Membership: This recognition is awarded to an active member of the MSRT...

Honorary Membership: This award is presented to a person who has maintained an interest in the activities...

Technologist of the Year: Technologist of the Year is awarded to a technologist who has made contributions toward the growth of the society, commitment to the profession...

Student of the Year: This meritorious award recognizes a student of radiologic technology who has exhibited outstanding service to the field of radiology...

Patricia Daun Memorial Award: This award is presented to a student technologist or radiologic technologist who displays the qualities of sincere humanity...

Minnesota Society of Radiologic Technologists Scholarship: This scholarship will award one student and one technologist...

 

See the Awards page for application.  Applications due by July 15th.

Polls are open from Feb 11th - March 10th 2016

Two people (who you may know) from Minnesota are running for delegate positions.

• Jessica Nachreiner is running for Mammography Chapter Delegate
• Deanna Koebele is running for MR Chapter Delegate

Click here to go to the ASRT website.

Please take the time to vote.

How to Monitor Activities in Your State Legislature Meeting Description:  Monitoring State Legislative Activities The local news is good at keeping viewers up to date on legislative issues like budget, but they rarely cover the issues that affect radiologic technologists at a professional level.  ASRT has tools you can use to keep yourself informed about legislative activities in your state or region.  This webinar will describe how the ASRT State Legislative and Regulatory Tracking Tool works and other ways you can use to keep up to date on legislative activities. Bills can be tracked through your state legislature’s website, RSS feeds and subscription lists.  This webinar will help you find the latest news on bills that are most important to you If you have any questions about this presentation, don’t hesitate to contact the ASRT State Advocacy and Government Relations Department atgovernmentrelations@asrt.org.   Please note: You will need access to a computer and phone to participate on the day of the webinar.  Once you have registered, the system will send you a link to join the web portion. To hear the audio, you will need to dial in at 866-740-1260 with access code 2984500. This webinar will be recorded.     or click here to register Details Date: Tue, Feb 16, 2016 Time: 04:00 PM EST Duration: 1 hour Host(s): ASRT State Advocacy and Government Relations Department  Presenter Information Christine J. Lung, CAE ASRT Vice-President of State Advocacy and Government Relations. To opt-out of future email messages or to manage your email preferences please click here This email was sent to: koebeleklan@gmail.com by Readytalk: 1900 16th Street, Suite 600, Denver CO 80202

The MSRT executive board will be holding the first Meeting after the new year. This will be a MSRT work day. We will work on items that need to be addressed such as website, email blasts, networking opportunities, student relations topics, signage etc etc.

If you have anything you would like the board to review or discuss, please reach out to any of the board members. This will be a great 2016.

This meeting will be held at Mayo Health Care System in Mankato MN