Two federal bills known as the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act that were introduced earlier this year are working through the legislative process. MARCA legislation would allow radiologists to submit claims to Medicare for non-imaging services performed by radiologist assistants in hospital and office settings, as well as imaging services in hospitals.

If enacted, Senate Bill 1544 and House Resolution 1970 would offer Medicare recognition of RAs and radiologist practitioner assistants as midlevel providers of health care services working under the supervision of a radiologist. The American Society of Radiologic Technologists supports the bill, along with more than 100 national state and local organizations and companies, including the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, American College of Radiology and the Society for Radiology Physician Extenders. To learn more and contact your federal lawmakers to ask them to support the measures, access the ASRT Advocacy Action Center.

Also under consideration are Federal bills that would improve access to osteoporosis testing. Senate Bill 283 and House Resolution 2693 would set a floor for Medicare reimbursement for dual energy x-ray procedures, increasing patient access to the procedure by ensuring a reimbursement rate of no less than $98 per scan. ASRT believes that the measure will improve access to, and utilization of, bone mass measurement benefits under Medicare Part B. To learn more or to contact your federal lawmakers, access the ASRT Advocacy Action Center.

In July, ASRT monitored more than 400 state legislature bills that could affect radiologic technology practice areas. The Society also worked with state affiliate societies, allied health care organization and volunteers on multiple advocacy initiatives. Three states have scheduled important regulatory meetings and hearings for the month of August.

• The California Department of Public Health will hold a hearing at 8 a.m. on Aug. 2, 2019, in Room 72.149 at 1500 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento. On the agenda for the meeting are updates to the R.T. scope of practice and educational standards for non-licensed individuals assisting in the performance of fluoroscopy procedures.
• The Minnesota Department of Health Advisory Committee for the X-ray Rules Revision will hold a public meeting on Aug. 21, 2019, from 1 to 4 p.m.  Information is available here.
• The Maryland Board of Physicians will hold a stakeholder meeting on Aug. 12, 2019, from 1 to 4 p.m., regarding rulemaking related to physician delegation of duties to registered cardiovascular invasive specialists assisting in hospital cardiac catheterization procedures. The meeting will take place in the Board of Physicians office at 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore. Find additional meeting information here.