In the new Congress, ASRT will continue to pursue consistent federal and state education and certification standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy technical personnel.
There will be some changes in strategy that the ASRT will be using in moving forward with the pursuit of consistent federal and state education and certification standards. As many of you are aware, the political gridlock in Washington, D.C. has made it difficult to pass any legislation, including “common sense” measures like the CARE bill. As a result, ASRT will set CARE aside and pursue new tactical strategies toward achieving our goal.
ASRT plans to pursue the insertion of amendatory language that incorporates the CARE bill’s principles into any federal bill that includes Medicare provisions. This includes bills addressing sequestration, the debt ceiling and entitlement reform. This new strategy allows us to jump the “regular order” of the legislative process and gives us greater flexibility and more options to push education and certification standards to enactment. If the CARE bill is introduced as stand-alone legislation, ASRT will continue to strongly support the CARE bill. There are many different ways to get to our end goal of consistent federal education and certification standards and stand-alone bill introduction may increase our opportunities.
In addition to pursuing education and certification standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy, ASRT is committed to the enactment of the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act (MARCA) that will require CMS to set payment policies for the radiologist assistant. ASRT will also support legislation that protects radiologic technologists, enhances patient safety and offers appropriate reimbursement for medical imaging and radiation therapy services.
ASRT members will continue to play a vital role in promoting ASRT’s federal agenda and in supporting the renewed focus on state advocacy efforts. The relationships ASRT members have built over the years with representatives and senators on Capitol Hill and their staffs will assist us in targeting the lawmakers who can best identify moving legislation, propose and manage the amendatory language. It is vital for success that all R.T.s keep these lines of communication open and maintain strong relationships on Capitol Hill.
In addition to the new strategy for pursuit of federal and state education and certification standards, the ASRT has made some structural changes in staff to integrate our government relations efforts with our initiatives at the state affiliate level and help strengthen our overall advocacy efforts at the state level. The Government Relations and Public Policy Department has been moved from the Executive Division into the Governance and Development Division. Christine Lung, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy and her team will join the Governance and Development Division, with Liana Watson, Chief Governance and Development Officer providing executive oversight for the Division. This change provides ASRT an opportunity to strengthen support for affiliate activities with a concerted effort to build a successful legislative program for affiliates
ASRT looks forward to working with all R.T.s on continued efforts in advocating for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals on the federal and state levels!
More News...
CARE Bill Introduced in 113th Congress
In the House of Representatives on March 13, Representative Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., introduced the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill also known as the CARE Bill. This marks the eighth time the bill has been introduced in the House in the past 13 years. H.R. 1146 would set federal education and certification standards in the Medicare program for the technical personnel providing, planning and delivering all medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments. Click here for the full article.
Federal RA Reimbursement Bill Introduced
The Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act (MARCA), H.R. 1148, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 14. The legislation would allow facilities to bill Medicare for medical imaging services performed by qualified radiologist assistants under the direction of a supervising radiologist. Introduced by Reps. Dave Reichert, R-Wash.; Jim Matheson, D-Utah; Pete Olson, R-Texas; and Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., H.R. 1148 would set standards within the Medicare program for services provided by radiology physician extenders, reduce existing RA supervision restrictions and allow facilities to be reimbursed for the services RAs perform at 85 percent of the existing physician fee schedule rate.
Click here for the full article.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The American Society of Radiologic Technologists announced today that the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill, S. 3338, was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.
The CARE bill would ensure that basic minimum education and certification standards are established as part of the Medicare program for all medical imaging and radiation therapy personnel.
“This is a big step for the CARE bill, which would save the government money and ultimately improve the quality of patient care,” said ASRT President Dawn McNeil, M.S.M., R.T.(R)(M), RDMS, RVT, CRA. “We are encouraged that Sens. Enzi and Harkin introduced the CARE bill, and we hope both the House and Senate will take action on the bill this congressional session.”
Currently, basic educational standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals are voluntary and inconsistent in many states, allowing some individuals to perform radiologic procedures without any formal education. Six states, along with the District of Columbia, are without any regulations regarding the qualifications of personnel performing medical imaging examinations.
In June 2011, the House CARE bill, H.R. 2104, was introduced by Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., and now has more than 125 bipartisan cosponsors.
“ASRT members have worked tirelessly to educate their congressmen about the importance of education and certification standards in medical imaging and radiation therapy,” said Christine J. Lung, CAE, ASRT’s vice president of government relations and public policy. “The long-term efforts of so many dedicated radiologic technologists will finally pay off when the CARE bill legislation is enacted.”
For more information about the CARE bill, visit www.asrt.org/CARE.
CARE Bill Legislation: Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
Take Action Now! H.R. 2104 CARE Bill Introduction
The Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill was introduced on June 2, 2011 in the House of Representatives by Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-KY-1., as CARE: HR 2104.
Listed below are the representatives who signed on as original cosponsors of the CARE bill. While it speaks volumes to have 19 original cosponsors, we still have work ahead of us.
The list below contains the names of cosponsors. If your representative is not on the list, I encourage you to contact them and let them know that the bill is extremely important to you and ask them to cosponsor the bill. If your representative is on the list, please contact them by letter, e-mail or phone to thank them for supporting the bill. Additionally, please ask your representative to reach out their colleagues in Washington, D.C., and ask them to cosponsor the CARE bill as well.
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 6/2/2011
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 6/2/2011
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 6/2/2011
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11] - 6/2/2011
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 6/2/2011
Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] - 6/2/2011
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] - 6/2/2011
Rep Harper, Gregg [MS-3] - 6/2/2011
Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] - 6/2/2011
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 6/2/2011
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 6/2/2011
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 6/2/2011
Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] - 6/2/2011
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] - 6/2/2011
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] - 6/2/2011
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 6/2/2011
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] - 6/2/2011
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 6/2/2011
Rep. Whitfield, Ed [KY-1] – 6/2/2011 – Sponsor
ASRT counts on its mebership to spread the word and actively engage others to advocate for passage of the bill. Asking your colleagues to do the following will ensure the message of patient safety is heard in Congress:
- Send an e-mail to your representative’s Washington, D.C., office through the ASRT eAdvocacy for You site. The site features an e-mail template that includes all the pertinent information you need to contact your representative.
- Send an e-mail through your representative’s website.
- Your representative will be home working the week of June 6-10. Please make every attempt contact him or her by making an office appointment, attending a town hall meeting or calling the local office. You can find phone numbers and the schedule of meetings on your representative’s website.
Thanks to all who work hard, diligently and with commitment in advocating for patient safety. Here are some helpful links to more information:
Link to the CARE bill at Thomas
If you have any questions, contact ASRT. Together we can make it happen!
Visit the ASRT Web site, www.asrt.org, for more information.
ASRT Contacts:
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ASRT Director of Government Relations
800-444-2778, Ext. 1308
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ASRT Grass-roots Coordinator
800-444-2778, Ext. 1322