News & Updates
News Release
CARE Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate
August 07, 2010
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists announced today that the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill (S. 3737) 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.
"ASRT believes that the best way to address concerns about health care quality, radiation safety and safe equipment operation is to enact the CARE bill," said ASRT President Jim Temme, M.P.A., R.T.(R)(QM), FASRT. "We are encouraged that Sen. Enzi has introduced the CARE bill with Sen. Harkin, and we hope to see both the House and Senate take action on the bill before Congress adjourns in December."
Currently, basic educational standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals are voluntary in many states, allowing some individuals to perform radiologic procedures without any formal education. Five states, along with the District of Columbia, are without any regulations regarding the qualifications of personnel performing medical imaging examinations.
In September 2009, the House CARE bill (H.R. 3652) was introduced by Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., and now has 117 bipartisan cosponsors.
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., are cosponsoring the CARE bill with Enzi and Harkin. The CARE bill has been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
"ASRT members have worked diligently at the grass-roots level and through programs like the R.T. in D.C. lobbying event to educate their senators and congressmen on the need for education and certification standards in medical imaging and radiation therapy," said Christine Lung, CAE, ASRT vice president of government relations and public policy. "It will be exciting to see the long-term efforts of so many dedicated radiologic technologists come to realization when the CARE legislation is enacted."
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