Georgia legally recognizes RAs

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed state house bill 509 into law that acknowledges the advanced practice of radiologist assistants (RAs).

The bill recognizes the position of RAs as "an advanced level as determined by board rule." The bill states that the procedures include, but are not limited to "enteral and parenteral procedures when performed under the direction of the supervising radiologist and may include injecting diagnostic agents to sites other than intravenous, performing diagnostic aspirations and localizations, and assisting radiologists with other invasive procedures."

Georgia's enactment of House bill 509 makes it the 25th state to recognize the RA, according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). However, while legally recognizing RAs, it is also the second state not to license radiologic technologists.



Around the web

RBMA President Peter Moffatt discusses declining reimbursement rates, recruiting challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the industry.

Deepak Bhatt, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and principal investigator of the TRANSFORM trial, explains an emerging technique for cardiac screening: combining coronary CT angiography with artificial intelligence for plaque analysis to create an approach similar to mammography.

A total of 16 cardiology practices from 12 states settled with the DOJ to resolve allegations they overbilled Medicare for imaging agents used to diagnose cardiovascular disease.