Utah House approves RA procedures
Utah’s House of Representatives has approved legislation that would allow radiologist assistants (RAs) to perform radiologic procedures under radiologist supervision, setting it up to become the 30th state to recognize RAs, pending the bill’s approval by the state senate and Gov. Gary R. Herbert.
Introduced on Jan. 24 by Rep. Don L. Ipson (R), HB 238 would establish licensure and continuing education requirements for RAs, while defining the scope of RA practice. In addition, the legislation would also add one RA to the state’s Radiologic Technologist Licensing Board.
Under the bill, individuals accredited by the Certification Board of Radiology Practitioner Assistants would be licensed as RAs in the state of Utah. The Utah Society of Radiology Physician Extenders, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and the Society of Radiology Physician Extenders have all lobbied their support for the legislation.
“The Utah Society of Radiology Physician Extenders has been quite pleased with the support from the medical community on HB 238. We believe that this bill will help to maintain Utah patients’ access to needed imaging services performed by licensed RAs while maintaining the highest level of patient care that Utah patients are accustomed to,” said Utah Society of Radiology Physician Extenders representative Brian Adams, RT (R), RPA, RDMS.
ASRT defines an RA as a radiologist extender who has completed an advanced medical imaging academic program comprising a nationally recognized curriculum and a radiologist-directed clinical preceptorship. RAs are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, according to ASRT.
Introduced on Jan. 24 by Rep. Don L. Ipson (R), HB 238 would establish licensure and continuing education requirements for RAs, while defining the scope of RA practice. In addition, the legislation would also add one RA to the state’s Radiologic Technologist Licensing Board.
Under the bill, individuals accredited by the Certification Board of Radiology Practitioner Assistants would be licensed as RAs in the state of Utah. The Utah Society of Radiology Physician Extenders, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and the Society of Radiology Physician Extenders have all lobbied their support for the legislation.
“The Utah Society of Radiology Physician Extenders has been quite pleased with the support from the medical community on HB 238. We believe that this bill will help to maintain Utah patients’ access to needed imaging services performed by licensed RAs while maintaining the highest level of patient care that Utah patients are accustomed to,” said Utah Society of Radiology Physician Extenders representative Brian Adams, RT (R), RPA, RDMS.
ASRT defines an RA as a radiologist extender who has completed an advanced medical imaging academic program comprising a nationally recognized curriculum and a radiologist-directed clinical preceptorship. RAs are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, according to ASRT.