Pa. House panel approves bill to require medical imaging specialists to be licensed

Unlike doctors, nurses and other health professionals, medical imaging specialists and radiation therapists don’t have licensing requirements in Pennsylvania. 

Legislation that passed Wednesday with a unanimous vote in the state House Professional Licensure Committee would create licensing requirements for professionals in six specialty areas to use medical imaging and radiation therapy technology.

“This bill will help to assure patients that they receive the highest quality of care administered by medical imaging professionals,” said Rep. Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna), who introduced the bill with Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster). “Simply put, this bill is an example of a profession putting the best foot forward to ensure patient and professional safety while ensuring access to quality care.”

The legislation drew letters of support from four medical societies representing radiologists and sonographers. About three quarters of states have a licensing requirement, according to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

But the American College of Cardiology strongly opposed the bill in a letter to the committee.

It said that while the bill appears well-intentioned, the College of Cardiology has its own credentialing system for cardiovascular technologists. During cardiac catheterization, a specialized X-ray machine called a fluoroscope is used to help doctors guide a thin, flexible tube into the heart.

The college requires technologists to complete training courses provided by Cardiac Credentialing International, earn certificates as a registered cardiovascular invasive specialist  or registered cardiovascular electrophysiology specialist and pass a course and examination on proficiencies necessary to assist in catheterization or electrophysiology procedures.

“Because of their exceptional training requirements, cardiologists generally have a much higher level of confidence and trust with CV technologists than their counterparts in the radiology field,” the letter said. “In fact, there are a few cases where they are credited with saving lives in the operating room.”

Cutler, whose career prior to becoming a lawmaker was in the medical imaging field, acknowledged that cardiologists and cardiovascular technologists use X-rays differently than in a medical imaging context. But even though the certifications are different, the radiation delivered to patients is the same, he said.

“I think it’s important to have someone who is actually trained in radiation safety in the room to inform not just the other individuals, but specifically the physicians,” Cutler said, noting that while physicians also receive training. “I know from firsthand experience that oftentimes it is disregarded in terms of radiation safety.”

He also addressed a statement in the letter that the College of Cardiologists was not aware of any instance in which a cardiovascular technologist had mishandled equipment and caused harm to a patient. While that might be true, Cutler said, there have been cases elsewhere in the country where mistakes in using X-ray equipment have caused harm.

“So this bill was premised really on patient safety,” he said.

House Bill 2173 now goes to the House chamber for consideration.