RadCARE bill will have to wait
The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned without taking action on the Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence bill. As we reported, the bill had gained unanimous approval in the Senate before being forwarded to the House for a vote. However, the clock ran out on the bill.
“It all came down to the short amount of time left for the House to take action,” said Christine Lung, director of government relations, American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). “The House received the Senate version of the bill less than 72 hours before it adjourned, on top of an agenda that was already overflowing.”
Despite the disappointment of not receiving a vote in the House, Lung emphasized the progress the bill made this year. “It’s important to note that the bill moved through the Senate unanimously,” she said. “That leaves us very well positioned when we reintroduce the bill next year. Lawmakers understand the need to set standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy personnel.”
The CARE bill will be reintroduced quickly after the 110th session of Congress convenes in January, she said.
The bill is designed to set minimum educational and credentialing standards for medical imaging technologists, radiation therapists and medical physicists. The standards must be met to receive reimbursement for medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy treatments performed on patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid or any program under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to an ASRT release.
“It all came down to the short amount of time left for the House to take action,” said Christine Lung, director of government relations, American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). “The House received the Senate version of the bill less than 72 hours before it adjourned, on top of an agenda that was already overflowing.”
Despite the disappointment of not receiving a vote in the House, Lung emphasized the progress the bill made this year. “It’s important to note that the bill moved through the Senate unanimously,” she said. “That leaves us very well positioned when we reintroduce the bill next year. Lawmakers understand the need to set standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy personnel.”
The CARE bill will be reintroduced quickly after the 110th session of Congress convenes in January, she said.
The bill is designed to set minimum educational and credentialing standards for medical imaging technologists, radiation therapists and medical physicists. The standards must be met to receive reimbursement for medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy treatments performed on patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid or any program under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to an ASRT release.