Only five states currently have no licensure or regulatory standards for radiologic technologists, and a pair of Missouri lawmakers are working to take their state off that short list.
Rep. Galen Higdon (R-St. Joseph) is sponsoring a bill in the Missouri House that calls for advanced radiology practitioners and radiologic technologists to be licensed by the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. Identical companion legislation was introduced in the Missouri Senate by Sen. Rob Schaaf, MD, (R-St. Joseph).
Similar legislation was met with opposition last year over concerns about the costs of licensing, according to a St. Joseph News-Press report.
Alabama, Idaho, North Carolina and South Dakota are the other states lacking formal standards for radiologic technologists.
Evan joined TriMed in 2011, writing primarily for Health Imaging. Prior to diving into medical journalism, Evan worked for the Nine Network of Public Media in St. Louis. He also has worked in public relations and education. Evan studied journalism at the University of Missouri, with an emphasis on broadcast media.