Senate committee tables bill to license radiologist assistants amid supervision and timing concerns

Representative Hawkins introduced House Bill 571 to create state licensure for radiologist assistants and described the measure as a workforce and access proposal to expand the radiology workforce in Georgia.

The bill would add licensure language to Georgia law (Title 43 was cited during discussion) to authorize the Composite Medical Board to license radiologist assistants, set training requirements and allow the board to define levels of supervision for procedures. Representative Hawkins said the Emerging model would recognize RAs who are currently trained but not licensed in Georgia, and that the regulation would “define the role” so radiologists could use midlevel providers to improve timeliness of diagnostic services.

Becky Ryals, representing the Georgia Radiological Society and the Georgia Society for Radiologic Technologists, told the committee licensing is intended to address workforce and hiring barriers: “There are imaging groups, there are hospitals who would like to hire radiologist assistants, but they're reluctant to do so without licensure.” She said RAs complete training beyond a radiologic technologist—typically two additional years of education and clinical training—and that a licensing path would align RAs with other…