Committee advances bill to create radiologist assistant license, adds board oversight and later effective date

The Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee voted to advance a substitute to House Bill 571 that would create a regulated license for radiologist assistants (RAs) and allow them to perform specified noninvasive procedures under general supervision, with licensing and scope set by the Composite Medical Board.

Committee members heard the bill sponsor explain that the substitute adds a provision allowing RAs to carry out noninvasive tasks such as taking medical history and obtaining informed consent (page 5, lines 107–111) while preserving board authority to limit or restrict activities. The sponsor framed the measure as a workforce and access remedy, saying expanded RA roles could reduce delays for diagnostic studies and give radiologists more time for interpretation.

Members’ questions focused on supervision, hospital usage and reimbursement. A committee member asked whether general supervision would be treated the same way the state treats physician assistants; the sponsor responded that noninvasive duties would fall under general supervision while invasive, needle-guided procedures would remain under direct supervision. Becky Riles of the Association of Radiologic Technologists testified that 32 states license radiologist assistants and that state licensure would help hospitals credential—and thus hire—RAs. She also said Medicare (CMS) recognizes radiologist assistants but that billing recognition is not yet fully in place.

To give existing RAs and hospitals more time to apply for licensure, the committee adopted an amendment (moved by Senator Albers) replacing statutory references from January to July and inserting “on or after” language to preserve flexibility. The amendment passed by voice/hand vote; the committee then voted to do pass the bill as amended, unanimously.

The bill as amended sends licensing authority and oversight explicitly to the Composite Medical Board and sets an on-or-after July implementation window to allow the board and current practitioners time to complete applications and credentialing. The committee did not record a numeric roll-call tally in the transcript; members voted by voice/hand and the chair announced the measures passed unanimously.

The next step is for the bill sponsor to arrange legislative carryover as the measure proceeds to the Senate; the committee made no other substantive amendments to RA scope beyond the supervision and date changes.