Committee moves bill to license radiologist assistants, citing workforce shortages

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to report House Bill 949 favorably after hearing testimony about workforce shortages in radiology and how licensed radiologist assistants (RAs) would extend radiologists’ capacity without replacing them.

Representative Coats introduced the bill as a workforce and access measure designed to address a shortage of radiologists, particularly in rural parishes. Heather Koepp of the Louisiana Society of Radiologic Technologists described the patient-side experience of long waits and the strain on imaging departments: "When you are waiting on a diagnosis, time moves differently," she told the committee, explaining that delays in imaging and interpretation affect treatment windows and outcomes.

Jason Smith, introduced to the committee as Louisiana's first radiologist assistant, said RAs complete graduate-level education and national certification and are trained to perform advanced imaging procedures under radiologist supervision. "Radiologist assistants extend the radiologist's reach, increase efficiency, and help ensure that imaging services are available when the radiologist resources are stretched," Smith said.

Committee members asked technical questions about supervision levels, whether there should be limits on how many RAs a single radiologist may supervise, and the exact scope of practice (the bill states RAs shall not interpret, diagnose or prescribe). Sponsors said supervision frameworks are modeled on existing practice and on CMS guidelines for hospital settings. The committee reported HB 949 favorable by voice motion; no roll-call tally was recorded.