Senate Health Committee adopts amendment and forwards House Bill 479 on contrast administration

The Senate Health Committee on Wednesday adopted Amendment 2162 to House Bill 479, clarifying who may monitor patients receiving contrast for imaging and adding training and competency requirements for registered nurses who administer contrast under physician supervision. The committee then voted unanimously to report the bill to the Committee on Rules and Reference.

The amendment, offered by Senator Johnson and described to the committee as coming from the bill sponsor, removed language that would have authorized licensed practical nurses to monitor patients for adverse reactions and instead reaffirmed that registered nurses administering contrast must receive training and follow a written competency guideline. Allison Stokes, junior chair of the Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists, testified as a proponent and said the society supports HB 479 because it "modernizes Ohio law and better aligns it with how contrast‑enhanced imaging is delivered in clinical practice today." She added the organization supports the committee's amendment as improving patient protections while supporting the imaging workforce.

After brief questions from committee members, the chair called the roll. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from the members present and the committee reported HB 479, as amended, to Rules. The chair closed the fourth hearing on the bill.

The committee did not take further action beyond reporting the bill. The next procedural step is routine: the bill will move to committee on rules and reference for scheduling and additional consideration by the full Senate if reported out of rules.