Committee reports licensure bill for medical imaging and radiation therapy amid safety concerns

The House Professional Licensure Committee reported House Bill 2173, the Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Health and Safety Act, which would establish licensure for several categories of medical imaging professionals, including radiography, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, MRI, CT and radiation therapy practitioners.

Representative Cal Mullins, a co-prime sponsor, and Representative Brian Cutler, a co-sponsor and former x-ray technologist, argued the bill fills a gap by licensing professionals who operate sophisticated imaging equipment. "This bill will help to assure patients that they're receiving the highest quality of care administered by medical imaging professionals," Mullins told the committee.

Cutler described radiation-safety concerns drawn from his professional experience and cited an out-of-state pediatric cardiology case in which excessive fluoroscopy frames and elevated radiation doses contributed to a poor outcome. "I think it's important to have someone who is actually trained in radiation safety in the room to inform not just the other individuals, but specifically the physicians," Cutler said, adding that safety—not scope of practice—is the bill’s focus.

Committee members asked about opposition from cardiologists and mixed responses from hospital organizations (referred to in the hearing as HAP); sponsors said those discussions had occurred but produced no single consensus position and that conversations would continue if the bill moved forward. Representative Sharon asked whether the discussions would persist beyond committee; sponsors said this was an initial stop and further engagement was expected.

With no negative votes recorded in the hearing, the committee reported House Bill 2173 as committed from the House Professional Licensure Committee.

The bill will proceed for additional legislative consideration.