Radiology groups fight state proposal to expand nonphysicians’ scope of practice
Radiology groups are speaking out against one state’s proposal to expand scope of practice for certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Ohio Senate Bill 324 would exempt such professionals from certain licensure requirements, allowing them to supervise X-ray machine operators. Current law specifies that only physicians, podiatrists and chiropractors can do so.
The law aims to ease staffing shortages in the Buckeye State. However, both the American College of Radiology and Ohio Radiological Society are voicing their opposition to the proposal. ACR noted that such procedures involve ionizing radiation and demand specialized training and competency.
“While we recognize the strain created by healthcare workforce shortages and understand the arguments related to rural access and urgent care capacity, the scope of SB 324 is not limited to those contexts,” ACR CEO Dana Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, wrote March 23. “Instead, it creates a statewide exemption for CNPs and PAs from … licensure requirements. Such a broad exemption goes well beyond the stated intent and undermines critical safety standards across all practice settings.”
ACR noted that currently, those performing radiologic procedures must hold appropriate licensing, receive formal instruction and demonstrate competency in using imaging equipment. However, current educational pathways for nurse practitioners and physician assistants do not include training specific to radiologic procedures. Allowing them to supervise these exams could potentially impact patient outcomes and lead to downstream diagnostic errors.
“While ACR deeply values the role of CNPs and PAs within physician-led care teams, allowing professionals who are not fully trained in radiologic practice to supervise [general X-ray machine operators], whose education and training are already intentionally limited, is not a suitable solution to workforce shortages,” Smetherman concluded. “This approach does not enhance patient safety, support image quality or provide the level of oversight that procedures involving ionizing radiation demand.”
Meanwhile, others such as the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants have stated their support for the bill. In its own letter, OAPA contends such professionals receive adequate education in image interpretation, diagnostic decision-making and procedural medicine. PAs routinely order images, interpret results and perform procedures, the association claimed. They believe this warrants an exemption from any requirements to obtain separate state licensure as radiologic operators.
“PAs are not radiologic technicians; we are licensed medical providers responsible for evaluating patients, determining appropriate diagnostic testing and performing medical procedures under physician collaboration,” OAPA said in comments submitted March 4. “Requiring duplicative licensure for activities already covered by our medical training and statutory scope would impose unnecessary regulatory burdens without improving patient safety.”
ACR highlighted its opposition to the bill in a news update published Thursday. The legislation is currently being reviewed by the state’s Senate Health Committee, according to Ohio.gov.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.