RADPAC launches new subcommittee dedicated to teleradiology advocacy

RADPAC—America’s largest political action committee dedicated to the specialty—is launching a new offshoot focused on advocating for the needs of teleradiologists. 

Kimberly Beavers, MD, a clinical assistant professor and remote breast radiologist with NYU Langone Health, will serve as chair of the inaugural RADPAC Teleradiology Subcommittee. She announced her involvement in a social media post shared June 29. 

Beavers believes this is a “pivotal moment for our specialty,” contending policy made without physician participation “rarely ends up serving radiologists.” 

“Teleradiology is no longer a niche part of our field. It's how rural hospitals get overnight reads. It's how subspecialty interpretation reaches patients who would otherwise wait,” Beavers wrote on LinkedIn. “And yet, the legislative landscape is genuinely complex right now. Federal telehealth extension bills. CMS supervision rules. State licensure compacts. Credentialing conflicts between CMS and ACR standards. A 43-day government shutdown last fall that reminded us how fragile some of these protections are.”

Beavers said she is now soliciting input from teleradiologists on potential areas of focus for the new subcommittee. “What legislative or policy issues in teleradiology matter the most to you right now?” she wrote. 

“Licensure across state lines? Reimbursement parity? Supervision flexibility? AI integration and liability? Rural access gaps? Something I haven't named yet? Drop it in the comments. I'm asking because your answer shapes what this subcommittee actually works on,” she added. 

In a follow-up email, Beavers noted that teleradiology now touches a “huge and growing segment of the radiology workforce.” She agreed to help guide the effort to create a “visible space where colleagues could weigh in on what’s on their minds.” Beavers hopes the subcommittee can build a network and channel the energy of remote rads toward “meaningful advocacy engagement.” RADPAC Chair Amy Patel, MD, tapped Beavers to lead the effort, which officially launched this summer. 

“It’s less about staking out specific policy positions and more about making sure teleradiologists have a voice in those conversations,” Beavers, who is based in the Orlando area, told Radiology Business. 

Her post had received several comments as of Monday. One respondent emphasized the need for a single, national license to practice medicine, while another writer highlighted challenges navigating the EU market and its many different countries. Another response flagged challenges with current restrictions for radiologists reading for federal payment programs when located outside the U.S. 

“Just in my department alone there’s a handful of radiologists that would benefit from lifting that restriction, given their family situations,” wrote Daniel Vargas, MD, chief of cardiothoracic imaging at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. 

Falguni Parakh, MD, founder and chief radiologist for Suvidha Healthcare in India, also highlighted challenges with establishing clear governance around artificial intelligence. 

“As AI becomes increasingly integrated into remote reporting workflows, we need practical guidance on accountability, documentation, quality assurance, and medicolegal responsibility,” Parakh wrote. “Teleradiology is no longer just about where the radiologist is, it's also about how technology participates in the reporting process.”