Advocacy & Legislation
OSRT provides current information that allows radiologic technologists to promote, enhance, and defend professional standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. OSRT works for Ohio radiologic technologists by enabling you to advocate for your profession and your patients on important issues, and to affect positive change from lawmakers and regulators.
Welcome to the Advocacy Committee section of the OSRT website. We are always looking for fellow technologists to serve on our committee. If you are interested in volunteering, contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Advocacy Committee serves several purposes for the OSRT and technologists in Ohio. We:
- take the OSRT’s position on all proposed legislation/regulation and practice issues pertinent to the profession,
- advocate for federal minimum standard legislation,
- maintain contact with key state and national representatives on all activities pertinent to the profession,
- monitor the Ohio Medical Board and send representatives when issues impact our profession,
- provide testimony as needed on proposed legislation/regulation and practice issues pertinent to the profession,
- represent Ohio technologists at ODH Bureau of Environmental and Radiation Protection meetings pertinent to our practice,
- interact with the ODH on revisions to the Ohio Administrative rules relative to the practice of radiology, and
- collaborate with OSRT's legislative consultant who activley networks and monitors all legislative activities at the State Capitol.
For questions related to advocacy and health policy issues, contact OSRT's This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Some of our interactions with the Ohio Department of Health include attending RAC, REC, and Radioactive Materials Committee meetings. Upcoming meetings can be found on the Calendar.
The Radiation Advisory Council (RAC) was established in accordance with section 3748.20 of the Ohio Revised Code. Members of the Radiation Advisory Council are appointed by the governor for five year terms.
Duties of the council include:
- advising and consulting with the director on the development of rules.
- advising and consulting with the director concerning the administration, implementation and enforcement of Chapter 3748 of the Ohio Revised Code.
- advising and consulting with the director in the development of inspection criteria, procedures and guidelines to be used in the radiation control program.
The council establishes committees to focus on specific components of the radiation control program and the rules developed in accordance with Chapter 3748 of the Ohio Revised Code.
There are currently two committees: the Radiation-Generating Equipment Committee (REC) and the Radioactive Materials Committee.
The Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act (MARCA) of 2017 was introduced on March 29 by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) as S. 769 and on April 5 by Representative Pete Olson (R-TX) as H.R. 1904. These bills propose a law that amends Medicare reimbursement policy and supervision levels for radiologist assistants to align them with state radiologist assistant laws.
In 2021 MARCA was reintroduced by U.S. Reps. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania and John Curtis of Utah as House Resolution 3657 with companion legislation, Senate Bill 2641, introduced on Aug. 5 by Sen. John Boozman and cosponsors Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Sen. Steven Daines of Montana. These bills propose a law that amends Medicare reimbursement policy for radiologist assistants to align it with state radiologist assistant licensure laws.
The legislation would ensure that, regardless of the setting in which the radiology service is performed - hospital, critical access hospital, ambulatory surgical center or any other facility setting - those services provided by a radiologist assistant, supervised by a radiologist as part of a radiologist-led patient care team receive complete Medicare reimbursement. By not separating radiologist assistant reimbursement policies into different payment categories by service location, the adoption of MARCA would enable radiologists to devote more focused time to reviewing and interpreting complex medical images or urgent cases, thus increasing patients’ access to care. RAs will be able to work more efficiently, and Medicare patients will receive care from qualified RAs, regardless of the facility in which their procedure takes place.
The radiologist assistant is a certified radiographer who has completed advanced education, clinical experience, and certification to be able to expertly and safely perform radiologic assessments and certain procedures that traditionally were performed only by radiologists.
Are you interested in proposed federal laws that impact quality patient care and the radiologic science profession? Click to stay current on regulatory and legislative news,
ASRT provides a great legislative tracking tool that identifies current proposed legislation relative to radiation sciences.
The position statements of the the Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists represent the tenets or beliefs of the OSRT. As an official affiliate of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, OSRT supports the position statements of ASRT. Regarding interpretation, radiologic technologists must take into account state statutes and institutional policy.
The term radiologic technologist used throughout OSRT's official documents describes personnel working in any discipline or specialty area of radiologic technology. Radiologic technology is the term that describes the medical disciplines and specialties that use radiation for diagnostic medical imaging, interventional procedures and radiation therapy, to include energies used for magnetic resonance and sonographic imaging.
OSRT Position Statements
Radiology Licensure Law
The Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists supports Ohio Revised Code 4773.01 to 4773.99 (Radiologic Licensure Law).
Limited X-Ray Machine Operator/General X-ray Machine Operators
The Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists supports educational programs within the State of Ohio in offering a plan of study for the LXMO. as defined by the ASRT and credentialed by the ARRT. It is desired that the LXMO. will establish a new standard of care in limited radiography, and displace the existing GXMO within the State of Ohio. The OSRT supports curriculum revisions that would allow an LXMO. licensee to become a fully credentialed R.T. utilizing a career laddering format.
Use of Lead Shielding
As part of the OSRT's focus on advocacy and education, the OSRT Board of Directors has issued a position statement regarding the use of lead shielding. This is in response to the position statement from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) titled, "Patient Gonadal and Fetal Shielding in Diagnostic Imaging".
ASRT position on lead shielding and the link to resources from the ASRT Patient Shielding Task Force.
Current Ohio law requires the use of lead shielding which is outlined in the OSRT position statement. If you have any questions regarding the OSRT position statement please contact the Executive office. Read full details:
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