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ONE Voice
The actions of legislative bodies can have a profound effect on the education and well being of radiologic professionals,
and TSRT serves as the voice of Texas technologists in many legislative endeavors. TSRT supports legislation that improves
health, well being and educational opportunities for every imaging professional. Successful implementation of our legislative
positions is characterized by people working together to assure wise legistative decisions through knowledge of the process
and an understanding of the issue.
Ways to Participate in the Legislative Process
TSRT needs you! Your voice is key to our efforts to pass laws that protect and enhance the lives of patients and
imaging professional exposed to radiation. There are many ways that you can be involved:
- Sign up for Legislative Briefings and for Action Alerts. These updates will keep you apprised of
activity in the legislature on our legislative priorities.
- Schedule a meeting with your legislators in your home district. Legislators are more likely to
consider your opinions as a constituent than almost any other. You do not need to have a polished speech or printed
business cards. You just need a passion for issues that impact the imaging profession.
- Make calls to your legislators to communicate TSRT's position on critical issues before the legislature.
- Come to Austin to testify before a committee on TSRT legislative priorities. Testimony is typically
limited to 3-5 minutes. We are available to assist you in preparing your remarks.
- Follow the progress of our lesislation. You can track the progress of legislation of interest to
TSRT on your own. To do so log on to the Texas Legislature website: www.capitol.state.tx.us At the home page, in the middle column under the heading "Search Legislation", you may conduct a search
of any bill by entering the bill number or a word or phrase that would be contained in the bill.
The most important thing to remember is that your voice is important. You CAN and you DO make a difference
when you decide to use your voice!
Legislative Progress Reports
Posted 7/27/2011
H.R. 2104 - CARE Bill /
Texas Answers
Dear Texas R.T.,
Thank you to those of you who
have contacted me in response to my previous e-mails regarding the CARE bill. Your support and encouragement motivates me
and other members on the ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy, to continue educating our colleagues about the CARE
bill and how it affects you. Your questions help us understand what kind of information you and other radiologic
technologists and radiation therapists are looking for.
As I speak to more and more people
I find there are some basic questions that keep repeating, so at the bottom of the page I’ve attached a document that
should answer the following questions:
WHO:
Who does the bill affect in Texas?
Who opposes and supports the bill?
Who can I contact to get involved/
make a difference?
WHY:
Why do we need the bill?
Why do you need my help?
WHAT:
What will it cost?
What are the benefits?
What will happen to the people
that don’t meet the requirement of the CARE bill?
What changes will I have to make?
What changes will I notice?
What happens when the bill passes?
WHEN:
When do you think the bill will
pass?
When should I get involved?
I hope you find the information
helpful. If you have more questions, please contact me or the ASRT government relations department at governmentrelations@asrt.org. Just remember, it is very important to speak out and let your legislators know how you feel, they
will be home working the entire month of August so try to make an appointment to see them. You can use the ASRT eAdvocacy
for You site to find their district phone numbers.
Sincerely,
Scott A. Morren, R.T.
TSRT Life Member
ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy, member
Posted 6/7/2011
Texas R.T.s--The CARE Bill, H.R. 2104 Has Been Introduced
Dear Texas R.T.:
I wrote you earlier in May in hopes of building a network of R.T.s living in Texas. I promised I would keep you informed
on the status of the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
bill and I have good news! The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 2 by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY-1)
as H.R. 2104. It is now time to work as a united front to get the CARE bill enacted into law. Please help.
Send an e-mail or call your representative today and ask them to contact Taylor Booth in Rep. Whitfield’s
office to become a cosponsor and find out how to help get the CARE bill enacted. The CARE bill will guarantee that radiologic
personnel who perform medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures are educated and certified as proof of being qualified.
Its passage is a vital step for ensuring patient safety.
Your representative will be home working in the district the week of June 6-10, please make every attempt to reach him
or her by attending town hall meetings, making an office appointment or calling the local office. You can find phone numbers
and the schedule of meetings on their websites.
Also, please contact the Washington, D.C. office and let them know how important this bill is to you and the patients in
your state. You can use the ASRT eAdvocacy for You site or your representative’s website
to send a message. Please do it now!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Together, we can make a difference.
Sincerely,
Scott A. Morren, R.T. (R) (CT)
ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy
texmorren@gmail.com
Posted
2/2011
RT
in DC:
RT
in DC is this week March 13 -15, 2011
Attending
from Texas are:
Marilu Kamaeliski, Marisa Williams, Rick Reinacker, Taneshia Eaton, Joseph Michael, and Ivonne Garcia
Posted 12/21/10:
Legislative Update from CEI:
The 82nd Legislative Session
will soon be upon us. With a sharp legislative focus on statewide cost-drivers, it presently appears that multiple bills addressing
the various issues surrounding physician ownership of imaging equipment and related topics will be filed during the session.
The legislation spearheaded by the Coalition for Ethical Imaging is currently in the final stages of drafting, and should
be ready very shortly for review and filing.
We will keep Coalition members updated regarding our bill's progress as
well as the progress of other relevant bills that support our cause of controlling healthcare costs in the state while ensuring
patient safety.
Self-Referral Findings in Health Affairs
The results of several different studies focused on physician self-referral, specifically in regards to advanced
imaging services, were published in the December issue of Health Affairs journal. The studies have received a significant
amount of media coverage as the results indicate that self-referral does not lead to patient benefits as is often argued by
self-referring physicians and other advocates of the practice.
These studies found the opposite to be true-self-referrals
lead to overuse of services, escalate spending, and rarely allow for quicker diagnosis or shorten the duration of an illness.
Please see the "Ethical Imaging in the News" section for an in-depth article that discusses the study findings.
Image
Wisely Campaign
The Radiological Society of North America recently launched
its "Image Wisely" campaign to help educate consumers about radiation in medical imaging and also to encourage providers to
reduce patient exposure to radiation. This campaign follows a similar successful campaign, called "Image Gently," which was
launched in 2009 for pediatric patients and their parents.
The first step of "Image Wisely" is a pledge from providers
to use the least amount of radiation necessary for any given procedure. The campaign also includes a review of imaging protocols,
accreditation of imaging facilities and more widely shared standards on proper radiation doses. Ribbons, buttons, stickers,
a website and the campaign's wise owl logo were all unveiled at the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting.
Posted 9/21/10:
The CARE
bill is introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 3652 and in the Senate as S. 3737.
With only a short time left in
this Congress we don’t have time to wait. Please contact your representative and senators TODAY and tell them passage
of the CARE bill is important to you. Let them know that its passage will set the example for other
radiation safety measures to follow. I would like you to send your lawmakers
an e-mail asking them to pass the CARE bill as a stand-alone bill….without any amendments.
You can contact your lawmakers
by going to the ASRT eAdvocacy for You site (http://capwiz.com/asrt/home/) and click on the Take Action button. Simply enter your zip code to generate who you need to contact. Then personalize the message already started for you. It will take about 10 minutes of your time; yet have a lasting impact. Please do it
now.
Thanks for your support and showing
that Texas CAREs,
Posted (8/10)
Due to articles in the New York Times about radiation over-exposure there is a keen interest on Capitol Hill in passing
legislation that will provide radiation safety for patients…and the CARE bill is the main vehicle for this driving force.
The CARE bill is a good thing. The CARE bill is ready! That being said, there are always issues to overcome and because the
111th Congress will be coming to a close in December we have a very short window for getting the CARE bill passed
into law.
Read carefully what’s happening with
the CARE bill and what you need to do to make its passage a success. I feel compelled to apologize for this lengthy e-mail;
but, I am hoping you feel compassionate enough about your profession to read through its entirety — I have some very
important information to share!
In the Senate
The situation:
- S. 3737 was introduced on August 5 by senators Mike Enzi (R-WY)
and Tom Harkin (D-IA), both leading members of the Senate Health, Energy, Labor and Pensions Committee that has jurisdiction
over the CARE bill.
- Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Richard Burr (R-NC), also both on the HELP
Committee, have signed on as lead cosponsors.
What you need to do:
- Contact your senators and ask them to sign on as
a cosponsor of S. 3737 by contacting Todd Spangler in Sen. Enzi’s office.
- Open the link titled Senate HELP. If you have a
senator on this committee ask that the CARE bill moves through committee quickly.
In
the House of Representatives
The situation:
- H.R. 3652 currently has 117 cosponsors and has tremendous support. Word is
on Capitol Hill that everyone wants to see it pass. They’re all for it! However, because of the CARE bill’s popularity
and known reputation, the House Energy & Commerce Committee is looking to create a more comprehensive radiation safety
package by attaching other bills to it (such as a radiation dose registry or error reporting). While these are good concepts
the problem is, they’re not ready. And the CARE Bill is!
What you need to do:
- Contact your representative and ask him or her to not only cosponsor the
CARE bill, but ask that help it pass this Congress.
- They need to contact Hill Thomas in Rep. John Barrow’s office to find
out what they need to do to ensure passage before December.
- Open the link titled House_E&C. If your representative is a member of
this committee let them know you are counting on his or her help in getting the CARE bill passed.
In order to be successful in the 111th Congress you must
act quickly. Congress is in recess until Sept. 14. While your elected officials are home working in their state call or, better
yet, visit their local office. Let them know how important passage of the CARE bill is to you and others in your community.
Of course, don’t neglect the D.C. office. Send them an e-mail stating you are a constituent and need their help.
Here are more tips to help you be successful:
- Send information about the CARE bill. Such as: a copy of S.3737 or H.R. 3652, CARE Bill FAQs and a copy of the CARE Bill brochure all found on the ASRT website under the Legislative and Regulatory section.
- A brief personalized email is the best way to go; however, to save time,
consider using the ASRT eAdvocacy for You site. Just click on the Take Action tab and personalize the message I have started
for you.
- Visit the newly created grass-roots webpage, Take It Further, and listen to some of the tutorials designed to give you tips on using the
eAdvocacy for You site and contacting Congress.
- The ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy is dedicated to helping you learn more
about advocacy and making a difference in your profession. Find out who they are on the Making a Difference page and then contact them for help.
- If you are an ASRT member you can read issues of the Legislative Review online newsletter that have helpful articles on being a stronger advocate.
There are more than 1500 GRN members…think of the impact we would have
if each of you took 10 minutes out of your day and wrote a brief e-mail to your representative and senators. I’m sure
our united voice would be heard.
Our message is simple: The CARE bill it is a good thing,
it’s non-controversial, it’s bipartisan and it’s ready!
Posted 4/10:
ASRT is encouraging every Texas RT during April/May of 2010 to show America's patients that you CARE by supporting
the "Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy" bill. E-mail your
congressperson today to get your representatives to sign on as cosponsors of the CARE bill.
ASRT Position Statement: By ensuring a minimum
level of education, knowledge and skill for radiologic personnel, federal minimum standards will:
·
Ensure that quality information is presented for diagnosis and that
quality radiation therapy treatments are delivered, leading to accurate diagnosis, treatment and cure. Poor quality images
can lead to additional testing, delays in treatment and needless anxiety for the patient.
- Reduce health care costs by lowering
the number of radiologic examinations that must be repeated due to improper positioning or poor technique. Repeated
radiologic examinations cost the U.S. health care system millions of dollars annually in needless
medical bills.
- Improve the safety of radiologic procedures.
Administered properly, radiation is an invaluable tool in the diagnosis, treatment and management of disease. But most radiologic
procedures also carry a potential health risk, and radiation can be harmful if misadministered
Prior Postings:
ASRT Board Member from Texas To Testify in Congress
The
House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health has invited the American Society of Radiologic Technologists
to testify at a hearing to examine the benefits and risks of medical radiation. ASRT Board of Directors member Sandra Hayden,
B.S., R.T.(T), will represent ASRT at the hearing and deliver a prepared statement.
The
hearing was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10, but has been postponed due to weather and travel delays in Washington, D.C. The ASRT will publish
information about the rescheduled hearing date as soon as it is available. The hearing will be streamed live online via the
House Energy and Commerce Committee Web site.
In
her remarks, Ms. Hayden will outline ASRT's recommendations for ensuring the accuracy, quality and safety of medical radiation
procedures. The ASRT statement will emphasize that medical radiation is safe when properly used by competent, qualified individuals.
The ASRT also will make two recommendations to reduce the risk of radiation errors:
- Establish
consistent, mandatory methods of reporting and investigating medical radiation errors. The ASRT recommends mandatory reporting
of errors and development of a consistent system of data collection and tracking.
- Establish
national educational and certification standards for personnel who perform medical imaging and who plan and deliver radiation
therapy. Ms. Hayden will call on Congress to pass the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical
Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill to establish these standards. The CARE bill was introduced in the House
of Representatives in September 2009 by Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga. The bill would require personnel to complete entry-level education,
pass a national certification exam, and maintain competency through continuing education.
The
hearing, titled "Medical Radiation: An Overview of the Issues," was called in response to recent news articles about radiation
overdoses, particularly a series of New York Times articles about errors during radiation therapy treatments. On Jan. 31, the Times printed a letter from ASRT President Diane Mayo,
R.T.(R), in response to the series.
Representatives
from other health care associations and medical equipment manufacturers also have been invited to testify at the hearing.
"We
are pleased that ASRT has been invited to contribute to this important dialogue on the quality and safety of medical procedures
that use radiation, including radiation therapy," said ASRT Chief Executive Officer Sal Martino, Ed.D., R.T.(R), FASRT, CAE.
"Our remarks will emphasize our members' commitment to radiation protection, radiation safety and patient care."
The
ASRT represents more than 134,000 radiologic technologists. Ms. Hayden is vice speaker of the ASRT House of Delegates and
administrative director of radiation therapy services at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
RA Bill:
Texas Senate Bill 821, modification to the current MRT bill to establish licensing
for radiologist assistants (RAs) in Texas, was sponsored by Shapiro and passed the Senate Floor. Chuck
Hopson was the sponsor in the House; however, the bill did not make it out of committee before the legislative session ended. TSRT remains in communication with TRS (Texas Radiologic Society) on how to pursue
the bill for next TSRT legislative session.
Coalition for Ethical Imaging, CEI:
This legislative effort mandates the registration of diagnostic imaging equipment and the accreditation of diagnostic
imaging facilities. They also include a directive for a study by the Texas Department of State Health Services that would
help determined the extent to which physician ownership of advanced diagnostic equipment influences the decision to prescribe
expensive tests. TSRT continues to support these efforts helping with research, monitoring, and information about the
effort.
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