The Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (CARE) Bill, has been a high priority for the ASRT and other states around the country for the last 10 years. I have noticed, though, when I ask a technologist in Indiana about the CARE bill, most know very little about it.
We have been spoiled as technologists in Indiana. Indiana has been lucky to have a strong licensure law for medical imaging personnel since around 1982. Did you know that to this day there are still 12 states that have partial or no licensure laws for medical imaging personnel? This means that a person with no knowledge of anatomy or radiation safety can be hired to perform any medical imaging exam. What should this mean to you? Do you have friends or family living one of these states? What happens if you have to move to another state with partial or no licensure law? A doctor’s receptionist taking x-rays, a recent high school graduate hired to work in CT. These are real examples of unqualified people working in non-licensure states today. With the focus now being on every person having access to health care, shouldn’t everyone also have the right to have medical imaging exams performed by qualified people?
The CARE Bill has been fought for in Congress for over 10 years now. As Technologists, we should be angry that this bill hasn’t been passed sooner! You are required to have a license to cut hair, and do nails, yet to expose someone to potentially harmful radiation, there are no national standards! We need to write, e-mail, and call our Senators and Representatives to let them know it is time that they get on board with making sure this important legislation passes! We can no longer sit back and watch others work to make our profession better. The Care Bill affects every technologist working in the United States including you, so tell me, how could you not CARE!
Kelly Hardin RT(R) (CT)
ISRT Chairman of the Board