HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2355
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care & Wellness
Title: An act relating to establishing a primary certification process for magnetic resonance imaging technologists.
Brief Description: Establishing a primary certification process for magnetic resonance imaging technologists.
Sponsors: Representatives Nance, Ybarra and Reed.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care & Wellness: 1/23/24, 1/26/24 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Adds magnetic resonance imaging technologists to those who may be certified as a radiologic technologist.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by 16 members:Representatives Riccelli, Chair; Bateman, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Hutchins, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bronoske, Caldier, Davis, Graham, Harris, Macri, Maycumber, Mosbrucker, Orwall, Stonier, Thai and Tharinger.
Staff: Emily Poole (786-7106).
Background:

The Department of Health (DOH) certifies radiologic technologists who practice as a: 

  • diagnostic radiologic technologist;
  • therapeutic radiologic technologist; 
  • nuclear medicine technologist; 
  • radiologist assistant; or
  • cardiovascular invasive specialist.

 

To be certified as a diagnostic radiologic technologist, therapeutic radiologic technologist, or nuclear medicine technologist, an applicant must:

  • graduate from an approved school or successfully complete alternate training that meets the criteria established by the Secretary of Health (Secretary); 
  • satisfactorily complete a radiologic technologist examination approved by the Secretary; and
  • have good moral character.

 

To be certified as a radiologist assistant an applicant must:

  • satisfactorily complete an approved radiologist assistant program; 
  • satisfactorily complete a radiologist assistant examination approved by the Secretary; and
  • have good moral character. 

 

To be certified as a cardiovascular invasive specialist an applicant must: 

  • satisfactorily complete a cardiovascular invasive specialist program or alternate training approved by the Secretary;
  • satisfactorily complete a cardiovascular invasive specialist examination approved by the Secretary; and
  • have good moral character.

 

The DOH may provide educational materials and training to registered X-ray technicians, certified radiologic technologists, licensed practitioners, and the public concerning, but not limited to, health risks associated with ionizing radiation, proper radiographic techniques, and X-ray equipment maintenance.
Summary of Substitute Bill:

"Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist" is added to the list of professions that may be certified as a radiologic technologist.  An MRI technologist is a person who uses a nonionizing radiation process on a human by which certain nuclei, when placed in a magnetic field, absorb and release energy in the form of radio waves analyzed by a computer, thereby producing an image of human anatomy and physiological information.  An MRI technologist must practice at the direction of a licensed practitioner, which includes direct supervision by a physician for parenteral procedures related to radiologic technology.

 

To be certified as an MRI technologist, an applicant must: 

  • graduate from an approved school or successfully complete alternate training that meets the criteria established by the Secretary;
  • satisfactorily complete a radiologic technology examination approved by the Secretary; and
  • have good moral character. 

 

A person may not adopt or use a title of "certified MRI technologist" or "certified radiologic technologist" unless certified by the DOH. 

 

Educational materials and training provided by the DOH may also concern health risks associated with nonionizing radiation and equipment maintenance for other types of imaging equipment.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill modifies the supervision requirements for MRI technologists by removing the requirement for direct supervision by a physician for all procedures and instead requires that MRI technologists work at the direction of a licensed practitioner, which includes direct supervision by a physician for parenteral procedures related to radiologic technology.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) There are dire workforce shortages in health care, and providers are having a hard time hiring qualified MRI technologists who are trained in administering IV contrast.  Washington does not recognize a specific training and certification pathway for MRI technologists.  This bill will promote access to care and increase the workforce by allowing trained professionals to get to work more efficiently.  MRIs with contrast help physicians diagnose diseases such as cancer.  This bill will help certify radiologic technologists for the actual role they are doing for patients.  MRI technologists receive 24 months of MRI-specific training.  The bill should be amended to allow MRI technologists to conduct parenteral procedures under general supervision, instead of direct supervision. 

 

(Opposed) None. 
Persons Testifying:

Representative Greg Nance, prime sponsor; Kate Tudor and  Kristin Kessler, Rayus Radiology; and Douglas Seiler, TRA Medical Imaging Foundation.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.