SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 5880
As Passed Senate, February 1, 2024
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: Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (originally sponsored by Senator Muzzall).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 1/09/24, 1/16/24 [DPS].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 2/1/24, 49-0.
Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill
  • Adds magnetic resonance imaging technologists to those who may be certified as a radiologic technologist.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5880 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Robinson, Vice Chair; Rivers, Ranking Member; Muzzall, Assistant Ranking Member; Conway, Dhingra, Holy, Padden, Randall and Van De Wege.
Staff: Greg Attanasio (786-7410)
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. The secretary may only approve a cardiovascular invasive specialist program that includes training in  cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, radiation physics and safety, radiation imaging and positioning, medical recordkeeping, and multicultural health;
  • satisfactorily complete a cardiovascular invasive specialist examination approved by the secretary; and
  • have good moral character.
Summary of First 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, under the direct supervision of a physician, 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. 

 

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.

 

No person may adopt or use a title of certified magnetic resonance imaging technologist or certified radiologic technologist (CRT) unless certified by DOH. 

 

DOH may provide educational materials and training to registered X-ray technicians, CRTs, licensed practitioners, and the public concerning, but not limited to, health risks associated with ionizing and nonionizing radiation, proper radiographic techniques, and X-ray and other imaging equipment maintenance.

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill:

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: Facilities cannot currently hire the most highly trained MRI technologists because the states does not recognize this education pathway. This is a workforce issue, which has resulted in increased wait times and limited access to care. It is important to have enough providers to provide needed services, including breast MRIs.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Ron Muzzall, Prime Sponsor; Kate White Tudor, Rayus Radiology; Kristin Kessler, Rayus Radiology; Douglas Seiler, TRA Medical Imaging .
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.