NPAA Position Statement

Senate Bill 217/House Bill 369

Synopsis of Bills:  SB217/HB369: These are companion Radiation Technologist Bills. If passed as written, these bills will eliminate the ability of CRNPs to order radiography, advanced diagnostic imaging, or radiation therapy and thereby negatively impact access to care for Alabama citizens.

SB 217 : Sponsored by Senators Beasley, Singleton, and Coleman-Madison

HB 369: Sponsored by Representative Joe Lovvorn 

NPAA Position:  Opposed as Written

Issues: 

1.    These bills will create a separate agency, the State Radiation Control Agency, that CRNPs will have to be registered with and licensed by in order to perform radiography. Other requirements would also have to be met, as determined by this agency. Our scope of practice includes radiography and is already regulated by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

2.     As written, these bills will prohibit CRNPs from performing advanced diagnostic imaging including CT, fluoroscopy, MRI, nuclear medicine, PET, ultrasound, and any other imaging procedures, as determined by this agency.

3.     Section 5 creates two classes of CRNPs, those who may perform radiography and advanced diagnostic imaging on or before December 31, 2022 (only if specified requirements are met, as determined by this agency) and those who are not/will never be authorized - even though these procedures are already within our scope of practice. 

We have requested that an exemption for CRNPS be added in a similar manner as the bill currently has for other disciplines in Section 2 (d).  We have also requested that all language restricting CRNP scope of practice be removed, including that written in Section 5.

Outline of NPAA’s Efforts:

• NPAA has been in discussion with the bill sponsors and the chair of the Senate Health Committee. We have been in discussion with representatives from the Alabama Academy of Radiology (AAR) and the Medical Association of the State of Alabama (MASA) about our concerns. 
• We are waiting to hear from Carol Brown, the lobbyist for Radiation Technology, in response to an earlier meeting. 
• In addition, we have been in discussion with many other stakeholders who will be negatively impacted by this bill, including the Alabama Hospital Association, the Alabama State Nurses Association, Physician Assistants, CRNAs, and physician groups. 
• We encourage you to reach out to your collaborative physician and, together, let Senator Beasley and Representative Lavoorn know how this bill would affect your practice.

Other Position Statements:

Alabama Board of Nursing

Alabama Academy of Radiology/MASA