Public Policy

The ISCD is very active in supporting our mission related to Skeletal Health Assessment. Our focus is primarily at the state level and is meant to ensure access to quality patient testing by a broader recognition of the ISCD certification programs. 

The information outline on this page is an overview of state legislative and regulatory proposals included in Multistate reports from January 1 – September 4, 2020.

To date, 189 laws have been proposed in 40 states and 55 regulations were proposed in 23 states that are of interest to the ISCD. We review all proposals and intervene by filing testimony and activating our members as necessary.

Despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, states quickly acclimated to on-line hearings and meetings and continued to do their work:

  • nine states are in session now
  • six states are prefiling bills for the 2021 legislative session and we are tracking those
  • three states are in special session with four more about to go into special

Of the 189 proposed laws, 88 (or 46%) concerned qualifications for radiologic technologists; 36 (19%) bills addressed radiologic equipment standards and 69 (36%) bills focused on osteoporosis or bone health issues. Of the 55 proposed regulations, about 50% or 27 were relevant to the ISCD.

There are currently 11 states that do not regulate or require certification of radiologic technologists. Three states (Michigan, Georgia and Kentucky) are considering new laws that would regulate radiologic technologists for the first time. In some cases, ISCD certification is explicitly recognized in the new law; in others the proposed language is broad enough to allow a regulatory Board to recognize ISCD certification once the law has passed. We highlight some of the most important proposals below.

In Michigan, HB 6105, filed last week, would require limited scope certification for technologists by the ARRT. We will work with the bill sponsor and ISCD members to insure that bone density testing is an appropriate area of certification and that ISCD certification is recognized under the new law.

In Georgia, (HB1222) creates a Medical Imaging Regulatory Board. The law, if passed gives that Board the authority to recognize various accreditation bodies and states that a “Certification organization” means a national organization that specializes in the certification and registration of medical imaging or radiation therapy personnel and is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, the American National 28 Standards Institute, or another accreditation organization recognized by the board. Clearly, the proposed text in Georgia would allow for the recognition of ISCD technologist certificaiton

In Kentucky, there has been a lot of activity, both on the regulatory and legislative front. There continues to be opportunity for us to have the ISCD specifically mentioned in the law or regulation.

A bill passed in West Virginia (HB 4252) that requires that each state board to enact its own regulations. Because the law in West Virginia already recognizes the ISCD, we will have to keep an eye out for any regulatory change that may nullify the ISCD as the standard for bone density.

Oklahoma, Kansas, Minnesota, and Missouri introduced bills for the certification of technologists. In these states, the proposed language specifically recognized ISCD certification; unfortunatey, these bills were not adopted. We expect similar legislation to be proposed in upcoming legislative sessions.

Tennessee has agreed to extend its Medical Imaging Board through 2022 and it is critical that this Board be made permanent.

Pennsylvania has recognized ISCD certification for many years. However, legislation has been proposed this year that would reorganize the Medical Imaging and Radiation Safety Board. We will watch any such reorganization closely to make sure that ISCD certification remains an acceptable credential. While this bill did not pass, there is an indication that it will be back next year.

We will continue to monitor all legislative and regulatory proposals and intervene where appropriate.