Archived Information
Members of the Alliance for Quality Medical Imaging and Radiaiton Therapy
Action Alert: CARE Legislation
Posted: January 23, 2008
During the week of January 21-25 the Alliance for Quality Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (co-founded by SNMTS), a group representing over 750,000 health care workers, will participate in a second “virtual march” in the Senate to support significant patient safety legislation.
The Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (CARE) legislation would require personnel performing the technical components of medical imaging and radiation therapy to meet federal education and credentialing standards in order to participate in federal health programs. Passage of the bill would result in enhanced patient safety and a higher quality of medical imaging and radiation therapy services.
To show you CARE about quality care and health care costs, please visit the Legislative Action Center and use the supplied communication tools to quickly and easily contact your legislators.
Contact your Senators to support the Senate CARE Bill, S.1042
Join a “Virtual March” To Support the CARE Bill
The Alliance for Quality Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, a group of 20 radiologic science organizations representing more than 750,000 imaging technologists, radiation therapists and medical physicists, is urging its members to join a virtual march on Capitol Hill during the first week of November. Participants in the virtual march will encourage lawmakers to cosponsor and enact the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill, or CARE bill (H.R. 583 and S. 1042).
The date of the virtual march on Capitol Hill coincides with National Radiologic Technology Week, an annual event that celebrates the importance of medical imaging and radiation oncology.
The CARE bill would establish federal minimum standards of education and certification for personnel who perform medical imaging examinations and plan or deliver radiation therapy treatment. Currently, laws regulating these medical personnel vary widely from state to state, and nine states and the District of Columbia have no regulations at all.
Currently, 124 U.S. representatives and 22 Senators have signed on as sponsors of the bill in the House and Senate. During NRTW, the Alliance is asking each of its 750,000 individual members to contact their congressional representatives and senators, asking them to cosponsor the CARE bill and move the legislation to enactment.
CARE Bill Resources
- House CARE Bill (H.R. 583)
- Senate CARE Bill (S. 1042)
- Library of Congress Website (Thomas) - search for bills, co-sponsorsother legislative information
- Senate Committee
- House Committee
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Senator Inhofe (R, OK) Recognizes National Radiation Professionals Week
In a floor statement today, Senator Inhofe (R, OK) entered into the Congressiona Record a statement honoring members of the radiation protection profession such as the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, the Health Physics, the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologies, and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. The full statement can viewed here.