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H.B. 238

             1     

RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST AND RADIOLOGY

             2     
PRACTICAL TECHNICIAN LICENSING ACT

             3     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Don L. Ipson

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends the Occupations and Professions Code related to Radiologic
             11      Technologist and Radiology Practical Technicians Licensing Act.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    renumbers the code sections in the chapter to conform to other licensing acts in
             15      Title 58, Occupations and Professions;
             16          .    defines indirect supervision;
             17          .    defines the practice of radiologist assistant;
             18          .    amends the membership of the Radiologic Technologist Licensing Board;
             19          .    establishes a requirement for a license for a radiologist assistant;
             20          .    permits a temporary license as a radiology assistant for an individual currently
             21      practicing and nationally certified;
             22          .    defines the scope of practice for a radiologist assistant;
             23          .    establishes continuing education requirements for a radiologist assistant; and
             24          .    moves language regarding unlawful and unprofessional conduct from the definition
             25      section of the chapter to a new section within the chapter.
             26      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             27          None


             28      Other Special Clauses:
             29          This bill provides an immediate effective date.
             30      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             31      ENACTS:
             32          58-54-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          58-54-501, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34      RENUMBERS AND AMENDS:
             35          58-54-101, (Renumbered from 58-54-1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1994,
             36      Chapter 163)
             37          58-54-102, (Renumbered from 58-54-2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008,
             38      Chapter 382)
             39          58-54-201, (Renumbered from 58-54-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010,
             40      Chapters 218, 286, and 324)
             41          58-54-301, (Renumbered from 58-54-4, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1993,
             42      Chapter 297)
             43          58-54-302, (Renumbered from 58-54-5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009,
             44      Chapter 183)
             45          58-54-303, (Renumbered from 58-54-8, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1991,
             46      Chapter 199)
             47          58-54-305, (Renumbered from 58-54-6, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah
             48      1993, Chapter 297)
             49          58-54-306, (Renumbered from 58-54-4.3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2000,
             50      Chapter 19)
             51          58-54-401, (Renumbered from 58-54-7, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah
             52      1993, Chapter 297)
             53     
             54      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             55          Section 1. Section 58-54-101 , which is renumbered from Section 58-54-1 is
             56      renumbered and amended to read:
             57     
CHAPTER 54. RADIOLOGIC, TECHNOLOGIST, RADIOLOGIST

             58     
ASSISTANT, AND RADIOLOGY PRACTICAL TECHNICIAN LICENSING ACT


             59     
Part 1. General Provisions

             60           [58-54-1].     58-54-101. Title.
             61          This chapter is known as the ["Radiology] "Radiologic Technologist [and], Radiologist
             62      Assistant, and Radiology Practical Technician Licensing Act."
             63          Section 2. Section 58-54-102 , which is renumbered from Section 58-54-2 is
             64      renumbered and amended to read:
             65           [58-54-2].     58-54-102. Definitions.
             66          In addition to the definition in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
             67          (1) "Board" means the [Radiology] Radiologic Technologist Licensing Board
             68      established under this chapter.
             69          (2) "Indirect supervision" means the supervising radiologist:
             70          (a) has given either written or verbal instructions to the person being supervised;
             71          (b) is present in the facility in which the person being supervised is providing services;
             72      and
             73          (c) is available to provide immediate face-to-face communications with the person
             74      being supervised.
             75          [(2)] (3) "Practice of radiologic technology" means using radiation from a radioactive
             76      substance, radiology equipment, or any other source, in amounts beyond normal background
             77      levels, for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes on humans.
             78          (4) "Practice of radiologist assistant" means the performance of non-invasive and
             79      invasive radiological procedures:
             80          (a) delegated to a radiologist assistant by a radiologist; and
             81          (b) performed under the indirect supervision of a radiologist.
             82          [(7) "Radiology] (5) "Radiologic technologist" means a person licensed under this
             83      chapter to engage in the practice of [radiology] radiologic technology under the general
             84      supervision of a radiologist or radiology practitioner including the administration of parenteral
             85      contrast media, [radionucleides] radionuclides, and other medications incidental to radiology
             86      procedures provided the administrations are under the direct supervision of a qualified
             87      physician and the technologist is currently certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
             88      and appropriate patient care procedures.
             89          [(3)] (6) "Radiologist" means a physician certified by the American Board of


             90      Radiology, the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology, the British Royal College of
             91      Radiology, or the Canadian College of Physicians and Surgeons.
             92          (7) "Radiologist assistant" means a person licensed under this chapter to engage in the
             93      practice of a radiologist assistant.
             94          [(4)] (8) "Radiology equipment" means any medical radiation device that emits
             95      ionizing or nonionizing radiation or detects that radiation for the purpose or intended purpose
             96      of:
             97          (a) diagnosing disease or other medical conditions in humans; or
             98          (b) treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing disease in humans.
             99          [(5)] (9) "Radiology practical technician" means a person licensed under this chapter to
             100      engage in a practice of radiologic technology performing limited diagnostic radiology
             101      procedures:
             102          (a) as defined and permitted by rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             103      Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
             104          (b) under the supervision of a radiologist or radiology practitioner.
             105          [(6)] (10) "Radiology practitioner" means any person or individual licensed in this state
             106      as a physician and surgeon, osteopathic physician, podiatric physician, chiropractic physician,
             107      dentist, dental hygienist, or a physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse specialist
             108      practicing under the supervision of an approved supervising physician and in accordance with
             109      an approved protocol and utilization plan.
             110          [(8)] (11) "Unlawful conduct" is as defined in [Section] Sections 58-1-501 [includes:]
             111      and 58-54-501 .
             112          [(a) using any of the following titles if not licensed as a radiology technologist under
             113      this chapter:]
             114          [(i) radiology practical technician;]
             115          [(ii) radiology technologist;]
             116          [(iii) medical radiographer;]
             117          [(iv) radiation therapist; or]
             118          [(v) nuclear medicine technologist; and]
             119          [(b) using the title "radiology practical technician" if not licensed as a radiology
             120      practical technician under this chapter.]


             121          [(9)] (12) "Unprofessional conduct" is as defined in [Section] Sections 58-1-501 and
             122      58-54-501 and as may be further defined by administrative rule [includes:] adopted by the
             123      division.
             124          [(a) any act or omission by a person licensed under this chapter that is contrary to the
             125      instructions of the radiologist or radiology practitioner responsible for supervising the licensee
             126      and which does or reasonably could pose a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a patient or
             127      any other person;]
             128          [(b) operating any radiology equipment that is known to be unsafe or not in compliance
             129      with all applicable state requirements regulating radiology equipment;]
             130          [(c) permitting any person to operate any radiology equipment who is not permitted to
             131      do so under provisions of law or who is incompetent to operate radiology equipment for any
             132      reason;]
             133          [(d) revealing to any unauthorized person any information considered confidential or
             134      privileged regarding any patient;]
             135          [(e) the use of any controlled substance as defined by the statutes of this state except to
             136      the extent the controlled substance is lawfully prescribed to the licensee and used in accordance
             137      with the instructions of the prescribing practitioner; and]
             138          [(f) willfully and intentionally or negligently making any false statement or entry on
             139      any patient record or upon any record used to facilitate payment for radiology services.]
             140          Section 3. Section 58-54-201 , which is renumbered from Section 58-54-3 is
             141      renumbered and amended to read:
             142     
Part 2. Board

             143           [58-54-3].     58-54-201. Board created -- Membership -- Duties.
             144          (1) There is created a [Radiology] Radiologic Technologist Licensing Board consisting
             145      of seven members as follows:
             146          (a) [four] three licensed [radiology] radiologic technologists;
             147          (b) one licensed radiology practical technician;
             148          (c) one licensed radiologist assistant;
             149          [(c)] (d) one radiologist; and
             150          [(d)] (e) one member from the general public.
             151          (2) The board shall be appointed in accordance with Section 58-1-201 .


             152          (3) The duties and responsibilities of the board shall be in accordance with Sections
             153      58-1-202 and 58-1-203 .
             154          (4) In accordance with Subsection 58-1-203 (1)(f), there is established an advisory peer
             155      committee to the board consisting of eight members broadly representative of the state and
             156      including:
             157          (a) one licensed physician and surgeon who is not a radiologist and who uses radiology
             158      equipment in a rural office-based practice, appointed from among recommendations of the
             159      Physicians Licensing Board;
             160          (b) one licensed physician and surgeon who is not a radiologist and who uses radiology
             161      equipment in an urban office-based practice, appointed from among recommendations of the
             162      Physicians Licensing Board;
             163          (c) one licensed physician and surgeon who is a radiologist practicing in radiology,
             164      appointed from among recommendations of the Physicians Licensing Board;
             165          (d) one licensed osteopathic physician, appointed from among recommendations of the
             166      Osteopathic Physicians Licensing Board;
             167          (e) one licensed chiropractic physician, appointed from among recommendations of the
             168      Chiropractors Licensing Board;
             169          (f) one licensed podiatric physician, appointed from among recommendations of the
             170      Podiatric Physician Board;
             171          (g) one representative of the state agency with primary responsibility for regulation of
             172      sources of radiation, recommended by that agency; and
             173          (h) one representative of a general acute hospital, as defined in Section 26-21-2 , that is
             174      located in a rural area of the state.
             175          (5) (a) Except as required by Subsection (5)(b), members of the advisory peer
             176      committee shall be appointed to four-year terms by the director in collaboration with the board
             177      from among the recommendations.
             178          (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (5)(a), the director shall, at the
             179      time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of
             180      committee members are staggered so that approximately half of the committee is appointed
             181      every two years.
             182          (c) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be


             183      appointed for the unexpired term.
             184          (6) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
             185      may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
             186          (a) Section 63A-3-106 ;
             187          (b) Section 63A-3-107 ; and
             188          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
             189      63A-3-107 .
             190          (7) The duties, responsibilities, and scope of authority of the advisory peer committee
             191      are:
             192          (a) to advise the board with respect to the board's fulfillment of its duties, functions,
             193      and responsibilities under Sections 58-1-202 and 58-1-203 ; and
             194          (b) to advise the division with respect to the examination the division is to adopt by
             195      rule, by which a radiology practical technician may qualify for licensure under Section
             196      [ 58-54-5 ] 58-54-302 .
             197          Section 4. Section 58-54-301 , which is renumbered from Section 58-54-4 is
             198      renumbered and amended to read:
             199     
Part 3. Licensing

             200           [58-54-4].     58-54-301. License required.
             201          (1) An individual may not engage in the practice of radiologic technology or the
             202      practice of a radiologist assistant unless licensed or exempted from licensure under this
             203      chapter.
             204          (2) The division shall issue to persons qualified under this chapter a license in the
             205      classification of [radiology] radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, or radiology practical
             206      technician.
             207          (3) (a) A license shall be issued without regard to any area of practice specialty as a
             208      [radiology] radiologic technologist.
             209          (b) A license for a radiology practical technician may be issued certifying the practical
             210      technician for a specialty type or limited practice.
             211          Section 5. Section 58-54-302 , which is renumbered from Section 58-54-5 is
             212      renumbered and amended to read:
             213           [58-54-5].     58-54-302. Requirements for licensure.


             214          (1) Each applicant for licensure as a [radiology] radiologic technologist, radiology
             215      assistant, or radiology practical technician shall:
             216          (a) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division in collaboration with the
             217      board;
             218          (b) pay a fee as determined by the department pursuant to Section 63J-1-504 ; and
             219          (c) be of good moral character.
             220          (2) Each applicant for licensure as a [radiology] radiologic technologist shall, in
             221      addition to the requirements of Subsection (1):
             222          (a) be a graduate of an accredited educational program in [radiology] radiologic
             223      technology or certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or any
             224      equivalent educational program approved by the division in collaboration with the board; and
             225          (b) have passed an examination approved by the division in collaboration with the
             226      board.
             227          (3) Each applicant for licensure as a radiology practical technician shall, in addition to
             228      the requirements of Subsection (1), have passed a basic examination and one or more specialty
             229      examinations that are competency based, using a task analysis of the scope of practice of
             230      radiology practical technicians in the state. The basic examination and the specialty
             231      examination shall be approved by the division in collaboration with the board and the licensing
             232      board of the profession within which the radiology practical technician will be practicing.
             233          (4) The division shall provide for administration of the radiology practical technician
             234      examination not less than monthly at offices designated by the division and located:
             235          (a) in Salt Lake City; and
             236          (b) within each local health department jurisdictional area.
             237          (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), each applicant for licensure as a
             238      radiologist assistant shall:
             239          (i) meet the requirements of Subsections (1) and (2);
             240          (ii) have a Bachelor of Science degree; and
             241          (iii) be certified as:
             242          (A) a radiologist assistant by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; or
             243          (B) a radiology practitioner assistant by the Certification Board of Radiology
             244      Practitioner Assistants.


             245          (b) An individual who meets the requirements of Subsections (5)(a)(i) and (iii), but not
             246      Subsection (5)(a)(ii), may be licensed as a radiology assistant under this chapter until January
             247      1, 2013, at which time, the individual must have completed the Bachelor of Science degree in
             248      order to retain the license of radiology assistant.
             249          Section 6. Section 58-54-303 , which is renumbered from Section 58-54-8 is
             250      renumbered and amended to read:
             251           [58-54-8].     58-54-303. Supervision and prescription required.
             252          The practice of radiologic technology by a [radiology] radiologic technologist licensed
             253      under this chapter shall be under the general supervision of a radiologist or radiology
             254      practitioner and may be performed only upon the order of a radiologist or radiology practitioner
             255      acting within the scope of [his] the radiologist's or radiology practitioner's license and
             256      experience within the scope of practice of a radiology practitioner.
             257          Section 7. Section 58-54-304 is enacted to read:
             258          58-54-304. Scope of practice for radiologist assistant.
             259          (1) The scope of practice for a radiologist assistant includes:
             260          (a) determination of whether a patient has been appropriately prepared for the
             261      radiologic procedure;
             262          (b) assessment and evaluation of the physiologic responsiveness of a patient
             263      undergoing a radiologic procedure;
             264          (c) assessment and evaluation of possible contraindications to a procedure;
             265          (d) obtaining informed consent from the patient as specified by a delegation of services
             266      agreement between the radiologic assistant and the supervising radiologist in accordance with
             267      Subsection (2);
             268          (e) evaluation of image quality and communication of initial image observations only
             269      to the supervising radiologist;
             270          (f) administration of contrast media or other medications prescribed by the supervising
             271      radiologist; and
             272          (g) performance of radiologic procedures under the indirect supervision of a
             273      radiologist.
             274          (2) The radiologist assistant and supervising radiologist shall enter into a Delegation of
             275      Services Agreement identifying radiologic procedures to be performed by the radiologist


             276      assistant. The Delegation of Services Agreement shall:
             277          (a) be kept at the place of practice at which the radiologist assistant is performing
             278      delegated services; and
             279          (b) be consistent with radiologist assistant practice guidelines developed by recognized
             280      radiology organizations.
             281          (3) The radiologist assistant shall not interpret images, provide diagnosis, or prescribe
             282      medications or therapies.
             283          Section 8. Section 58-54-305 , which is renumbered from Section 58-54-6 is
             284      renumbered and amended to read:
             285           [58-54-6].     58-54-305. Term of license -- Expiration -- Renewal.
             286          (1) [Each] Except as provided by Subsection (4), each license issued under this chapter
             287      shall be issued in accordance with a two-year renewal cycle established by rule. A renewal
             288      period may be extended or shortened by as much as one year to maintain established renewal
             289      cycles or to change an established renewal cycle.
             290          (2) At the time of renewal, licensees shall show satisfactory evidence of each of the
             291      following renewal requirements:
             292          (a) [16] 24 hours of approved professional education during a two-year period, as
             293      defined by administrative rule, before renewal of a [radiology] radiologic technologist
             294      license[.];
             295          (b) 10 hours of approved professional education during a two-year period, as defined
             296      by administrative rule, before renewal of a radiology practical technician license[.]; and
             297          (c) 50 hours of approved professional education during a two-year period, as defined
             298      by administrative rule, before renewal of a radiologist assistant license.
             299          (3) Each license automatically expires on the expiration date shown on the license
             300      unless renewed by the licensee in accordance with Section 58-1-308 .
             301          (4) A license granted under Subsection 58-54-302 (5)(b) expires on January 1, 2013.
             302          Section 9. Section 58-54-306 , which is renumbered from Section 58-54-4.3 is
             303      renumbered and amended to read:
             304           [58-54-4.3].     58-54-306. Exemption from licensure.
             305          A person may engage in the practice of [radiology] radiologic technology without being
             306      licensed under this chapter if:


             307          (1) (a) the person is filling a new or existing position as an employee performing the
             308      duties of a radiology practical technician when a licensed radiology practical technician is not
             309      available to begin in the new position or continue filling the existing position;
             310          (b) the total period in which the position is filled by the unlicensed person is not more
             311      than 90 days;
             312          (c) the unlicensed person at all times performs services as a radiology practical
             313      technician under the direct on-premises supervision of a radiology practitioner; and
             314          (d) the employee position filled by an unlicensed person under this section is an
             315      existing position and was filled by a person licensed under this chapter immediately prior to
             316      employment of the unlicensed person;
             317          (2) the person:
             318          (a) performs services in a dental facility under the supervision of a dentist licensed to
             319      practice in this state; and
             320          (b) has completed a radiology course approved by the Dentists and Dental Hygienists
             321      Board created under Section 58-69-201 ; or
             322          (3) the person:
             323          (a) performs services in a medical facility under the supervision of a podiatric
             324      physician licensed to practice in this state; and
             325          (b) has completed a radiology course approved by the Podiatric Physician Board
             326      created under Section 58-5a-201 .
             327          Section 10. Section 58-54-401 , which is renumbered from Section 58-54-7 is
             328      renumbered and amended to read:
             329     
Part 4. License Denial and Discipline

             330           [58-54-7].     58-54-401. Grounds for denial of license -- Disciplinary
             331      proceedings.
             332          Grounds for refusal to issue a license to an applicant, for refusal to renew the license of
             333      a licensee, to revoke, suspend, restrict, or place on probation the license of a licensee, to issue a
             334      public or private reprimand to a licensee, and to issue cease and desist orders shall be in
             335      accordance with Section 58-1-401 .
             336          Section 11. Section 58-54-501 is enacted to read:
             337     
Part 5. Unlawful and Unprofessional Conduct - Penalties


             338          58-54-501. Unlawful and unprofessional conduct.
             339          (1) "Unlawful conduct" includes:
             340          (a) using any of the following titles if not licensed as a radiology technologist under
             341      this chapter:
             342          (i) radiology practical technician;
             343          (ii) radiologic technologist;
             344          (iii) medical radiographer;
             345          (iv) radiation therapist; or
             346          (v) nuclear medicine technologist;
             347          (b) using the title "radiology practical technician" if not licensed as a radiology
             348      practical technician under this chapter; and
             349          (c) using the title "radiologist assistant" if not licensed as a radiologist assistant under
             350      this chapter.
             351          (2) "Unprofessional conduct" includes:
             352          (a) any act or omission by a person licensed under this chapter that is contrary to the
             353      instructions of the radiologist or radiology practitioner responsible for supervising the licensee
             354      and which does or reasonably could pose a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a patient or
             355      any other person;
             356          (b) operating any radiology equipment that is known to be unsafe or not in compliance
             357      with all applicable state requirements regulating radiology equipment;
             358          (c) permitting any person to operate any radiology equipment who is not permitted to
             359      do so under provisions of law or who is incompetent to operate radiology equipment for any
             360      reason;
             361          (d) revealing to any unauthorized person any information considered confidential or
             362      privileged regarding any patient;
             363          (e) the use of any controlled substance as defined by the statutes of this state except to
             364      the extent the controlled substance is lawfully prescribed to the licensee and used in accordance
             365      with the instructions of the prescribing practitioner; and
             366          (f) willfully and intentionally or negligently making any false statement or entry on any
             367      patient record or upon any record used to facilitate payment for radiology services.
             368          Section 12. Effective date.


             369          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
             370      upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
             371      Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
             372      the date of veto override.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-24-11 8:39 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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