SB 624 - This act provides for the licensure of radiologic imaging and radiation therapy. Under this act, after January 1, 2022, only a person licensed subject to the provisions of the act and "licensed practitioners," as defined in the act, may perform radiological imaging and radiation therapy procedures on humans for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
The act does not apply to licensed dental hygienists, dental assistants, physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists, dentists, or to certain health care students, federal employees, nurses, or advanced practice registered nurses under circumstances described in the act. The act also does not apply to the radiological imaging of non-humans or cadavers.
(Section 334.1105)
This act establishes the Missouri Radiological Imaging and Radiation Therapy Advisory Committee, composed of medical specialists as described in the act as well as the Director of the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, the Director of the State Board of Nursing, and the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services. Each director may alternatively appoint a designee to the Advisory Committee in his or her place.
Based on the support of the Advisory Committee, the Department of Commerce and Insurance shall establish rules and regulations for licensure for limited x-ray machine operators, nuclear medicine technologists, nuclear medicine advanced associates, radiation therapists, radiographers, and radiologist assistants. The Department shall create alternative licensure requirements for rural and remote areas described in the act.
(Section 334.1110)
This act establishes the Missouri Radiologic Imaging and Radiation Therapy Fund for the administration of the provisions of the act. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the Fund.
(Section 334.1112)
This act sets forth minimum requirements for limited x-ray machine operator licenses. The Department may issue such a license with a limited scope of practice as described in the act. The Department shall not require but may recommend advanced class work to be completed prior to a licensing examination. The Department shall not require any additional testing requirements for licensees that satisfy continuing education requirements and have not been subject to discipline. The Department may accept certain existing national certifications for limited x-ray machine operator licenses for certain scopes of practice for such licenses, as described in the act.
(Section 334.1115)
The Department, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, shall develop guidelines for disciplinary action for violations of the act.
(Section 334.1120)
This act provides a grace period for those practicing radiologic imaging or radiation therapy without a license, other than a radiologist assistant, until October 1, 2025. Such person may continue to practice if they register with the Department by January 1, 2023, do not change their scope of practice or place of employment, complete continuing education requirements prescribed by the Department, are supervised by a licensed practitioner in person or virtually, and obtain a license by the end of the grace period.
(Section 334.1125)
This act is similar to provisions in SB 580 (2020), SB 1032 (2020), and HB 2431 (2020).
MATT KIMMINAU