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A Perfect Storm
Christine J. Lung, CAE
Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy

Since our last issue in January, a lot has happened on Capitol Hill with the CARE bill. It’s been a very exciting time, and I could write pages about the great strides ASRT and the Alliance for Quality Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy are making toward the enactment of H.R. 3652. But for now, I’ll just summarize some of the key activities.

Late in January, The New York Times published a series of articles regarding overuse and misuse of diagnostic and therapeutic medical radiation leading to a congressional hearing in the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Feb. 26. A number of industry and professional associations, including ASRT, a patient who had received lifesaving radiation therapy treatments and the parents of a patient whose fatal ordeal was chronicled in the Times, were invited to testify.

ASRT Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates Sandra Hayden, B.S., R.T.(T), did an outstanding job during her testimony, commenting that state R.T. licensure standards are inconsistent and, in some cases, nonexistent and by enacting the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill, Congress can address many of the quality issues identified by the Times articles. When asked by Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., if education and certification standards for technologists would improve the quality of care, the witnesses unanimously responded, “Yes!”

A little more than a week later, nearly 100 R.T.s reaffirmed our message on Capitol Hill during the R.T. in D.C. event. The hard work of these advocates in meeting with hundreds of House and Senate staff resulted in many new CARE bill cosponsors.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., has indicated that if we get 100 cosponsors in the House, including 20 on the Energy and Commerce Committee, he will bring up the CARE bill for discussion and action.

It’s an achievable goal. The last version of the CARE bill, H.R. 583, had 150 cosponsors including a majority of bipartisan members of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Working together, we can reach this goal before the Memorial Day recess. Now that Congress has dealt with the health care reform issue, the Senate has some time to focus on diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy. We hope to see a Senate version of the CARE bill soon.

In addition to Congressional attention, the Food and Drug Administration launched its “Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Radiation Exposure from Medical Imaging.” After issuing a white paper on the issue, FDA recently convened a public meeting in late March just outside of Washington to discuss methods for improving imaging equipment to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. Professional associations in attendance included ASRT, American College of Radiology, medical physicist groups and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. While FDA has not yet released any plans following the meeting, discussion focused on potential solutions like equipment warnings and safeguards, operator training and quality assurance measures. The Medical Imaging Technology Alliance, the trade association for imaging equipment manufacturers, echoed the position of ASRT and the Alliance that education and certification standards for technical personnel would reduce errors in diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy.

With all this attention focused on medical imaging and radiation therapy errors, radiologic technologists must be cautious. There have been numerous reports that patients are canceling scheduled examinations and treatments, potentially jeopardizing their health. R.T.s can work with physicians, radiologists and medical physicists as part of the team to make sure that patients understand the risks and benefits associated with radiologic procedures.

Our issue’s unparalleled visibility in Congress and before the public has created a “perfect storm” for action on the CARE bill. We must not let this opportunity pass us by!

© 2010 American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

Again, it is crucial that you take the necessary 5 or 10 minutes to contact your legislators now!  Ask them to sign on as a cosponsor for H.R. 3652, The CARE Bill.  Tell them the power to make a difference is in their hands!  It’s an awesome responsibility, but one that can no longer be ignored.

Cathie Kukec, R.T.(R)(QM), CBPN-IC
ISSRT Legislative Committee Chair

The CARE (Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Bill was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on 9/25/09 by Representative John Barrow of Georgia.  It was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.3652
Title: To amend the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly.
Sponsor: Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] (introduced 9/25/2009)      
Latest Major Action: 9/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (source www.thomas.gov)

What does this all mean?  What it means is that the CARE Bill, which will mandate federal minimum standards for all persons performing medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures, is still very much alive!  In this very active environment of healthcare reform, the CARE Bill is a crucial piece to the puzzle.

In Illinois, we have a number of key players in both the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.  To gain their support of the CARE Bill means that we have an increased opportunity to have the bill moved through committee and brought to the floor of the House for a vote.  Below is a list of representatives from Illinois that serve on these two committees:
        
Committee on Energy and Commerce                  Committee on Ways and Means
Danny Davis, IL                                                     Bobby L. Rush, IL
Jan Schakowsky, IL                                              Peter Roskam, IL
John Shimkus, IL

What are these committees responsible for?  I’m glad you asked! 

The Committee on Ways and Means has jurisdiction for Trade, Oversight, Health, Social Security, Income Security & Family Support and Select Revenue Measures. 

The Committee on Energy and Commerce has jurisdiction for National Energy Policy (including energy resources and pretty much anything dealing with energy), Health & Health Facilities, Interstate & Foreign Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Protection, Biomedical Research and Development, Public Health & Quarantine, Regulation of Domestic Nuclear Energy, Regulation of Interstate & Foreign Communications and Travel and Tourism.

I don’t know about you, but just reading that list takes my breath away and leaves me wanting a nap!!  As you can see, our legislators have many important issues on their plates, and the CARE Bill is just one of those.  This is why it’s important to speak to the issue when you call the legislators offices and talk to the staff.  Let them know the CARE Bill is an important part of what is going on in the country and needs their support.

What can you do?  Contact your legislators.  Have your co-workers, family and friends do the same.  Ask to speak to the Health Legislative Assistant (LA or staffer, in DC lingo) and let them know you are a constituent (that means someone who votes!) and want to ask for the Congressman or Senators support of the CARE Bill. 

Have your talking points ready, take a deep breath and don’t be scared!  Remember, you voted for the legislators, so in essence, they are under your employ!  You are their boss!  Be polite and persistent.  Pretty much everyone on Capitol Hill has heard of the CARE Bill, so you probably aren’t going to tell them anything new, but let your voice be heard!

If you have questions, need advice or just want to talk, call or email me.  I’m your Legislative resource for the I.S.S.R.T. 

Cathie Kukec, R.T.(R)(QM), CBPN-I
(708) 245-7416 (work)
Catherine.Kukec@ahss.org