Most 2024 legislative sessions are over, and elections across the country are concluding. However, the work of ASRT’s Government Relations and Public Policy Department is not over. Here’s an overview of the Society’s policy wins and a preview of its advocacy plans for 2025.
State Advocacy Wins
ASRT has seen significant success in protecting and expanding laws governing the profession in 2024. Each major win highlights the importance of relationships with partner organizations and the effectiveness of our profession’s voice when we’re united.
In New Hampshire, ASRT opposed House Bill 1410, which sought to amend and repeal licensure laws across many professions, including licensure for medical imaging and radiation therapy. The New Hampshire Society of Radiologic Technologists, ASRT and its partner organizations sent letters opposing the inclusion of medical imaging and radiation therapy. NHSRT opposed the bill during committee hearings. The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee removed medical imaging and radiation therapy from the bill, ensuring licensure remains intact across the state.
In Michigan, ASRT worked with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, Michigan Society of Radiologic Technologists and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging on a regulatory effort for equipment regulations. The rules went into effect in March. This win comes after years of consistent work, building relationships with decision-makers and persistent communication.
In Washington, ASRT worked with medical imaging provider RAYUS Radiology and the ARRT to support House Bill 2355 and improve state licensure. The collaborative effort resulted in an amendment to state licensure to include technologists whose primary certification and training is in magnetic resonance. In the process, ASRT developed a critical relationship with RAYUS Radiology and other counterparts in the radiology business community.
ASRT submitted recommendations to the Council of the District of Columbia, advocating for appropriate education and training standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals in Washington, D.C. In that effort, ASRT collaborated with partner organizations, including the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. It’s vital to build relationships with the decision-makers so that advocates have already formed connections when important legislation comes around.
Federal Actions
ASRT has increased its name recognition in Congress by meeting with the offices of legislators who serve on committees of jurisdiction — congressional committees that oversee health-related issues, education issues, and issues related to workforce. This year’s advocacy efforts included reintroducing ASRT to key staffers and educating them on the intricacies of our profession and its policy priorities.
In the spring, ASRT submitted appropriations requests and written testimony to the House Appropriations Committee’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
Subcommittee. Testimony submitted in May urged the subcommittee to continue to ensure the Bureau of Health Workforce provides funding opportunities for accredited medical imaging and radiation therapy programs.
ASRT partnered with other imaging organizations to support the Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics Act and the Radiation Oncology Case Rate Value-Based Program Act, also known as the FIND and ROCR acts, respectively. These acts directly affect patient care because they address how Medicare reimburses procedures, treatments and materials. Although ASRT is not the primary force behind either effort, the Society is dedicated to advocating for them and any other policy solution that increases the accessibility and safety of medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures for patients.
ASRT develops relationships with federal agencies by attending meetings and submitting public comments. For example, ASRT has submitted public comments to the Office of Management and Budget regarding the standard occupational classification for radiologic technologists and the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the VA National Standards of Practice for diagnostic radiologic technologists, radiologist assistants, nuclear medicine technologists and radiation therapists.
Fresh Advocacy Tools
The ASRT Government Relations and Public Policy Department is excited to announce upcoming resources and programs for advocates to help the profession be seen.
The Advocacy Toolkit is set to launch by the end of this year. This resource for aspiring advocates will include the revised ASRT Advocacy Guidebook, a primer that walks new advocates through the process from where to learn about relevant policy proposals to identifying their elected officials at the state and federal levels. It also covers communicating with legislators, the media and the public, and provides examples of comment letters.
The toolkit will also include fact sheets and other resources that unpack the complex issues and concepts involved in advocacy. We designed these easily understandable talking points for busy staffers on Capitol Hill, state lawmakers and others who may lack base-level knowledge of the profession.
Another resource ASRT has produced is a series of attractive one-page documents that explain the history of ASRT and the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession, scope of practice, the workforce shortage and state licensure. These resources are perfect leave-behinds for meetings with elected officials and their staff.
Additionally, we’d like to follow up on a big announcement made at the ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting in Orlando, Florida, in June: ASRT will move away from the current structure of the Committee on R.T. Advocacy.
We’re replacing that program with the Ambassadors for R.T. Advocacy program, which will launch in 2025. Applications for the new, year-round volunteer opportunity will open in November 2024.
Here’s to You
ASRT is committed to equipping advocates to make their voices heard. The ASRT Government Relations and Public Policy Department will host its fourth annual Engaging New Technologists webinar series in spring 2025. Students, newer technologists and technologists new to advocacy are encouraged to join this two-week, free overview of advocacy, how public policy affects the profession and why our advocacy efforts are so important. Visit asrt.org/EngagingNewRTs for more information.
In the coming summer, ASRT will host its eighth annual Online Advocacy Academy, asrt.org/OLAA. This 10-week course prepares aspiring leaders to design and implement strategic advocacy campaigns. Applications will open in March 2025.
During the 2024 election in November, voters will select governors for 11 states and state legislative bodies in 44 states. There are 34 states holding elections for the U.S. Senate and candidates for all 435 congressional districts are on the ballot. Each of these elections can play a significant role in the landscape for advocacy efforts for the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession.
In January 2025, all 50 states will be in legislative session. We must commit to building strong relationships with newly elected and veteran lawmakers. These officials’ policy priorities will set each chamber’s agenda.
As medical imaging and radiation therapy advocates, we must show up, make our voices heard and tell lawmakers to prioritize health care. We must continue to elevate the profession and continue conversations with state and federal lawmakers. During 2024 congressional meetings, Capitol Hill staff members were unaware of the disparities in licensure regulations among states.
As the Be Seen campaign continues, the ASRT Government Relations and Public Policy Department will continue to use the profession’s increased visibility as a platform to educate elected officials about medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals’ specialized training and their critical role on the health care team.
Watch for more information on the Advocacy Ambassadors and visit ASRT’s volunteer portal, asrt.org/Volunteers, to submit your application.
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2024 issue of ASRT's Scanner. Please visit the ASRT Publications page for more information.