The proposed bill would update current statutes regarding the approval of radiologic technology schools and the certification process for radiologic technologists and radiologist assistants. It would allow the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) to approve schools accredited by recognized organizations, such as the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The bill would also reduce the required clinical experience from 1,800 hours to 1,650 hours and specify that the course of study must include at least 400 hours of classroom work covering essential topics like radiographic imaging and patient care procedures. Additionally, the bill would redefine "supervision" for radiologist assistants to include accessibility via telecommunication rather than direct supervision. It would replace the fixed $20 fee for a computed tomography technologist certificate with a fee determined by DHS rule and remove radiologic technologists and radiologist assistants from the definition of "health care provider" in the context of telehealth. The bill also mandates that any person or facility employing certified individuals must report suspected violations to the department, which will investigate and refer cases as necessary. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the certification process and adapt to evolving practices in the field of radiologic technology.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 32-2804, 32-2813, 32-2815, 32-2819, 32-2841, 36-3601, 32-2812, 30-651, 32-4301, 32-2821