Public Policy Resources

The ISCD is very active in supporting our mission related to Skeletal Health Assessment. Our focus is primarily at the state level and is meant to ensure access to quality patient testing by a broader recognition of the ISCD certification programs. 

Capture the Fracture’s bill was introduced on May 25 as “H.R.3517 – To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to, and utilization of, bone mass measurement benefits under part B of the Medicare program by establishing a minimum payment amount under such part for bone mass measurement.”

Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) introduced the HR 3517 the Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2021 with Reps. Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Michael Burgess M.D. (TX-26), and Jackie Walorski (IN-02) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 1943 with Sen. Cardin (D-MD), Sen. Marshall (R-KS), Sen. Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Capito (R-WV), Sen. King (I-ME), Sen. Cassidy (R-LA), Sen. Sinema (D-AZ), Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Rosen (D-NV) to improve access to osteoporosis screening. 

Fractures caused by osteoporosis are among the most significant challenges threatening the independence and quality of life for older Americans.

For more information, visit: https://www.fracturepreventioncoalition.org/

THE INFORMATION OUTLINED ON THIS PAGE IS AN OVERVIEW OF STATE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY PROPOSALS INCLUDED IN MULTISTATE REPORTS as of JUNE 11, 2021. 

The ISCD Public Policy Team supports our mission related to Skeletal Health Assessment. Our focus is primarily at the state level and is meant to ensure access to quality patient testing by a broader recognition of the ISCD certification programs. 

As of June 11, 2021, 39 state legislatures adjourned their 2021 Legislative Sessions. However, 11 states remain actively in session and three states (with an expected two additional states) have declared Special Sessions.  Of the remaining active states, many state legislatures are in first half of their legislative sessions and we expect to see many more proposals between now and December 31, 2021.

Additionally, all 50 states continue to promulgate regulations that may be of concern or interest to the ISCD.

COVID-19 brought many challenges to the operations of individual state governments and we expect to see a continuation of modified legislative sessions with Zoom and hybrid meetings through at least Labor Day.  All states managed to conduct their legislative business and 6 months into the year we have now seen an unprecedented 137 new laws proposed in 33 states and 51 new proposed regulations covering 24 states that are of interest to the ISCD. We review all proposals and intervene by filing testimony and activating our members as necessary.

Of the 137 proposed laws, 68 concern qualifications for radiologic technologists; 25 (1 address radiologic equipment standards, and 44 focus on osteoporosis or bone health issues. Of the 51 proposed regulations, about 32 regulations are/were relevant to the ISCD mission.

As we have mentioned in the past, eleven states do not regulate or require certification of radiologic technologists, including those performing bone density testing. This year, three of those states —Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri— considered new laws that would regulate radiologic technologists for the first time. In Georgia and Missouri, ISCD certification was explicitly recognized in the proposed legislation. While the language in the proposed bills in Alabama was broad enough to potentially allow recognition of ISCD-certified technologists, we worked with ISCD members in that state to request that the bill be amended so that there is no question that ISCD-certified technologists are specifically recognized.

While the bills did not pass in any of these states, the sponsors have indicated that they will come back to propose regulation again in 2022.

Tennessee has extended their Board of Medical Imaging through June 30, 2025 to continue their work. The bill was signed by the Governor and gives us the opportunity to have the Board recognize ISCD certification.

Each month we will update this report.  Throughout the year, many more proposed bills and regulations will be introduced that affect the field of bone densitometry; we will keep you informed as we continue to monitor and work on these important legislative and regulatory proposals.

Public Policy Updates September 2020 - May 2021

THE INFORMATION OUTLINED ON THIS PAGE IS AN OVERVIEW OF STATE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY PROPOSALS INCLUDED IN MULTISTATE REPORTS FROM SEPTEMBER 4, 2020- MAY 4, 2021. 

Many of the states abruptly concluded their 2020 Legislative Sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, over time, state legislatures were able to modify the way in which they conducted their business, including employing the use of technology such as Zoom for committee meetings and hearings and adjusting in-person session days to meet COVID-19 safety protocols. As a result, four months into 2021, we have already seen 56 new laws proposed in 22 states and 32 new proposed regulations covering 18 states that are of interest to the ISCD. We review all proposals and intervene by filing testimony and activating our members as necessary.

Of the 56 proposed laws, 28 (or 50%) concern qualifications for radiologic technologists; 11 (18%) address radiologic equipment standards and 17 (32%) focus on osteoporosis or bone health issues. Of the 32 proposed regulations, approximately 62% or about 20 regulations are relevant to the ISCD mission.

Eleven states do not regulate or require certification of radiologic technologists, including those performing bone density testing. This year, three of those states (Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri) are considering new laws that would regulate radiologic technologists for the first time. In Georgia and Missouri, ISCD certification is explicitly recognized in the proposed legislation. While the language in the proposed bills in Alabama is broad enough to potentially allow recognition of ISCD-certified technologists, we are working with ISCD members in Alabama to request that the bill be amended so that there is no question that ISCD-certified technologists are specifically recognized.

We highlight some of the most important proposals below:

In Alabama, two bills (SB 64 and HB 176), filed earlier this year, would regulate radiologic technologists in the state of Alabama for the first time. The ISCD has submitted testimony requesting an amendment to the proposed bill that would recognize the ISCD’s National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) approved technologist certification program for individuals performing bone density testing. The language in the bills would accept the certification from the ISCD or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for persons applying for a limited x-ray machine operator license in bone densitometry. 

As mentioned, we are working with the bill sponsor and ISCD members to ensure that bone density testing is an appropriate area of certification and that ISCD certification is recognized under the new law.

In Georgia, the bill (HB 811) creates a Medical Imaging Regulatory Board. Section 43-24B-5 of the proposal says:

  •  (a)(1) A limited X-ray machine operator license shall be limited in scope through the issuance of permits to perform diagnostic X-rays on specific anatomical areas of the human body as follows:
    (A) Bone densitometry permit for a person who is certified by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists to perform bone densitometry testing.

We will work with our Georgia ISCD members and the Georgia Legislature to encourage passage of this bill.

In Missouri, bills (HB1426 and SB624) have been introduced to establish the certification of technologists. As does Georgia, the Missouri-proposed language specifically recognizes ISCD certification as follows:

  1. The department may accept certification from the International Society of Clinical Densitometry for persons applying for a limited x-ray machine operator license in bone densitometry. 

Tennessee has extended their Board of Medical Imaging through the year 2025 to continue their work. The bill was signed by the Governor and gives us the opportunity to have the Board recognize ISCD certification.

Throughout the year, many more proposed bills and regulations will be introduced that affect the field of bone densitometry; we will keep you informed as we continue to monitor and work on these important legislative and regulatory proposals.

Public Policy Updates January 2020 - September 2020

The information outlined on this page is an overview of state legislative and regulatory proposals included in Multistate reports from January 1 – September 4, 2020.

To date, 189 laws have been proposed in 40 states and 55 regulations were proposed in 23 states that are of interest to the ISCD. We review all proposals and intervene by filing testimony and activating our members as necessary.

Despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, states quickly acclimated to on-line hearings and meetings and continued to do their work:

  • nine states are in session now
  • six states are prefiling bills for the 2021 legislative session and we are tracking those
  • three states are in special session with four more about to go into special

Of the 189 proposed laws, 88 (or 46%) concerned qualifications for radiologic technologists; 36 (19%) bills addressed radiologic equipment standards and 69 (36%) bills focused on osteoporosis or bone health issues. Of the 55 proposed regulations, about 50% or 27 were relevant to the ISCD.

There are currently 11 states that do not regulate or require certification of radiologic technologists. Three states (Michigan, Georgia and Kentucky) are considering new laws that would regulate radiologic technologists for the first time. In some cases, ISCD certification is explicitly recognized in the new law; in others the proposed language is broad enough to allow a regulatory Board to recognize ISCD certification once the law has passed. We highlight some of the most important proposals below.

In Michigan, HB 6105, filed last week, would require limited scope certification for technologists by the ARRT. We will work with the bill sponsor and ISCD members to insure that bone density testing is an appropriate area of certification and that ISCD certification is recognized under the new law.

In Georgia, (HB1222) creates a Medical Imaging Regulatory Board. The law, if passed gives that Board the authority to recognize various accreditation bodies and states that a “Certification organization” means a national organization that specializes in the certification and registration of medical imaging or radiation therapy personnel and is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, the American National 28 Standards Institute, or another accreditation organization recognized by the board. Clearly, the proposed text in Georgia would allow for the recognition of ISCD technologist certificaiton

In Kentucky, there has been a lot of activity, both on the regulatory and legislative front. There continues to be opportunity for us to have the ISCD specifically mentioned in the law or regulation.

A bill passed in West Virginia (HB 4252) that requires that each state board to enact its own regulations. Because the law in West Virginia already recognizes the ISCD, we will have to keep an eye out for any regulatory change that may nullify the ISCD as the standard for bone density.

Oklahoma, Kansas, Minnesota, and Missouri introduced bills for the certification of technologists. In these states, the proposed language specifically recognized ISCD certification; unfortunatey, these bills were not adopted. We expect similar legislation to be proposed in upcoming legislative sessions.

Tennessee has agreed to extend its Medical Imaging Board through 2022 and it is critical that this Board be made permanent.

Pennsylvania has recognized ISCD certification for many years. However, legislation has been proposed this year that would reorganize the Medical Imaging and Radiation Safety Board. We will watch any such reorganization closely to make sure that ISCD certification remains an acceptable credential. While this bill did not pass, there is an indication that it will be back next year.

We will continue to monitor all legislative and regulatory proposals and intervene where appropriate.