Source: http://register.dls.virginia.gov/details.aspx?id=828
Timestamp: 2018-03-21 06:58:01
Document Index: 82391628

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 54', '§ 54', '§ 54', '§ 54', '§ 54', '§ 54', '§ 54']

Vol. 27 Iss. 7 (Proposed Regulation) 18VAC85-101, Regulations Governing The Licensure Of Radiologic Technologists And Radiologic Technologists-Limited December 06, 2010
Title of Regulation: 18VAC85-101. Regulations Governing the Licensure of Radiologic Technologists and Radiologic Technologists-Limited (amending 18VAC85-101-10, 18VAC85-101-25, 18VAC85-101-30, 18VAC85-101-55, 18VAC85-101-100, 18VAC85-101-130, 18VAC85-101-145, 18VAC85-101-150, 18VAC85-101-152, 18VAC85-101-153, 18VAC85-101-161; adding 18VAC85-101-27, 18VAC85-101-28, 18VAC85-101-91, 18VAC85-101-92).
Public Hearing Information: February 2, 2011 - 1 p.m.- Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 201, Richmond, VA
Basis: Section 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia provides the Board of Medicine the authority to promulgate regulations to administer effectively the regulatory system. In addition, specific regulatory authority for the Board of Medicine to regulate radiologist assistants, radiologic technologists, and radiologic technologists-limited is found in § 54.1-2956.8:1 of the Code of Virginia. The regulations may include requirements for approved education programs, experience, examinations, and periodic review for continued competency.
Purpose: The goal of this action is to comply with the provisions of Chapters 83 and 507 of the 2009 Acts of the Assembly, which require the Board of Medicine to promulgate regulations for the licensure of radiologist assistants (RAs). Prior to the introduction of legislation, the Advisory Board on Radiological Technology and the Board of Medicine reviewed the responsibilities and the training of RAs and concluded that the definition and duties for an RA exceeded the scope of practice stated in Virginia law for a radiologic technologist and that it appeared to be a separate profession from radiologic technology. Therefore, legislation and regulation were necessary to allow this advanced level practitioner to perform the additional duties for which he or she is trained.
The proposed regulations establish criteria for licensure, supervision, and practice to ensure individuals licensed as RAs are competent to practice as advanced practitioners in radiology who assist the radiologist in patient care and treatment. This development of the radiologist assistant profession within the field of radiologic technology is an important step for improving access to care for patients in Virginia. The RA does not perform image interpretation, diagnose, or dispense medications. The RA works under the supervision of a radiologist and with the specialized training received in a RA program and the accountability of licensure, the health and safety of patients is adequately protected.
Substance: The proposed regulations specify qualifications for licensure, including completion of an educational program and certification examination; criteria for renewal and continued competency; requirements for supervision and professional practice; and fees for obtaining and maintaining licensure.
Issues: The primary advantage to the public is an expansion of physician extenders through the licensure and practice of radiologist assistants. Licensure will offer assurance of consistent education, training, minimum competency, and oversight by the Board of Medicine. An opportunity exists for advanced practice by a radiologic technologist with additional education and training. There are no disadvantages to the public.
There are no advantages or disadvantages to the agency or the Commonwealth. The number of licensees is expected to be relatively small, and the disciplinary caseload expected to be minimal. Since RAs will be regulated under the Board of Medicine and the Advisory Board on Radiologic Technology and licensed and disciplined with existing staff, there are few additional administrative costs for licensure.
"Radiologist" means a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine specializing in radiology who is certified by the American Board of Radiology, the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology, the British Royal College of Radiology, or the Canadian College of Physicians and Surgeons.
"RT-R®" means a person who is currently certified by the ARRT as a radiologic technologist with certification in radiology.
1. The fee for active license renewal for a radiologic technologist shall be $135, and the fee for inactive license renewal shall be $70. If a radiologist assistant holds a current license as a radiologic technologist, the renewal fee shall be $50. If a radiologist assistant does not hold a current license as a radiologic technologist, the renewal fee shall be $150.
1. The fee for active license renewal shall be $70, and the fee for inactive license renewal shall be $35.
Licensure Requirements - Radiologist Assistants
18VAC85-101-27. Educational requirements for radiologist assistants.
An applicant for licensure as a radiologist assistant shall be a graduate of an educational program that is currently recognized by the ARRT for the purpose of allowing an applicant to sit for the ARRT certification examination leading to the Registered Radiologist Assistant credential.
18VAC85-101-28. Licensure requirements.
A. An applicant for licensure as a radiologist assistant shall:
1. Meet the educational requirements specified in 18VAC85-101-27;
2. Submit the required application, fee, and credentials to the board;
3. Hold certification by the ARRT as an RT-R® or be licensed in Virginia as a radiologic technologist;
4. Submit evidence of passage of an examination for radiologist assistants resulting in national certification as an Registered Radiologist Assistant by the ARRT; and
5. Hold current certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
B. If an applicant has been licensed or certified in another jurisdiction as a radiologist assistant or a radiologic technologist, he shall provide information on the status of each license or certificate held.
C. An applicant who fails the ARRT examination for radiologist assistants shall follow the policies and procedures of the ARRT for successive attempts.
18VAC85-101-30. Educational requirements for radiologic technologists.
An applicant for licensure as a radiologic technologist shall be a graduate of an educational program acceptable to the ARRT for the purpose of sitting for the ARRT certification examination.
1. Successful completion of a program that is directed by a radiologic technologist with a bachelor's degree and current ARRT certification, has instructors who are licensed radiologic technologists or doctors of medicine or osteopathic medicine who are board certified in radiology, and has a minimum of the following coursework:
Practice of Radiologist Assistants
18VAC85-101-91. General requirements.
A. A licensed radiologist assistant is authorized to:
1. Assess and evaluate the physiological and psychological responsiveness of patients undergoing radiologic procedures;
2. Perform patient assessment, and assist in patient management and patient education;
3. Evaluate image quality, make initial observations, and communicate observations to the supervising radiologist;
4. Administer contrast media or other medications prescribed by the supervising radiologist; and
5. Perform, or assist the supervising radiologist in performing, imaging procedures consistent with the guidelines adopted by the American College of Radiology, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
B. A licensed radiologist assistant is not authorized to:
1. Provide official interpretation of imaging studies; or
2. Dispense or prescribe medications.
18VAC85-101-92. Supervision of radiologist assistants.
A radiologist assistant shall practice under the direct supervision of a radiologist. Direct supervision shall mean that the radiologist is present in the facility and immediately available to assist and direct the performance of a procedure by a radiologist assistant. The supervising radiologist may determine that direct supervision requires his physical presence for the performance of certain procedures, based on factors such as the complexity or invasiveness of the procedure and the experience and expertise of the radiologist assistant.
Part IV VI
Practice of Radiologic Technologists
18VAC85-101-100. General requirements.
A. All services rendered by a radiologic technologist shall be performed only upon direction of a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatry.
B. Licensure as a radiologic technologist is not required for persons who are employed by a licensed hospital pursuant to § 54.1-2956.8:1 of the Code of Virginia.
Part V VII
B. A radiologic technologist-limited shall not instill contrast media during radiologic examinations or perform mammography, fluoroscopic procedures, computerized tomography, or vascular-interventional procedures. The radiologic technologist-limited is responsible to a licensed radiologic technologist, or doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatry.
Any radiologist assistant, radiologic technologist, or radiologic technologist-limited who does not hold a license to practice in Virginia and who seeks registration to practice under subdivision 27 of § 54.1-2901 of the Code of Virginia on a voluntary basis under the auspices of a publicly supported, all volunteer, nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people shall:
5. Provide a notarized statement from a representative of the nonprofit organization attesting to its compliance with provisions of subdivision 27 of § 54.1-2901 of the Code of Virginia.
Part VI VIII
18VAC85-101-150. Biennial renewal of license.
A. A radiologist assistant, radiologic technologist, or radiologic technologist-limited who intends to continue practice shall renew his license biennially during his birth month in each odd-numbered year and pay to the board the prescribed renewal fee.
B. A license that has not been renewed by the first day of the month following the month in which renewal is required shall be expired.
C. An additional fee as prescribed in 18VAC85-101-25 shall be imposed by the board.
D. In order to renew an active license as a radiologic technologist, a licensee shall attest to having completed 24 hours of continuing education as acceptable to the ARRT within the last biennium.
E. In order to renew an active license as a radiologic technologist-limited, a licensee shall attest to having completed 12 hours of continuing education within the last biennium that corresponds to the anatomical areas in which the limited licensee practices. Hours shall be acceptable to the ARRT, or by the ACRRT for limited licensees whose scope of practice is chiropractic, or by any other entity approved by the board for limited licensees whose scope of practice is podiatry or bone densitometry.
F. In order to renew an active license as a radiologist assistant, a licensee shall attest to having completed 50 hours of continuing education as acceptable to the ARRT within the last biennium. A minimum of 25 hours of continuing education shall be recognized by the ARRT as intended for radiologist assistants or radiologists and shall be specific to the radiologist assistant's area of practice. Continuing education hours earned for renewal of a radiologist assistant license shall satisfy the requirements for renewal of a radiologic technologist license.
G. Other provisions for continuing education shall be as follows:
1. A practitioner shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements for the first biennial renewal following the date of initial licensure in Virginia.
2. The practitioner shall retain in his records the Continued Competency Activity and Assessment Form available on the board's website with all supporting documentation for a period of four years following the renewal of an active license.
3. The board shall periodically conduct a random audit of its active licensees to determine compliance. The practitioners selected for the audit shall provide all supporting documentation within 30 days of receiving notification of the audit.
4. Failure to comply with these requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the board.
5. The board may grant an extension of the deadline for satisfying continuing competency requirements, for up to one year, for good cause shown upon a written request from the licensee prior to the renewal date.
6. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for circumstances beyond the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters.
A. A licensed radiologist assistant, radiologic technologist, or radiologic technologist-limited who holds a current, unrestricted license in Virginia may, upon a request on the renewal application and submission of the required fee, be issued an inactive license. The holder of an inactive license shall not be required to maintain continuing education hours and shall not be entitled to perform any act requiring a license to practice radiography in Virginia.
C. The board reserves the right to deny a request for reactivation to any licensee who has been determined to have committed an act in violation of § 54.1-2915 of the Code of Virginia or any provisions of this chapter.
A. A licensed radiologist assistant, radiologic technologist, or a radiologic technologist-limited who held an unrestricted license issued by the Virginia Board of Medicine or by a board in another state as a licensee in good standing at the time the license expired or became inactive may be issued a restricted volunteer license to practice without compensation in a clinic that is organized in whole or in part for the delivery of health care services without charge in accordance with § 54.1-106 of the Code of Virginia.
B. To be issued a restricted volunteer license, a licensed radiologic technologist or a radiologic technologist-limited licensee shall submit an application to the board that documents compliance with requirements of § 54.1-2928.1 of the Code of Virginia and the application fee prescribed in 18VAC85-101-25.
Part VII IX
18VAC85-101-161. Confidentiality.
REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The following forms used in administering the regulation have been filed by the Board of Medicine. The forms are not being published; however, the name of each form is listed below and hyperlinks to the actual form. Online users of this issue of the Virginia Register of Regulations may access the form by clicking on the name of the form. The forms are also available for public inspection at the Department of Health Professions, Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, Virginia 23233-1463, or at the Office of the Registrar of Regulations, General Assembly Building, 2nd Floor, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
FORMS (18VAC85-101)
Instructions for Completing an Application for Licensure as a Radiologic Technologist By Examination/Endorsement (rev. 9/07).
Instructions for Completing an Application for Licensure as a Radiologic Technologist By Examination/Endorsement (rev. 11/10).
Instructions for Completing an Application for Licensure as a Radiologist Assistant (rev. 11/10).
Application for a License as a Radiologic Technologist (rev. 9/07).
Application for a License as a Radiologic Technologist (rev. 11/10).
Application for a License to Practice as a Radiologist Assistant (rev. 11/10).
Form A, Claims History Sheet (rev. 11/10).
Form A, Radiologist Assistant, Claims History (rev.11/10).
Form B, Activity Questionnaire (rev. 8/07).
Form B, Activity Questionnaire (rev. 11/10).
Form B, Radiologist Assistant, Activity Questionnaire (rev. 11/10).
Form C, Clearance from Other States (rev. 8/07).
Form C, Clearance from Other States (rev. 11/10).
Form C, Radiologist Assistant, Clearance from Other States (rev. 11/10).
Form E, Certification Request from ARRT (rev. 8/07).
Form E, Certification Request from ARRT (rev. 11/10).
Form F, Traineeship Application (rev. 8/07).
Form F, Traineeship Application (rev. 11/10).
Form L, Certificate of Radiologic Technology Education (rev. 8/07).
Form L, Certificate of Radiologic Technology Education (rev. 11/10).
Form L, Radiologist Assistant, Certificate of Professional Education (rev. 11/10).
Instructions for Completing an Application for Licensure as a Radiologic Technologist-Limited (rev. 2/08).
Application for a License to Practice Radiologic Technology-Limited (rev. 8/07).
Form T/A (1) and T/A (2), Radiologic Technologist-Limited Training Application for Abdomen/Pelvis pursuant to Virginia Regulations 18VAC85-101-60 B (3) (rev. 8/07).
Form T/C (1) and T/C (2), Radiologic Technologist-Limited Clinical Training Application (rev. 8/07).
Form T/E, Radiologic Technologist-Limited Traineeship Application (rev. 8/07).
Instructions for Completing an Application for Licensure as a Radiologic Technologist-Limited (rev. 11/10).
Application for a License to Practice Radiologic Technology-Limited (rev. 11/10).
Form T/A (1) and T/A (2), Radiologic Technologist-Limited Training Application for Abdomen/Pelvis pursuant to Virginia Regulations 18VAC85-101-60 B (3) (rev. 11/10).
Form T/C (1) and T/C (2), Radiologic Technologist-Limited Clinical Training Application (rev. 11/10).
Form T/E, Radiologic Technologist-Limited Traineeship Application (rev. 11/10).
Instructions for Completing Reinstatement of Radiologic Technology Licensure (rev. 8/07).
Application for Reinstatement of License to Practice Radiologic Technologist (rev. 10/07).
Instructions for Completing Reinstatement of Radiologic Technologist-Limited Licensure (rev. 8/07).
Application for Reinstatement of License to Practice Radiologic Technologist-Limited (eff. 10/07).
Continued Competency Activity and Assessment Form (eff. 7/08).
VA.R. Doc. No. R10-2130; Filed November 16, 2010, 10:44 a.m.