July 2009 - American Society of Radiologic Technologists

ASRT Grass-roots Legislative Review Newsletter, July 2009
Welcome!
This issue of the Legislative Review newsletter features the most current information on the CARE bill and introduces the new members of the
Committee on R.T. Advocacy. You’ll also find articles that will help you become a better advocate. Get the scoop on attending town hall
meetings, how to mentor a new advocate and the importance of having a political action committee.
See the Tips and Task List for ideas on how you can make a difference. Now is the perfect time to act because Congress will be in recess the
entire month of August. Plan to visit them while they’re close to home and working in their district.
The next issue of this newsletter will be published in October — our one-year anniversary of being online! Please help us celebrate by telling tell
us what your favorite subject matter has been and what you’d like to read about in the future. You can contact us at
governmentrelations@asrt.org. I hope you enjoy this issue and have a great summer!
Sincerely,
Christine J. Lung, CAE
Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy
American Society of Radiologic Technologists
Welcome 2009-2010 Advocacy Members
Sharon Wartenbee, R.T.(R)(BD), CDT, FASRT
ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy, Committee Chairman
South Dakota
As chairman of the ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy, I would like to extend a warm welcome to three newly appointed advocacy members for
the 2009-2010 year. These members include Leisa Arnold from Senecaville, Ohio; Kolee Bailey from Edmond, Okla.; and Cedric Jolivet from
Humble, Texas.
They join members David Hill, Lorenza Clausen, Donna Crum, Gary Duehring, Bernadette Garofola, Nicholas Gimmi, Catherine Kukec, David
LeClair, Pamela Lee, Diane Mayo, Travis Prowant and Kimberly Robert. These advocacy members are charged with developing regional grassroots
networks and disseminating legislative information, of which the CARE bill remains ASRT’s top legislative priority.
Thanks to our volunteer technologists, the grass-roots network has expanded to all 50 states. The ASRT supplies information that is then
distributed in a timely manner. If you are not receiving legislative information and wish to be included in the grass-roots effort, please contact the
ASRT Government Relations Department at 800-444-2778, Ext. 1322.
Now is a great time to establish contacts with your representatives and senators. Give your legislative health aide a phone call, send an e-mail or
fax and let them know that the CARE bill is back. Ask them to be a cosponsor. Grass-roots efforts can make a difference!
Thank you to all committee members and technologists working on the CARE bill and other important legislative issues. Your dedication, support
and commitment are greatly appreciated.
Mentoring a New Advocate
Diane Mayo, R.T.(R)(CT)
Mississippi
Mentoring is an important part of any professional community, but especially so for grass-roots efforts. Throughout my 10 years or so of being an
advocate for the CARE bill, one of my favorite mentorship opportunities has been taking new advocates under my wing at R.T. in D.C.
I remember my first congressional visit. I was scared to death. We had been prepped well before going on the Hill for our visits, but I was stilled
very nervous and didn’t really know what to expect. As a mentor, I now try to help new advocates know what to expect and be ready to go into
the meeting feeling prepared and able to tackle whatever comes their way!

One of the most important points to explain to new advocates is that grass-roots advocacy is not just a one or two day trip on Capitol Hill – it’s a
year-round event.
I encourage new advocates to start with CARE bill history on the ASRT Web site. I also work with my group to share appointment times,
addresses, e-mails and phone numbers in preparation for meeting with our representatives. Having this information ahead of time reduces the
fear associated with getting separated from the group and lets everyone make contacts beforehand.
Over the years, I’ve discovered that an important part of mentoring advocates is helping them know what to expect when they attend an event
like R.T. in D.C. or meet with their representatives. For example, before the R.T. in D.C. event each year, I explain the entire process to
whomever I’m mentoring, including walking them through the role-playing exercises and helping them work through different problems that might
arise.
As part of the mentoring process, I also try to put a positive spin on less-than-ideal situations and give the new advocate positive action they can
take. For instance, representatives or their staff often steer the conversation away from the CARE bill and we have to find a way to get it back on
track.
Other helpful tips include:
State your most essential points first because meetings may be cut short.
Be prepared to talk to staff members instead of your representative because they can be an important promoter of your cause to their
boss (your representative).
Expect to talk and walk at the same time with your congressional member. These are busy men and women who are constantly on the
go.
Take notes for questions you don’t have answers for and follow up with your representative’s office.
Don’t forget to ask your representative to cosponsor the CARE bill!
Much like advocacy, mentorship is a year-round process. After returning from R.T. in D.C., it’s important to remind new advocates that there is
still more work to be done.
Now it’s your turn to mentor a new grass-roots advocate and bring them on board advocating for our profession. Share your newfound passion
with others.
It’s July … Where’s the CARE Bill?
Christine Lung, ASRT Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy
Yes, it’s the middle of July. Summer is heating up, and Congress is looking at the August recess with a sigh of relief. Many technologists also are
asking “Where is the CARE bill, and how can we ask our senators and congressman to support it without a bill number?”
Even though having that bill number is helpful to refer to a “stand-alone” piece of legislation, the CARE bill has been front and center in House
and Senate health care reform discussions. In the Senate, our bill sponsor Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) is the ranking member of the Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and is also a member of the Senate Finance Committee – the two committees that are leading the
health care reform debate. In the HELP Committee’s ongoing discussions on the Access to Quality Health Care bill written by Sen. Kennedy,
Sen. Enzi offered up the CARE bill as an amendment to be included in the committee’s deliberations. In the Senate Finance Committee’s health
reform bill we anticipate that the CARE bill will be included in the original bill. If it is not included, Sen. Enzi will again offer it as an amendment in
the Finance Committee’s discussions.
As you can imagine, the HELP and Finance committees’ members have been exhausted by the health reform process. Once the dust settles,
Sen. Enzi’s staff has assured us that the CARE bill will also be introduced as stand-alone legislation and that we will have our bill number.
On the House side, the path is very similar to the Senate. The House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor
committees all have joined together to draft a 1000+ page health reform proposal now referred to as America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of
2009. Although the bill includes provisions regarding medical imaging reimbursement, the CARE language currently is not included.
We are working with many members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee to offer CARE as an amendment to the bill. In addition to
amending it to the larger health care reform bill, ASRT lobbyists are in the process of identifying a House sponsor to introduce the CARE bill as a
“stand-alone” bill in the House to coincide with the House’s discussions of health care reform.
With so many versions of health reform legislation being discussed and the CARE bill’s inclusion, the CARE bill is still an active topic in
Congress – even without bill numbers. You still can ask your senators to contact Sen. Enzi and voice their support for the CARE bill and its
inclusion in the health care reform debate along with contacting members of the House Energy & Commerce committee asking them to include
the CARE bill in the House’s health care reform discussion.
President Obama has set an aggressive schedule for health care reform and has publicly asked Congress to enact legislation before Oct. 15,
2009. With August recess quickly approaching, it is doubtful that the House or Senate will enact health reform bills by October, but the time to
ask your congressman and senators to include CARE in the health reform debate is now. Show that you CARE and engage in the debate.

How Can I Be an Advocate?
Nick Gimmi, B.S., R.T.(R)(CT)
Virginia
Communicating with our patients is a duty most of us take very seriously. It’s why we got in this profession in the first place. I know how an
excellent patient experience makes me come back the next day, ready to take on another set of challenges. Over the years, I’ve also learned
there’s more to helping patients than just performing well on the job.
Advocating for Better Care
Millions of Americans live in a state that doesn’t support licensure for medical imaging professionals, which could compromise the quality of
health care they receive. And most people don’t consider this factor when the physician orders an imaging test. We, or someone we love, could
be putting our lives in the hands of someone who doesn’t have the proper training to do the job. I know none of us wants to lose a loved one to
cancer because of a misdiagnosis from a poor study performed by someone who had inadequate training.
As technologists, we are obligated to stand up for our patients by being their most diligent advocates. You know how difficult the job is and how
difficult the training was when you went through school. You, more than anyone else, know that it takes much longer than a few hours to grasp
all that you have to learn to have basic proficiency on the job.
Getting Started
Being an advocate can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before. I know many folks don’t know the first thing about it. That’s the way it was
for me. I have a few tips that might help you make the move in contacting your congressman.
We all have at least three federal representatives in Congress for our district. We have two senators and one U.S. House of Representatives
member based on where we live. You can look up your senators or U.S. House representative online and find multiple ways to contact them.
Each of these individuals knows how important it is to represent the interests of local constituents. They are there to serve you. This makes it
easier to feel confident contacting them. They want to hear from you! You also can use the ASRT eAdvocacy for You site to get their information
or ask them to cosponsor the CARE bill.
If you want to take advocacy to the next level, try visiting your congressman at his office. Although representatives keep headquarters in
Washington, you can call your congressman’s local office to find out when he or she will be in town so you can schedule a visit.
What Should You Say?
In my experience, federal representatives are more apt to listen when I have a plan and stay focused. Try using the following talking points to
help you get started when you contact your representative about the CARE bill:
Quality medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures require skill and precision to be effective. If done properly, they can provide
an accurate diagnosis, leading to effective treatment planning. Done incorrectly, they can lead to misdiagnosis and medical
malpractice.
Misadministration of radiation can be harmful to patients.
Wasted procedure time and repeat exams lead to millions of U.S. health care dollars wasted every year. The Congressional Budget
Office has determined that reducing repeat exams by even one percent can save $100 million dollars over five years.
Other Ways To Advocate
Many congressmen like to go out occasionally to meet with their constituents at a school or other meeting location. Attending one of these town
hall meetings provides a great opportunity to ask questions and share information with other attendees at the same time. You can find out when
and where your next town hall meeting is by contacting your representative’s office. If you need additional guidance, you also can contact a
member of the ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy, like me, and ask one of us to walk you through the process.
The most difficult thing for me to get past was feeling like my concerns were insignificant compared with all the problems Congress is facing. It’s
important to remember that licensure for medical imaging professionals is important to our patients, and postponing legislation is potentially
harming many patients’ lives!
The Importance of Having a Political Action Committee
By Syd Sanders
ASRT Grass-roots Coordinator
I wanted to know how ASRT members felt about contributing to the ASRT-PAC so I started asking around. Exactly, what is a PAC? And just how
important is it? I asked colleagues, friends and even posted the question on Facebook. The key word I kept hearing was action.
So, what is a Political Action Committee? It’s a group of individuals with common interests whose purpose is to raise and spend money to elect
candidates that share the association’s views. The association (the ASRT in this case) can only solicit donations from individuals associated with
them. In other words, donations come from our members. Funds cannot come from membership dues; they can only come from an individual’s
voluntary contribution. When any interest group wants to make political contributions it must create a PAC. The whole reason for creating a
Political Action Committee is to be able to contribute money to candidates or parties who will support and take action on issues that are
important to the association.
The ASRT PAC was established as a federal political action committee; therefore, any donations received can only be contributed to candidates
for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. All federal political action committees are regulated by the Federal Election Commission, or

FEC, and reports are filed quarterly. The FEC maintains the database of contributions and publishes the information about campaigns and
donors on its Web site.
Just how important is it for the ASRT to have a PAC? Associations can use several tools to affect political change, including creating grass-roots
networks, hiring lobbyists to promote legislation and influence legislators and forming a PAC. The ASRT has successfully done all three. The
people I corresponded with felt that the ASRT PAC gave them a chance to be active and make a difference in their profession. By making
monetary contributions to the PAC, individuals come together as a united voice. A strong and active PAC shows Congress we’re serious about
our health care initiatives and gives us a presence on Capitol Hill. It also shows that we are actively working toward the membership’s goals.
Love them or hate them, PACs can be the most effective tool for educating legislators about issues of concern and for monitoring the actions of
a candidate or legislator all year. PACs provide associations with access to events attended by political decision makers, access that provides
opportunities to advance our political agenda.
Ask yourself, what can I do to take action? You can become actively involved in grass-roots efforts to have the Consistency, Accuracy,
Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill pass into law. Write to your representative and senator and
let them know you want them to support and act on legislation that will ensure quality in the medical imaging profession. You also can join with
other radiologic technologists who are investing in the future of their profession by contributing to the ASRT PAC. Donations can be made online
on the ASRT Web site.
From the States — a Flurry of Activity
By Peter Shams-Avari
ASRT Health Policy Manager
As we cross into the second half of 2009, the vast majority of the state legislatures have met and adjourned. At the state level, 2009 probably
was one of the busiest years in recent memory for radiologic technologist legislation. The variety of legislative proposals ranged from new
licensure laws for sonography and magnetic resonance, to more states adding radiologist assistant licensure, states taking a shot at licensure
and ensuring that non-R.T.s seeking to perform medical imaging evidence additional education in radiation protection and safety.
More Radiologist Assistant States
Three more states joined those that either license or acknowledge radiologist assistants. Virginia passed an RA licensure bill early in its
legislative season. Connecticut’s legislature, after initially halting the progress of a radiologist assistant bill early in the session, included RA
language in a comprehensive bill dealing with health care. Georgia passed a bill concerning professions and business regulation in which RAs
were acknowledged.
No More Ultrasound for Show
Connecticut also adopted legislation prohibiting use of ultrasound for non-medical, entertainment purposes.
Non-R.T.s moving into the R.T. Zone — Demanding Safety
Last year we sounded the warning that physician assistants might seek legislative changes in state licensure laws to perform radiologic
procedures, effectively seeking the same exemptions given to physicians. Thus far, attempts were made in four states to permit physician
assistant exemptions from radiologist technologist licensure laws. In two states, California and Connecticut, the legislation was pared down just
permitting physician assistants to perform fluoroscopy as long as they meet specific education and competency requirements. The compromises
were less than perfect, but considerably more preferable than the alternative possibility of blanket exemptions, which occurred in Hawaii.
Massachusetts introduced a bill, but as of this writing, no action has been taken.
New Licensure Bills Passed
New Mexico and Oregon passed legislation requiring individuals performing sonography or magnetic resonance imaging procedures to be
licensed. The governor of New Mexico signed the bill into law, making that state the first to adopt licensure legislation for sonography. Oregon’s
legislature passed its licensure bill on the final day of the session. The bill is pending action by the governor. Like New Mexico’s bill, the Oregon
bill will add sonography and magnetic resonance to the imaging modalities requiring operators’ licensure.
Massachusetts also has a bill pending requiring an individual performing ultrasound to be registered. There are still technical issues with the bill
to be ironed out; so far, no action has occurred.
Potpourri
Additional changes in current laws that affect radiologic technologists include Connecticut laws defining what constitutes emitting ionizing
radiation on humans. The law just passed includes positioning of the equipment as well as patient positioning. This definition affects situations
where nontechnologists were panning a C-arm, but not energizing the beam. The new language should cover panning as well.
Going for the End Zone
Finally, the WSRT in Wisconsin is taking another shot at passing radiography licensure legislation. Presently, Wisconsin only regulates radiation
therapy and computed tomography. Two bills have been introduced, one each in the Senate and Assembly, to create a radiographer’s license.
The legislature session adjourns in January 2010, so stay tuned.
States still in session include California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. There
promises to be further activity in these states throughout the year. Click here for a full report of tracked legislation.

Town Hall Meetings
Bernadette Garofola, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(T)(CT)
New Jersey
Town hall meetings are informal public gatherings to discuss a specific topic. The purpose is twofold: to inform the public and to influence
elected officials. After a brief presentation or overview of the topic, members of the community voice their opinions and listen to and evaluate the
responses from public figures and elected officials. However, there is no formal vote on the issue.
Town hall meetings are also a great opportunity to approach a congressional representative with another issue. I work at Jefferson Hospital
University Medical Center in Philadelphia, which recently held a town hall meeting with Rep. John Conyers Jr. [MI-14]. He was canvassing the
country in an attempt to gain grass-roots support for health care bill H.R. 676, the U.S. National Health Insurance Act.
After the question and answer session was over, Rep. Conyers remained in the auditorium to personally meet with the participants and hear our
individual comments. I took the opportunity to shake his hand and request that he support and sponsor the Consistency, Accuracy,
Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill.
He acknowledged knowing of the bill from the many visits and correspondence he had received over the years and suggested that I speak with
his personal legislative aide who was with him. His aide also was very familiar with the CARE bill from previous years’ visits. I indicated that he
would be receiving a copy of the new CARE bill soon.
Bernadette Garofola and Rep. Conyers
I also attended a town hall meeting this past April at a local Panera Bread in Mount Laurel, N.J. My new local congressman, John Adler [NJ-3],
was at this location for about an hour. Fortunately, I arrived early and was given a two-to-three minute private session with Rep. Adler, who was
very attentive and interested in our cause. I gave him one of the ASRT’s CARE bill business cards that list the purpose of the bill. On the card, I
also listed the names of the potential sponsors of the bill whom he might recognize.
It was a brief meeting, but I was able to take photos with him and tell him that I would be meeting with his health legislative assistant in
Washington later that month. In the few minutes that I spent with the congressman, I felt that he was genuinely interested in this issue.
In my experience, these town hall type meetings can be very beneficial and provide a rare opportunity to meet personally with a national
representative, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

Calendar of Events
August
3-Sept. 4 — Congressional Recess - Summer District Work Period
September
7 — Labor Day
8 — Congress Convenes
18 — Rosh Hashanah Begins
27 — Yom Kippur Begins
October
12 — Columbus Day
24 — The next issue of the Legislative Review newsletter is scheduled to be published
30 — Target Adjournment for the U.S. House of Representatives
Links
ASRT eAdvocacy:
www.asrt.org/capwiz
Join Grass-roots Network
www.asrt.org/grassroots
CARE Bill Background
www.asrt.org/carebill
Thomas.gov
www.asrt.org/thomas
Previous Newsletters
Printable Version of this letter
Tips and Tasks
Accomplishing Effective Advocacy One Month at a Time
August
Follow the Health Care Reform discussions.
o The House Tri-Committee discussions can be followed on the Energy and Commerce Web site.
o The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has posted videos of their Health Care Reform discussions.
To navigate the facts of the health care reform proposals the Kaiser Family Foundation has prepared an interactive website that is a
helpful resource for learning about the current proposals. Check it out!
Visit your representative and senators while they are home working in their districts. Call their district office to set an appointment. While
they’re home is a perfect time to make a big impact – they’re more relaxed and want to meet with constituents. It’s easy and only a
phone call away!
Attend a town hall meeting while your congressional representative is working in the district. Visit his or her Web site for the meeting
closest to your home.
September
Participate in the newest ASRT call to action by visiting the ASRT eAdvocacy for You Web page.
Sign up to receive e-mails from your representative and senators by going to their Web site.
October
Look up your elected officials on Facebook and join their friend group.
© 2009 American Society of Radiologic Technologists.