Congress has the opportunity to improve the quality of medical imaging
and radiation therapy nationwide by passing either the Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence bill, H.R. 1214, in the
House, or the RadCARE bill, S. 1197, in the Senate. These bills establish minimum educational and credentialing standards
for personnel who plan and deliver radiation therapy and perform all types of medical imaging exams, except diagnostic sonography.
The CARE and RadCARE bills will help improve the safety of medical
imaging and radiation therapy procedures. Administered properly, radiation is an invaluable tool in the diagnosis, treatment
and management of disease. Poor quality images, however, can lead to misdiagnosis, additional testing, delays in treatment
and needless anxiety for the patient. Most radiologic procedures also carry a potential health risk; radiation can be
harmful if administered incorrectly.
The bills also will reduce health care costs by lowering the number
of medical imaging exams that must be repeated due to improper positioning or poor technique. Repeated imaging exms
cost the health care system millions of dollars annually in needless medical bills. More than 3000,000,000 - that's
right, 300 million - medical imaging exams and radiation therapy treatments are administered annually in the United States.
Seven our of every 10 Americans undergo a medical imaging exam or radiation therapy treatment each year.
The CARE bill was first introduced in the House six years ago.
It gains more support each session. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate for the first time last year.
Congress can pass either bill. This session the CARE bill was introduced in March 2003 by Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M.,
and currently is in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. From there it goes to the full House for discussion
and voting. The RadCARE bill was introduced in June 2003 by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and is in the Senate Committee on
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. If either bill passes, a joint conference committee would sort out the differences
in the bills and send it on to the other chamber where it is voted upon. The bill's final stop is the president's desk.
He either signs it into law or vetoes it.
As of R.T. in D.C. in early March, Congress only had about 90 days
left in this session. If either bill does not pass before the end of the year, the legislation will die and must be
reintroduced next year.
