Radiologic technologists

AN ACT Relating to general supervision of diagnostic radiologic 1
technologists, therapeutic radiologic technologists, and magnetic 2
resonance imaging technologists by licensed physicians; and amending 3
RCW 18.84.020. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. RCW 18.84.020 and 2024 c 94 s 1 are each amended to read 6
as follows: 7
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter 8
unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 9
(1) "Approved cardiovascular invasive specialist program" or 10
"approved radiologist assistant program" means a school approved by 11
the secretary. The secretary may recognize other organizations that 12
establish standards for radiologist assistant programs or 13
cardiovascular invasive specialist programs and designate schools 14
that meet the organization's standards as approved.15
(2) "Approved school of radiologic technology" means a school of 16
radiologic technology, cardiovascular invasive specialist program, or 17
radiologist assistant program approved by the secretary or a school 18
found to maintain the equivalent of such a course of study as 19
determined by the department. Such school may be operated by a 20
medical or educational institution, and for the purpose of providing 21
H-0186.1
HOUSE BILL 1546
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Parshley, Schmick, Ryu, and Macri
Read first time 01/23/25. Referred to Committee on Health Care &
Wellness.
p. 1 HB 1546
any requisite clinical experience, shall be affiliated with one or 1
more general hospitals. 2
(3) "Cardiac or vascular catheterization" means all anatomic or 3
physiological studies of intervention in which the heart, coronary 4
arteries, or vascular system are entered via a systemic vein or 5
artery using a catheter that is manipulated under fluoroscopic 6
visualization. 7
(4) "Department" means the department of health.8
(5)(a) "General supervision" means supervision of a procedure 9
that is furnished under the overall direction and control of a 10
physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW, but where the 11
physician is not required to be physically present during the 12
performance of the procedure.13
(b) If general supervision is performed remotely, the process 14
must comply with all federal and state laws and regulations and 15
local, institutional, site, and facility policies, guidelines, and 16
rules related to telemedicine. The physician performing general 17
supervision must be within 30 miles to respond to on-site patient 18
care as needed.19
(6) "Licensed practitioner" means any licensed health care 20
practitioner performing services within the person's authorized scope 21
of practice. 22
(((6))) (7) "Nonionizing radiation" includes radiation such as 23
radiofrequency or microwaves, visible, infrared, or ultraviolet light 24
or ultrasound. 25
(((7))) (8) "Radiologic technologist" means an individual 26
certified under this chapter, other than a licensed practitioner, who 27
practices radiologic technology as a: 28
(a) Diagnostic radiologic technologist, who is a person who 29
actually handles X-ray equipment in the process of applying radiation 30
on a human being for diagnostic purposes at the direction of a 31
licensed practitioner ((, this )). This includes parenteral procedures 32
related to radiologic technology when performed under the direct 33
supervision of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW, 34
with the exception of intravenous contrast procedures, which may be 35
performed under general supervision; 36
(b) Therapeutic radiologic technologist, who is a person who uses 37
radiation-generating equipment for therapeutic purposes on human 38
subjects at the direction of a licensed practitioner ((, this)). This 39
includes parenteral procedures related to radiologic technology when 40
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performed under the direct supervision of a physician licensed under 1
chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW, with the exception of intravenous 2
contrast procedures, which may be performed under general 3
supervision; 4
(c) Magnetic resonance imaging technologist, who is a person who 5
uses a nonionizing radiation process on a human being by which 6
certain nuclei, when placed in a magnetic field, absorb and release 7
energy in the form of radio waves that are analyzed by a computer 8
thereby producing an image of human anatomy and physiological 9
information at the direction of a licensed practitioner ((, this )). 10
This includes parenteral procedures related to radiologic technology 11
when performed under the direct supervision of a physician licensed 12
under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW, with the exception of intravenous 13
contrast procedures, which may be performed under general 14
supervision; 15
(d) Nuclear medicine technologist, who is a person who prepares 16
radiopharmaceuticals and administers them to human beings for 17
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and who performs in vivo and in 18
vitro detection and measurement of radioactivity for medical purposes 19
at the direction of a licensed practitioner; 20
(e) Radiologist assistant, who is an advanced-level certified 21
diagnostic radiologic technologist who assists radiologists by 22
performing advanced diagnostic imaging procedures as determined by 23
rule under levels of supervision defined by the secretary ((, this)). 24
This includes but is not limited to enteral and parenteral procedures 25
when performed under the direction of the supervising radiologist, 26
and that these procedures may include injecting diagnostic agents to 27
sites other than intravenous, performing diagnostic aspirations and 28
localizations, and assisting radiologists with other invasive 29
procedures; or 30
(f) Cardiovascular invasive specialist, who is a person who 31
assists in cardiac or vascular catheterization procedures under the 32
personal supervision of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 33
18.57 RCW. This includes parenteral procedures related to cardiac or 34
vascular catheterization including, but not limited to, parenteral 35
procedures involving arteries and veins. 36
(((8))) (9) "Radiologic technology" means the use of ionizing or 37
((nonionzing)) nonionizing radiation upon a human being for 38
diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. 39
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(((9))) (10) "Radiologist" means a physician certified by the 1
American board of radiology or the American osteopathic board of 2
radiology. 3
(((10))) (11) "Registered X-ray technician" means a person who is 4
registered with the department, and who applies ionizing radiation at 5
the direction of a licensed practitioner and who does not perform 6
parenteral procedures. 7
(((11))) (12) "Secretary" means the secretary of health.8
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p. 4 HB 1546