What's happening
This bill allows physician assistants in New York to use fluoroscopy for certain procedures after completing specific training.
Why it matters
Expands access to care. By allowing properly trained physician assistants (PAs) to use fluoroscopy, the bill could help reduce bottlenecks and wait times for certain diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, especially in settings where radiologists or physicians are not always available.
Establishes strict training requirements. The bill mandates that PAs must complete at least 40 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of hands-on clinical training, plus pass a competency exam, to ensure patient safety and maintain high standards.
Shifts the scope of practice. This change reflects a broader trend of expanding the roles of advanced practice providers, which may impact workforce dynamics, inter-professional relationships, and the way healthcare teams are structured in New York.
Potential for improved workflow and efficiency. Hospitals and clinics may be able to streamline procedures that require real-time imaging guidance, allowing physicians to focus on more complex cases and increasing the overall efficiency of care delivery.
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Who cares
Licensed physician assistants
The bill would allow them to use fluoroscopy to guide diagnostic and therapeutic procedures after completing at least 40 hours each of didactic and clinical training and passing a competency exam.
New York State Department of Health
The department would approve the required training and competency exam and prepare regulations needed to implement the bill.
Radiologic technologists
The bill would add an exception to existing licensing restrictions allowing qualified physician assistants to use fluoroscopy for procedural guidance.
Headline styles
Allow PAs to Use Fluoroscopy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let PAs Use Fluoroscopy
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Richard Gottfried
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8165
IN SENATE
April 11, 2018
Introduced by Sen. HANNON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the use of fluoroscopy by physician assistants
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3501 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. "Fluoroscopy" means an x-ray based technique that allows continuous real-time imaging of an instrument, dye, or body part during a diagnostic or treatment procedure so that location and movement of such instrument, dye, or body part can be detected and evaluated.
§ 2. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subdivision 2 of section 3502 of the public health law, as added by chapter 175 of the laws of 2006, are amended, and a new paragraph (e) is added to read as follows:
(c) only persons licensed under this article shall practice radiography, radiation therapy or nuclear medicine technology or use the title "radiographer," "radiologic technologist," "radiation therapist" or "nuclear medicine technologist" or use the abbreviations LRT, RTT, LRTT, NMT, or LNMT with his or her name; [and]
(d) notwithstanding paragraph (c) of this subdivision, quality control tests and radiation therapy treatment planning may also be performed by individuals not licensed by this article[.]; and
(e) a licensed physician assistant may engage in the use of fluoroscopy for guidance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; provided that the physician assistant has successfully completed an educational program consisting of at least forty hours of didactic and forty hours of clinical training with successful completion of a competency exam, as approved by the department.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09320-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the use of fluoroscopy by physician assistants
Purpose
To amend the public health law by permitting physician assistants who have completed the requisite training to operate fluoroscopy technology to assist a diagnostic or treatment procedure.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill would amend Article 35 of the Public Health law relating to radiology technology to add a definition of fluoroscopy.
Section two of the bill would allow the use of fluoroscopy by appropri- ately trained physician assistants.
Justification
Fluoroscopy is an x-ray based technique that allows continuous real-time imaging of an instrument, dye or body part so that its location or move- ment can be observed during an internal diagnostic or treatment proce- dure. A Physician assistant works under the supervision of a physician, and must be trained in the specialty of the supervising physician.
Fluoroscopy provides real time images improving the accuracy of inter- ventions and reducing the amount of tissue injury. In orthopedics, fluo- roscopy is used to ensure proper alignment during fracture repair reduc- ing the time and amount of sedation that patients need. In cardiac surgery, fluoroscopic information assists surgeons placing stents and wires on the heart. PAs working in interventional radiology can use fluoroscopy for many routine procedures, such as infertility studies, lumbar punctures, and placing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC or PIC line). PAs working in emergency medicine can use fluoros- copy to assist in the removal of foreign bodies.
Recognizing the need for PAs to use fluoroscopy, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and the American Academy of Physician Assist- ants have jointly developed a didactic and clinical education course and a competency assessment to ensure that PAs who perform fluoroscopy are properly prepared. In nearly half of the states, PAs are allowed by law to perform fluoroscopy exams
The bill does not expand the scope or terms of practice of physician assistants under the Education Law, but will enable them to work more effectively.
Legislative history
2015-2016: Similar to S 5186 - referred to Health Committee
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect 180 days after it is signed into law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.