THE CARE ACT: ENSURING ACCESS TO QUALITY MEDICAL CARE
The safety and quality of radiologic procedures is an issue that affects all of us. More
than 300 million radiologic procedures are performed every year in the United States,
and seven out of 10 Americans undergo some type of medical imaging exam or
radiation therapy treatment annually. Most Americans assume that the person
performing a medical procedure such as a nuclear scan, an X-ray, or a CT scan is a
qualified professional. Unfortunately many states do not require the licensure of the
health care professionals performing these medical procedures which leads to
inconsistent care across the country. High quality diagnostic information is critical to
ensuring that patients receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and the American College of Nuclear Physicians urge
Congress to enact the Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence Act (CARE Act)
which ensures that qualified practitioners who are properly trained, certified, and
licensed.
The Problem: No National Uniform Licensure Standards

The Consumer-Patient Radiation and Safety Act which was signed into law in
1981 encouraged but did not require states to develop and enact licensure
requirements. The current voluntary minimum education and certification
standards as designated in the 1981 federal law have not been adopted
consistently from state to state. Only 35 states have enacted licensure laws for
radiographers, 28 states license radiation therapists, and 22 states license nuclear
medical technologists.

In states where no licensure exists, individuals are permitted to perform
radiation procedures without any formal education. The lack of uniform
standards nationwide for operation of medical imaging and radiation therapy
equipment prevents accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of patients.

Quality medical images require highly trained technologists for optimum
quality. New technologies in nuclear medicine, radiologic imaging, and
therapeutic procedures require that technologists are adequately educated in
their application and have practical clinical experience to ensure the best possible
outcome for their patients.
The Solution: Enact the CARE Act

The CARE Act amends the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act
by setting a federal floor of minimum standards for the education and
certification of radiologic and nuclear medicine technologists as well as
radiation therapists. Uniform standards will improve the quality and safety of
procedures while reducing the costs associated with misdiagnoses and delays in
diagnosis. The CARE Act was drafted by an Alliance of 250,000 Allied Health
Professionals and groups such as the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Section, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, and other
organizations.

The CARE Act would require the states to adopt minimum standards for
training, certification, and licensure for technologists engaged in medical
imaging requiring the use of ionizing radiation. Adoption of the federal floor
standards for training, certification, and licensure will be tied to Medicaid
reimbursement for these procedures.
What Is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that involves the use of small amounts of
radioactive materials or radiopharmaceuticals to help diagnose and treat a variety of
diseases. Nuclear medicine procedures are used in the diagnosis, management, and
treatment of serious disease. It is a way to gather medical information that may
otherwise be unavailable, require surgery, or necessitate more expensive diagnostic
tests.
Nuclear medicine procedures often identify abnormalities very early in the progression
of a disease -long before some medical problems are apparent with other diagnostic
tests. This early detection allows a disease to be treated early in its course when there
may be a more successful prognosis.
An estimated 16 million nuclear medicine imaging and therapeutic procedures are
performed each year in the United States. Nuclear medicine procedures are among the
safest diagnostic imaging tests available. The amount of radiation from a nuclear
medicine procedure is comparable to that received during a diagnostic x-ray.
For additional information, please contact:
Public Affairs
Society of Nuclear Medicine
American College of Nuclear Physicians
703-708-9000
paffairs@snm.org
Robert Waters
Arent Fox
202-857-6398
waters.robert@arentfox.com