RT IN DC
2008
On March 10th and 11th, 2008 over 120
technologists attending the 10th annual RT in DC met with their
Senators and Congressman regarding the CARE bill. Representing
Capitol Hill visits were made to the offices of Representative Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, Senator Tim Johnson, and Senator John Thune. Representative Herseth-Sandlin and Senator Tim Johnson are Co-sponsors of the CARE bill in the House and Senate respectively. Senator Thune is not a Co-sponsor but has indicated that he will vote in favor of the bill when it comes up for a vote in the Senate.
The CARE bill, Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy was reintroduced in the 110th Congress in the House in January 2007 by Representative Mike Doyle, D-PA. This bill is known as HR.583. As of March 2008, Representative Pallone, Chairman of the House, Energy, and Commerce Health Subcommittee is agreeable to marking up the bill if scheduling permits. If passed, it would then go to the full House floor for a vote.
The same version of the CARE bill was also reintroduced in 2007 in the Senate by Senator Ted Kennedy, D-MA. This bill is known as S.1042. On March 13th, the CARE bill was passed in the HELP Subcommittee. The bill will now be scheduled to be heard and voted on by the Senate in the near future.
Thank you to everyone for your hard work, enthusiasm, support, and dedication regarding the CARE bill. Our goal of quality patient care provided by educated and certified medical imaging and radiation therapy personnel will soon be a reality.
Updates will be announced as soon as they are available.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sharon Wartenbee, RTR,BD,CDT
Governance Chairperson, SDSRT