Although Level 3 includes only the states' official SVT representatives, reporting responsibilities follow two tracks. The first includes the Legislative Watchers, while the second is the affiliated and nonaffiliated chapters. As state representatives communicate with their chapter presidents (or their designees), information then can be disseminated through each chapter network. The next level, the chair of the Legislative Watch Subcommittee, is responsible for communicating information to the state representatives and updating the Government Relations Committee chair.

This subcommittee's success depends entirely upon our membership. Please consider becoming involved in this very important endeavor. In fact, the future of our profession may depend upon it! For more information, please contact me: home phone and fax: 810-731-3192; home e-mail michal89@idt.net; or work e-mail mmcphar1@hfhs.org.

North Dakota
The "Medical Radiation Health and Safety Act" has been defeated in the state legislature. We should be very grateful to Judy Fried, RN RVT CVN; Dale Olson, RVT RDMS RTR; and Jayne Rixen, BS RDCS RVT; who worked diligently to increase legislator awareness of the ramifications of this bill as written. In addition, SVT, SDMS, ASE, and other professional organizations also were involved in this very important issue.

Florida
Russell Samson, MD RVT, Secretary/Treasurer of the Florida Vascular Society, and Joan Spindel, RDCS RVT, President of the Suncoast Vascular Society, have been involved actively in developing legislation concerning the proposed rewording of the Florida Patient Self Referral Act (the Wingo Decision). There have been heated discussions between representatives of the Vascular Society and the Florida Radiological Society. Current pending legislation would allow a vascular lab that is part of a vascular surgical practice to test patients of other physicians, who are not group members. However, such labs would be limited to performing vascular studies only. If that lab performs other diagnostic studies unrelated to the vascular system, the vascular surgeon would be required to consult on the patient first. More information should be available in upcoming weeks.

HCFA
Recent discussions related to "direct" physician supervision versus "general" supervision appear to have slowed interest in HCFA's implementing previous recommendations for noninvasive vascular study reimbursement. Those recommendations include required individual certification or facility accreditation for vascular study reimbursement. Because these regulations are subject to change, we recommend that you contact your state's carrier medical director with any questions about the following recommendations:

Lack of knowledge paired with non-involvement in this issue may cost you your livelihood, so your participation in Legislative Watch activities is critical.

ADDITIONAL READING

SVT Letter to CAAHEP (PDF, 78K)

SVT Letter to JRC
(PDF, 78K)