Radiologist assistants.

Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California. Existing law also provides for the certification and regulation of radiologic technologists by the State Department of Public Health. This bill would requireprohibit a person from holding himself or herself out as a certified radiologist assistant unless he or she meets specified licensure and programmatic requirements, including completion of an approved program that is certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, as specified. This bill would make it an unfair business practice for any person to use the title of "certified radiologist assistant" or any other term, including "licensed," "registered," or "RA," that implies or suggests that the person is certified as a radiologist assistant, if the person does not meet the requirements described above. This bill would also prescribe the services that may be performed by a certified radiologist assistant under the supervision of a qualified physician and surgeon, including specifying that a certified radiologist assistant would be authorized to make initial observations regarding the images for the qualified physician and surgeon but would be prohibited from providing image interpretation, providing a diagnosis, or prescribing medications or therapies.