Congress is considering a proposed amendment to the Public Health Service Act such that the federal government would impose standards on personnel who perform, plan, or evaluate, or verify patient doses for, medical imaging studies and radiation therapy procedures. This pertains to personnel only and not equipment.

The Society of Nuclear Medicine has urged members to write to their congressional representatives in favor of tougher requirements for technician education. The CARE legislation would require those who perform medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures to meet minimum federal education and credentialing standards in order to participate in federal health programs including Medicare and Medicaid. As things now stand, basic training standards are voluntary in some states. SNM notes that , allowing individuals to perform radiologic procedures without any formal education. "Poor quality images can lead to misdiagnosis, additional testing, delays in treatment and anxiety in patients, costing the U.S. health care system millions of dollars each year."

The proposed bill and its companion (S 1042 and HR 583) are in committee or subcommittee in both houses of Congress.
Specifically, the legislation would provide a method for the recognition of individuals whose training and experience are determined to equal or exceed that of: (1) a graduate of an accredited educational program in that specialty; or (2) an individual who is regularly eligible to take the licensure or certification examination for that discipline. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify qualified nonprofit organizations as approved bodies to provide accreditation to individuals that demonstrate compliance with such standards.

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