The American College of Radiology Association is now accepting applications for its new $225,000 political fund, established to help local radiologists fight nonphysician scope-of-practice gains.
ACRA first announced the effort back in July amid ongoing concerns that provider societies representing nurse practitioners, physician assistants and others are pursing the ability to operate independently.
“The ACRA is committed to working with state radiological societies to proactively educate lawmakers and counter future scope threats,” the college said in a Sept. 24 announcement.
State radiological societies can submit applications for the political action funds until Oct. 31. Individual physicians cannot apply for the program, and ACRA said its capping awards at one-fifth of the fund (or $45,000) but expects most to fall in the $10,000-$25,000 range. Possible uses could include advertising content, grassroots campaigns, engaging a political strategist or reaching out to constituents, according to the application criteria.
The college said over the summer that nonphysician professional groups have “ramped up” their fight to gain independence during the pandemic as states seek to counter care shortages.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.