Legislative Contacts
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR
District #1 District #6
Congressman Jay Inslee Congressman Norm Dicks
Megan Eidman LA healthcare Jami Burgess LA healthcare
Megan.eidman@mail.house.gov jami.burgess@mail.house.gov
202-225-6311 DC Office 202-225-5916 DC Office
HE IS A COSPONSOR!
District #2 District #7
Congressman Rick Larsen Congressman Jim McDermott
Betsy Robblee LA healthcare Tiana Korley, Esq LA Healthcare
betsy.robblee@mail.house.gov Tiana.Korley@mail.house.gov
202-225-2605 DC Office 202-225-3106 DC Office
360-733-4500 Bellingham Office 206-553-7170 Local office
425-252-3188 Everett Office YOU HAVE HOMEWORK!
YOU HAVE HOMEWORK!
District #8
District #3 Congressman Dave Reichert
Congressman Brian Baird Beth Nelson LA healthcare
Anne Meyers LA healthcare Beth.Nelson@mail.house.gov
Anne.Meyers@mail.house.gov 202-225-7761 DC office
202-225-3536 DC Office 206-275-3438 Mercer Island Office
District #4 District #9
Congressman Doc Hastings Congressman Adam Smith
Brianne Miller LA healthcare Shawna Meechan LA healthcare
Brianne.miller@mail.house.gov Shawna.Meechan@mail.house.gov
202-225-5816 DC Office 202-226-8461 DC Office
509-543-9396 Tri-Cities Office 1-888-764-8409 Toll-Free
509-452-3243 Yakima Office 253-593-6600 Tacoma Office
HE IS A COSPONSOR!!!!!!!!!!!!
District #5 Senator Patty Murray
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers Stephanie Arnold LA healthcare
Kimberly Betz LA healthcare Stephanie_Arnold@murray.senate.gov
Kimberly.Betz@mail.house.gov 202-224-2621 DC Office
202-225-2006 DC Office 206-553-5545 Seattle Office
425-259-6515 Everett Office
509-624-9515 Spokane Office
Senator Maria Cantwell 360-696-7797 Vancouver Office
Michael Barnard LA Healthcare 509-453-7462 Yakima
Michael_Barnard@cantwell.senate.gov
202-224-3441 DC Office
360-696-7838 Vancouver Office
206-220-6400 Seattle Office
509-353-2507 Spokane Office
509-946-8106 Richland Office
Sample Letters to Legislators
Address your letters to: SENATE HOUSE
Senator_______ The Honorable_____
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
Dear Senator (Surname) or Dear Representative (Surname):
I am writing to encourage you to support an important piece of patient-care legislation. The Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) bill (H.R. 3652) would establish basic educational and certification standards for health care personnel who perform our nation’s medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures.
Most Americans take it for granted that the person performing these types of examinations is a competent professional. The fact is, poorly trained individuals examine and treat patients in this country every day. That’s because there are no mandated federal standards that these employees must meet.
The CARE bill would amend the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981, which gave the states recommendations for licensing radiologic personnel. Because compliance with the 1981 Act was voluntary, only 36 states have enacted licensure laws or regulate radiologic technologists, and many of those laws or regulations do not match the standards recommended by the federal government.
As a result, thousands of individuals with limited education and no certification are performing imaging and radiation therapy procedures on patients every day. Inadequately educated personnel pose a risk to patients, because an improperly performed procedure can lead to misdiagnosis or a delay in treatment as well as increase health care costs.
Congress now has the opportunity to improve the quality of radiologic care by establishing competency standards for those who provide it. I urge you to voice your support for quality health care by cosponsoring, supporting and voting in favor of the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) bill.
I look forward to hearing from you soon on this issue.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
City,State ZIP
NEW LETTER
I am writing to encourage you to cosponsor the Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence (CARE) bill, which was reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. John Barrow of Georgia as H.R. 3652.
This legislation will improve the quality of care that patients receive in America’s radiology departments. It will strengthen the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981, a law that established basic educational and credentialing standards for personnel who perform medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures. Because compliance with the 1981 Act is voluntary, only 36 states have enacted any sort of licensure standards or regulations for radiologic personnel. Washington State although considered a licensure state only requires the paying of a fee, no education is required. As a result, tens of thousands of individuals with limited education and no professional credentials are performing radiologic procedures on patients. These inadequately trained personnel pose a risk to patients, because an improperly performed examination can lead to misdiagnosis or a delay in treatment.
I am a registered radiologic technologist and I want all patients in the United States to receive the best care possible. The best way to ensure that is to require personnel to meet basic education and credentialing standards.
Please voice your support for quality healthcare by contact Rep. John Barrow’s office and signing on as a cosponsor to the CARE bill (H.R. 3652). I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this issue.
Sincerely,
New letter
Your physician hears something in the stethoscope that doesn’t sound right, or maybe the results of your blood test have raised a red flag. You’re sent to the radiology department for an x-ray, an MRI or some other imaging procedure. A diagnosis is contingent upon the result of your examination. Do you know who is taking your x-rays? Do you care? You should! The only standard Washington State has set for anyone operating x-ray equipment is the paying of a fee and the watching of an HIV training video. Education is not required!
I am writing to encourage you to cosponsor the support the Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence (H. R. 3652) bill. This proposed legislation was reintroduced in the House by Rep. John Barrow of Georgia. The CARE Act would improve the quality of care that patients receive in America’s radiology departments. It is designed to strengthen the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981, a law that established basic educational and credentialing standards for personnel who perform medical imaging and radiation therapy. Because compliance with the 1981 act is voluntary, only 35 states have enacted licensure laws for radiologic personnel, and many of those laws do not match standards recommended by the federal government. Washington, although considered a licensure state requires only paying a fee and watching an outdated 7-hour HIV training video before operating x-ray equipment.
Misdiagnosis of breast cancers due to poor quality examinations performed by untrained persons was brought to the public’s attention several years ago. We were appalled to learn that women were losing their lives everyday because a cancer was missed until it was too late to treat, thus the Mammography Quality Standards Act was established. However, many do not realize that the same misdiagnosis occurs everyday in routine diagnostic radiography. Thousands of x-ray examinations are performed everyday in Washington by people off the street trained only to aim a light and push a button. When incorrect technical factors are utilized a fracture or a tumor can easily be missed, resulting in a lifetime disability or even death.
There is no doubt in my mind that a federal minimum standard of training must be established. When many voice concerns about the high cost of health care it only makes sense that a person trained in the most efficient and effective use of diagnostic radiographic procedures is required. I am a registered radiologic technologist and I believe that all Americans deserve to receive the best quality health care possible.
We expect an RN that dispenses potentially dangerous drugs possess a certain level of knowledge. Why not someone that dispenses potentially dangerous radiation? The citizens of Washington are depending on you. Most are unaware that the office assistant, lab assistant, or even the janitor may be taking their x-rays. It is your duty to assure that each will receive the same quality medical care that they would in a state that requires educational training.
I encourage you to contact Rep. Barrow’s office and sign on as a cosponsor of the CARE bill (H.R. 3652). I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this issue.
Sincerely,
New letter
As the 111th session of Congress nears completion I would like to take a moment of your time to address an issue that should have been addressed many years ago and is now returning to our attention. The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981 recommended to all states that : 1) those persons teaching in programs of radiologic technology be certified, 2) programs offering training in radiologic technology be accredited, and 3) personnel taking radiologic examinations be licensed. As of this date items #1 and #2 have been accomplished, item #3 is what I would like to address with you. Because the 1981 Act was voluntary, only 35 states have enacted licensure laws, and many of those laws do not match the standards recommended by the federal government. Therefore, thousands of individuals with limited or no education are performing imaging and radiation therapy procedures on patients everyday. I am writing to ask you to cosponsor and support the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (H.R. 3652) bill that was recently reintroduced by Rep. John Barrow. Washington State although considered a licensing state due to the paying of a fee does not require education to obtain that license.
Let us look at another part of the medical field. In looking at the nursing profession there are several layers involved: Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Certified Nurses Assistant. Each layer has specific training and specific job responsibilities. Those that administer potentially dangerous drugs must have more training than those that take vital signs and assist with routine daily care, but all must have training. It is unconscionable to think that we allow persons with absolutely no training to operate ionizing radiation equipment. X-rays were discovered in 1895 and it didn’t take long before they were recognized as dangerous. Radiation is linked to an increased incidence of cancer, increased incidence of cataracts, embryological changes, and a general lifespan shortening. At what level do x-rays become harmful, no one really knows.
Most Americans take it for granted that the person taking their x-ray, performing their CT scan or delivering their radiation therapy treatment is a competent professional. The fact is poorly trained individuals or individuals with no training examine and treat patients in this country everday, because there are no mandated federal standards these employees must meet.
I encourage you to contact Rep. Barrow’s office and sign on as a cosponsor of the CARE bill (H.R. 3652). I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this issue.
Sincerely,
If you have a question or need help I can be contacted at
Home e-mail – silverview@wavecable.com
Work e-mail – plee@tacomacc.edu