News

Urgent request from ASRT, read below and follow link to sign.

Thank you!!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is putting into effect new Medicare reimbursement rates in 2021 that carry significant cuts for radiology services and radiation therapy services. This change could result in an overall 11 percent decrease in payment levels for radiology, as well as decreases by specialty, including, a nine percent cut for interventional radiology; an eight percent cut for nuclear medicine; a six prevent cut for radiation oncology; and a six percent cut for radiation therapy. These reimbursement cuts are catastrophic figures for the medical imaging and radiation therapy professions.

These cuts, coupled with the fact that COVID-19 has had extremely adverse effects on the medical imaging and radiation therapy community, will wreak havoc. Reports state that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a 20 percent decline in the market for medical imaging equipment. Even worse news is on the horizon for the medical imaging and radiation therapy technical professional community if the final rule, with the aforementioned cuts included, takes effect in 2021. According to one study, more than 50 percent of radiology practices plan to terminate or furlough existing employees if the rule's cuts go into effect without any relief, while 82 percent said they expect the cuts will result in decreased imaging access for patients. And much like every other industry facing COVID-19, there is no telling if, or when, these jobs will come back. Patient access and care would further be hindered as medical imaging centers could close or reduce hours, while many would restrict services to Medicare beneficiaries treated in an outpatient setting.

While the Federal Government continues to search for a comprehensive response to COVID-19, Congress can immediately alleviate these Medicare reimbursement cuts by enacting H.R. 8702. If Congress fails to act, radiology, radiation therapy and medical imaging communities will be impacted in a severe and real way. That is why H.R. 8702 is so important to ASRT, and its members. By creating a two-year "hold harmless" payment that essentially would keep the reimbursement rates for Medicare services at the 2020 amount, H.R. 8702 allows the medical imaging and radiation therapy community to review the losses that COVID-19 has caused, and regroup after the full extent of the pandemic is analyzed.

ASRT asks that all radiologic technologists and radiation therapists contact your federal representatives using the ASRT Advocacy Action Center as soon as possible to voice support for this important legislation that will help radiologic technologists and radiation therapists continue to care for our country's most vulnerable patients.

https://cqrcengage.com/asrt/app/write-a-letter?9...

Greetings Minnesota, what an honor to be able to serve as your President!  I am looking forward to a new year of accomplishments for the Minnesota Society of Radiologic Technologists.  I am excited to share with you that the MSRT has been accepted to participate in the ASRT Affiliate Delegate Program; this will be an amazing opportunity for us to work with ASRT to become a stronger organization which meets the needs of our members.  Your President Elect, Jack Ashcroft and I are also in the process completing the ASRT Leadership Academy. We have learned a lot thru this process and are looking forward to using our knowledge and passion to serve you, the MSRT members!

I will be challenging the MSRT Board to develop a 3-5-year strategic plan that will include prioritizing what our greatest needs are. Also, we will look for tasks that have been left unattended in the past and assign each to small groups to complete by a deadline date.  This will open opportunities for different volunteer levels to our members.  I realize that not everyone is interested in committing several weekends a month to a project, but may be interested in working on something ad hoc. Some ideas include: reviewing our mission and values, updating to our website, organizing our membership campaign and growth goals, updating Society Bylaws and Policy and Procedures, changing the model of our Board to allow for longer tenure and time for actionable changes. We have an unlimited potential to grow our Society, and I am hoping to light a fire in Minnesota!   If you have other suggestions or ideas, please feel free to send them to me to include in our planning!

I also feel it is a critical time to educate the technologists of Minnesota about the importance of advocacy. We are in the middle of a rule rewrite for the MN Department of Health 4732 X-Ray rules and 4733 Therapy Rules. Several of these proposed changes will have a direct effect on our jobs.  We need to build our membership numbers to show that we are ready to protect our jobs from encroachment by other medical professions.

I challenge each of you to encourage at least one colleague to join the Society in the coming year. I challenge the students to bridge into full membership upon graduation and certification and make your voices heard as imaging professionals for the state of Minnesota. If you have never served on the Board, I challenge you to volunteer for a position so that we can keep the ideas fresh. Let’s keep the momentum of this past year going! The MSRT Board cares, and we are here to serve you, our valued members! 

Lastly, I thank you for all your tireless work as we are being faced with yet another challenge unlike any we have seen- please take care of yourselves as best as you can- take five minutes each day to find a way to practice gratitude, start a journal, notice the beauty in nature, tell someone you appreciate them; even in these times of extreme challenges if we can look for positivity it will help us!  Be safe.

Looking forward to a great year!

Jill Lucas, BAH, RT(R)(M)

Greeting MSRT Members!
Here is the a digital copy of the Governor's proclamation for NRTW, this is the only format they are providing this year; feel free to download and share in your facilities.  Thanks to Sue McClanahan for submitting this on behalf of MN Radiologic Technologists!

Jill

11.08.20 Radiologic Technology Week.pdf

Well it was not the annual conference and meeting we had in mind for Vision 20/20, but none the less we got business done! Thank you to all who attended our first ever virtual business meeting!

Welcome to our newest Board Members and those that have moved to New positions:
Chairman of the Board: Scott Haglund
President: Jill Lucas
President Elect- Jack Ashcroft
Secretary- Jess Wiste

Congratulations:
Sharon Zigan- newest MSRT Life Member
Student Scholarship- Alayna Branham, St. Catherine University

Thank you for your dedicated service: Crystal Bromeling has officially completed her term on the MSRT Board!

Watch for more information soon!

Jill Lucas 2020 MSRT Conference Chair

Please take some time to review and offer comment!

https://www.arrt.org/news/article/2020/09/22/arrt-seeks-comments-on-proposed-radiography-changes

Jill

2020 MSRT Summer HTN.pdf

High Tension News June 9 special edition (1).pdf

HTN_2020 Spring.pdf

Hello everyone. Due to concerns regarding COVID-19, St. Catherine’s is cancelling all events on campus. This means the MARS meeting scheduled for April 3rd has been cancelled. Please look for more info to come regarding a reschedule date.

Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) has agreed to co-sponsor the HR 1970 in support of the MARCA Bill!

MARCA1970_Minnesota SL.pdf