The American College of Radiology (ACR) has come out in opposition to a new law passed in Kentucky that strips radiologists of the ability to participate in a program designed to screen coal miners for black lung disease.
The Kentucky legislation was signed into law last month and makes changes to the federal B-reader program, in which physicians sign up and are certified to interpret x-rays of miners who may have black lung. The new law prohibits radiologists from interpreting x-rays under the program, instead giving that privilege exclusively to pulmonologists.
Some observers believe the law was sponsored by coal mining companies and their legislative allies to reduce the number of claims for black lung disease filed by miners. The pulmonologists in the state who participate in the B-reader program are seen as being friendlier to coal companies than radiologists.
The ACR is disappointed that the Kentucky Legislature decided to step in and determine the scope of practice for physicians, especially for a program that already qualifies physicians regardless of specialty, as the B-reader program does, said Dr. William Thorwarth Jr., CEO of the ACR.
"All patients, including coal miners, deserve high-quality care by well-trained and qualified physicians," Thorwarth said. "This is a matter of life and death for many people. Politics should be left out of it. We hope that the Kentucky Legislature will rescind this new law and work with medical providers to save more lives."
