Ohio House Passes Bill to Update Contrast Media Law

COLUMBUS—State Representative Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) is pleased to announce that the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 479, legislation championed by Schmidt to update Ohio law as it relates to the supervision of administering contrast media.

Contrast media is used in certain CT scans and MRIs, and this measure will expand the ability of certain qualified professionals to administer contrast under supervision, helping close a current gap in care for rural Ohioans. 

Specifically, House Bill 479 will allow a radiologist assistant to administer contrast under the remote supervision of a radiologist. It will also allow a registered nurse, radiographer, radiation therapy technologist, and nuclear medicine technologist to administer contrast under direct or general supervision of a physician. 

“This is commonsense legislation that will increase accessibility to critical healthcare resources, especially in rural Ohio, protecting the health and wellbeing of all Ohioans,” said Schmidt. 

The bill includes important patient safeguards, requiring that a qualified healthcare provider be present to respond to adverse reactions and available for consultation with the professional administering the contrast.

House Bill 479 awaits further consideration by the Ohio Senate.