To best represent medical physics, the AAPM has worked to establish a close and cooperative working relationship with numerous government bodies and organizations including the Congress, federal and state agencies, related professional societies and a range of medical providers, corporations and suppliers.
For additional information related to AAPM’s government relations efforts, contact Lynne Fairobent, manager of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at lynne@aapm.org or 301-209-3364.
NRC Releases Guidance on Microsphere Brachytherapy Sources and Devices
Posted 9-04-08
NRC staff evaluated Yttrium-90 (Y-90) microspheres which are regulated under 10 CFR 35.1000 "Other Medical Uses of Byproduct Material or Radiation for Byproduct Material" and in August 2008 issued a revised guidance document including additional specific training and experience requirements.
AAPM Recent Comments to Federal Agencies
updated 11-5-08
AAPM Proivides comments to the NRC on CsCl Sources 10-15-08
AAPM Submits Nominations for the NRC's Advisory Committee on Medical uses of Isotopes
AAPM Sends Letter to NRC chairman Klein re: Petition Determination on 10 CFR Part 35 T&E 9-22-08
AAPM Submits Comments on NRDC Petition re: HEU
AAPM Provides Comments to NRC on the Proposed Rule to Expand the National Source Tracking System.
FDA Issues Public Health Notification
Posted 7-15-08
FDA informed healthcare professionals of the possibility that x-rays used during CT examinations may cause some implanted and external electronic medical devices to malfunction. Most patients with electronic medical devices undergo CT scans without any adverse consequences. However, the Agency has received a small number of reports of adverse events in which CT scans may have interfered with electronic medical devices, including pacemakers, defibrillators, neurostimulators, and implanted or externally worn drug infusion pumps. FDA is continuing to investigate the issue and is working with the manufacturer to raise awareness in the healthcare community. See the FDA Public Health Notification for a description of adverse event reports and recommendations regarding reducing the potential risk to patients.
Read the entire 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary, including a link to the FDA Public Health Notification regarding this issue at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#ElectronicMedical
AAPM comments on the draft FDA public health notification posted 04-08
House, Senate Override President's Veto Of Medicare Bill
Posted July 16, 2008
The House voted 383-41 Tuesday afternoon to override President Bush's veto
earlier in the day of Medicare legislation, and the Senate followed suit
with a 70-26 vote. President Bush vetoed the Medicare bill, as senior
administration officials vowed yesterday he would do, railing against
provisions cutting Medicare Advantage and reforming Part D. The bill earlier
passed both chambers by veto-proof margins.
NRC Issues Revision to Regulatory Guides 6.1 and 10.2
Posted July 14, 2008
Regulatory Guide 6.1 Leak Testing Radioactive Brachytherapy Sources: This regulatory guide endorses the method described in Volumes 3 and 9 of NUREG-1556 as a process that the NRC has found to be acceptable for meeting the regulatory requirements for leak testing of radioactive brachytherapy sources. Link to NUREG-1556: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1556/v9/r2/
Regulatory Guide 10.2 Guidance to Academic institutions Applying for Licences of Limited Scope: This regulatory guide endorses the methods and procedures for limited scope byproduct material licensing contained in the current revision of NUREG-1556, Volume 7, “Consolidated Guidance about Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance about Academic, Research, and Development, and Other Licenses of Limited Scope” (Ref. 4), as a process that the NRC staff has found acceptable for meeting the regulatory requirements. Link: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1556/v7/
Senate Passes Medicare Bill 7-10-08
Posted July 14, 2008
The Senate has passed the Medicare bill (H.R. 6331) which averts the 10.6% decrease tothe conversion factor effective July 1st and mandates an additional 1.1% increase in the(January 1, 2008-June 30, 2008) conversion factor for 2009. In essence, theestimated 16% across the board reduction to physician and freestandingclinic payments effective January 1, 2009 has now become a slight 1.1% increase to payments implemented on January 1, 2008.The White House reports that the President will veto the bill, however, the legislation passed both the House and Senate by a large margin to likely secure a veto-proof physician payment fix package.
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passes S. 1042 CARE legislation out of committee
Posted March 15, 2008
On Thursday, March 13, 2008, the Senate HELP committee voted to move forward the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill, or CARE bill (S. 1042) out of committee. Thank you to all AAPM members that called their Senators and Representatives to date on this legislation. In the next couple of weeks, members of Congress will be in their home districts for Easter recess, please contact their offices and ask that they support the passing of S. 1042 and H.R. 583 as soon as possible upon return from the spring recess. If you have not done so, it is not too late go to: http://capwiz.com/aapm/home/ and follow the instructions for calling or emailing your members. If you have contacted your members, please follow up and ask what action have they taken based on your request.
If you have questions, please contact, Lynne Fairobent, AAPM's manager of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at lynne@aapm.org.
Action Alert: CARE Legislation - Senate HELP committee key members 
Posted: February 13, 2008
The Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (CARE) legislation (S.1042) is scheduled for mark up by the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension (HELP) committee. As such it is especially vital the AAPM members that reside in states where the members of the Senate HELP committee are from, call their Senator and ask that the bill be moved forward without additional amemdment. Key Senators that we are targeting are: Senator Harkin (Iowa), Mikulski (Maryland), Murray (Washington), Reed (Rhode Island), Clinton (New York), Obama (Illinois), Brown (Ohio), Gregg (New Hampshire), Alexander (Tennessee), Murkowski (Alaska), Roberts (Kansas), Allard (Colorado) and Coburn (Oklahoma).
To show you CARE about quality care and health care costs, please visit the Legislative Action Center and use the supplied communication tools to quickly and easily contact your legislators.
“Source Collection and Threat Reduction” (SCATR) Program -
The Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) and the Department of Energy have initiated a rare opportunity for radioactive material licensees to have financial assistance in properly disposing of unwanted sealed sources. The program is entitled “Source Collection and Threat Reduction” or “SCATR.” The AAPM endorses the SCATR program and encourages AAPM members to have their licensees register and take advantage of this opportunity. For additional information and to register your sources click here CRCPD SCATR.
Federal Agency Issues
The responsibility for ensuring the safe use of radioactive materials and radiation-producing machines is shared by a number of federal agencies and states. Key federal agencies are the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Comments filed by the AAPM
Archived Information