If passed, the allowance would certify some practitioners as B readers. B readers clarify chest radiographic images of workers exposed to coal dust, crystalline silica or asbestos for pneumoconiosis surveillance programs. Currently, only physicians can be certified as B readers by passing an examination developed by the NIOSH and the American College of Radiology. As of October 2024, 184 physicians based in 35 states and two territories are NIOSH-certified B readers, according to a HHS and CDC comments webpage.
The CDC has requested comments until March on the issue.
This is the second proposal released in a month that would allow advanced practice providers to take a larger role in image reading. In December, remote MRI standards were updated to allow supervision from appropriately trained non-physician personnel due to physician supervision difficulties.
