SNMMI Hill Day 2026
The goal of SNMMI s annual Hill
Day is to educate our congressional leaders about the basics of nuclear
medicine, raise awareness of the promise nuclear medicine holds in the
diagnosis and treatment of cancers and other diseases, and advocate for policies
that advance the field of nuclear medicine and benefit patients. Hill Day
attendees get first-hand experience advocating at the federal level with one
objective in mind: improving patients access to nuclear medicine.
SNMMI held a Virtual Information
Session prior to Hill Day. This allowed members to learn about Hill Day s
advocacy topics, the structure of meetings with legislative staffers, and
congressional policy priorities and to ask any questions in a relaxed environment.
Hill Day began with breakfast in
the Capitol Building. SNMMI Government Relations Committee Chair Erin Grady,
MD, CCD, FACNM, FSNMMI, introduced former Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN), who
delivered remarks to attendees. Rep. Bucshon emphasized that advocacy from a
variety of perspectives, including those of patients, technologists, and
physicians, adds depth to conversations with lawmakers and legislative staff.
He reminded participants that sharing the lived stories of people who are
impacted by the policies being discussed in Congress is one of the best ways to
get their message across to members of Congress.
Participants were grouped into 11
teams of four to seven members, based on where they live. This allowed
participants to meet with legislative staff for members of Congress from their
own states and often their own congressional districts. Each team had a leader
who guided the team through the House and Senate office buildings, introduced
SNMMI and the team to the legislative staff, and took notes to support
follow-up with staff.
Attendees advocated for three
specific federal priorities:
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Theranostics Research at the Department of Defense (DoD): Hill
Day participants advocated for members of Congress to support inclusion of
report language in FY 2027 DoD funding legislation encouraging that allocated
federal research dollars be leveraged to further theranostics research.
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Reimbursement for Radiopharmaceuticals: Participants
requested that members of Congress urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) to revise its current reimbursement methodology for certain
diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, in order to better ensure patient access to
precision medicine.
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Preserving and Bolstering Medical Research Funding: Hill
Day participants reminded congressional staff that cutting-edge research
related to nuclear medicine is being conducted across the U.S. government,
including at the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of
Energy, and the DoD. Participants encouraged members of Congress to support and
bolster funding for medical research.
During Hill Day, SNMMI presented
Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) with SNMMI s 2026
Legislative Champion Award. These bipartisan awards are given to legislators
who have advocated for the nuclear medicine community.
Thank you to everyone who traveled
to Washington, D.C., for SNMMI s annual Hill Day. It was a great success. The
real-life stories shared by patients and family caregivers, physicians,
researchers, technologists, and industry colleagues advance the field of
nuclear medicine in diagnosing and treating patients. Congressional staff
appreciate hearing from those with expertise in nuclear medicine and those with
lived experiences, and these have a persuasive impact on Congress.
If you would like more information
about participating in future Hill Days, please contact SNMMI s Health Policy
and Regulatory Affairs staff ([email protected]).
SNMMI Honors Senators with 2026 Legislative Champion Award
NMMI was pleased to present the
2026 Legislative Champion Award to Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tammy
Baldwin (D-WI) in recognition of their dedicated, bipartisan efforts on behalf
of the nuclear medicine community. Angela Weiler, who serves as a state TAG for
Wisconsin, presented the award to the office of Senator Baldwin. Ryan Widener,
a member of the SNMMI-TS National Council of Representatives from Tennessee,
presented the award to the office of Senator Blackburn.
Senators Blackburn and Baldwin
were original sponsors of the Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics
(FIND) Act, which would establish Medicare payment requirements for diagnostic
radiopharmaceuticals. Following introduction of the FIND Act in November 2024,
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a significant
policy change under which it would unbundle and pay separately for diagnostic
radiopharmaceuticals with per-day costs exceeding $630, removing financial
barriers that had hindered patient access to essential nuclear medicine
diagnostic procedures. This change in CMS policy effectively removed the need
to continue advocacy for legislative action through the FIND Act.
Senator Blackburn also serves on
the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the CMS. Senator
Baldwin is a member of the Senate HELP Committee, which has jurisdiction over
agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes
of Health.
By championing legislation such as
the FIND Act, Senators Blackburn and Baldwin have worked to resolve critical
reimbursement challenges that limited access to diagnostic
radiopharmaceuticals. Addressing these reimbursement issues will help to ensure
that SNMMI members and others can provide the most appropriate and effective
diagnostic options, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for patients.
On behalf of SNMMI s more than
15,000 members, we extend our gratitude to Senators Blackburn and Baldwin for
their support of the nuclear medicine community.
House and Senate Appropriations Reports Reflect Congressional Support for
Theranostics Research
SNMMI successfully secured
legislative report language in both the House and Senate reports for the FY
2026 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
appropriations bill. This report language describes the potential of
theranostics to advance the battle against cancer and encourages the National
Cancer Institute to support research that utilizes and promotes theranostics to
provide early, accurate, and effective cancer diagnosis and treatment. On
February 3, President Trump signed the appropriations bill into law.
SNMMI is currently advocating for
this same legislative report language to be included in the FY 2027 Department
of Defense appropriations bill for the Congressionally Directed Medical
Research Programs.
SNMMI Video Offers Advocacy Tips
The real-life stories shared by
patients and family caregivers, physicians, researchers, and technologists play
a significant role in advancing the field of nuclear medicine in diagnosing and
treating patients. Legislative staff at the local, state, and Federal levels
appreciate learning from experts in nuclear medicine and hearing lived
experiences of patients and caregivers, and these experiences are persuasive to
legislators. To assist our members in preparing to advocate at the local,
state, or Federal level, SNMMI prepared a video, How to be an
Effective Advocate.
The advocacy tips in the video
include:
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Do not assume that legislators or legislative staff understand
nuclear medicine.
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Keep the discussion at a high level and to use plain language.
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Even when speaking with the legislative staff rather than the
legislator, remember that legislators rely heavily on their staff to provide
expertise on issues.
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Follow up appropriately when you do not know the answer to a
question raised during the meeting.
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Follow up appropriately with the office after the meeting.
Watch the video
Nuclear Medicine Conditionally Exempted from April 2026 Pharmaceutical
Tariffs
On April 2, President Trump signed
a proclamation implementing tariffs of 100 percent on patented pharmaceutical
products and ingredients. Notably, the proclamation provides conditional
exemptions for certain specialty drug products, including radiopharmaceuticals.
However, these exemptions are not
automatic. They will be available to imports from jurisdictions that [have] a
current or forthcoming trade and security framework agreement with the United
States. As countries negotiate agreements, additional radiopharmaceuticals
would be exempted from the tariffs. In addition, the proclamation provides an
exemption for products that have been designated as meeting an urgent U.S.
health need.
Read the Proclamation
SNMMI Submits Comments Supporting Improved Access, Exchange, and Use of
Diagnostic Images by Health Care Providers and Patients
In January 2026, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a request for information (RFI) seeking input on
interoperability standards for diagnostic image exchange.
SNMMI s comments in response to
the RFI expressed support for HHS efforts to strengthen interoperability
standards that improve the access, exchange, and use of diagnostic imaging data
across healthcare settings. SNMMI emphasized that improving access to the
images acquired during diagnostic studies significantly enhances patient care,
reduces duplicative imaging, and improves healthcare system efficiency.
To advance interoperability for
diagnostic imaging and improve patient and provider access to imaging data,
SNMMI recommended that HHS consider the following policy actions:
- 1. Recognize
diagnostic images as a core component of interoperable electronic health
information.
- 2. Incorporate
diagnostic imaging access into the ONC Health IT Certification Program.
- 3. Advance
imaging elements within the United States Core Data for Interoperability.
- 4. Encourage
the transition away from physical media for image exchange.
- 5. Support
interoperability for quantitative imaging data.
Read the SNMMI's Comments
SNMMI also joined in signing a
response prepared by the American College of Radiology and submitted on behalf
of a coalition of professional organizations: the Radiological Society of North
America, American Association of Physicists in Medicine, American Society of
Radiologic Technologists, and SNMMI. The response is available below.
Read the Response
SNMMI Submits Comments on Proposed Revisions to USP General Chapter 825
On January 30, 2026, SNMMI
commented on the United States Pharmacopeia s (USP s) proposed revisions to USP
General Chapter <825> Radiopharmaceuticals Preparation, Compounding,
Dispensing, and Repackaging.
Chapter <825> was initially
developed in response to public comments received on the 2015 proposed revision
of USP General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding Sterile
Preparations and a 2016 white paper prepared by the SNMMI Committee on
Radiopharmaceuticals. SNMMI s white paper noted challenges in applying Chapter
<797> to radiopharmaceuticals, in light of their unique characteristics,
and the lack of a universally accepted public standard that clearly and
effectively delineates common practices within the practice of nuclear
pharmacy. The white paper recommended that the USP draft a new general chapter
entitled Radiopharmaceutical Preparation, Compounding and Dispensing Sterile
Preparations.
In its general comments, SNMMI
recommended that USP consider harmonizing the 1-hour immediate use beyond use
date (BUD) in Chapter <825> with the 4-hour immediate use BUD in Chapter
<797>. SNMMI also noted that the application of a single uniform standard
across a wide range of practice settings presents significant challenges, given
the highly diverse workflows and settings the chapter encompasses. SNMMI
further noted that some sections lacked clarity regarding applicability outside
of nuclear pharmacy operations, for example, in hospital and clinical practice
settings. In addition, SNMMI made numerous comments on specific sections of the
draft chapter.
Read the SNMMI's Proposed Revisions
SNMMI's Technologist Advocacy Group
The Technologist Advocacy Group
(TAG) is a dedicated network of nuclear medicine technologists committed to
championing the rights, professional well-being, and recognition of
technologists within the SNMMI community. TAG members serve as a vital bridge between
technologists, state and federal officials, and the broader healthcare
landscape, ensuring that the unique perspectives and needs of technologists are
heard and addressed. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, TAGs work
to support policies and initiatives that strengthen our profession and help
ensure patient access to safe, effective nuclear medicine services throughout
their states.
TAGs assist nuclear medicine
technologists in their states with questions about scope of practice,
licensure, advocacy initiatives, and networking opportunities. They monitor
bills to amend state law or proposed changes to state regulations that may impact
nuclear medicine technologists. They may engage in advocacy efforts at the
state level when bills or regulations are under consideration. TAGs are
supported in these efforts by members of the SNMMI-TS Advocacy Committee and
SNMMI Health Policy and Regulatory Affairs staff.
States with TAG Vacancies
Several states either have TAG
vacancies or could be supported by an additional TAG. These states are:
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Alaska
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Georgia
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Idaho
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Minnesota
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Montana
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New Hampshire
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New York
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Oklahoma
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Utah
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Washington
If you are interested in serving
as a TAG in one of these states, please contact SNMMI s Health Policy and
Regulatory Affairs Staff at [email protected].
Welcome New Members of SNMMI s Technologist Advocacy Group
The Technologist Section Advocacy
Committee is thrilled to have several new members join the Technologist
Advocacy Group:
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Tiffany A. Smisson, California
-
J.P. Alfonso, Colorado
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Misty Bartolotti, Hawaii
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Abigail (Brooke) Turok, Hawaii
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Hannah Phillips, Michigan
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Will Duarte, Oregon
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Missy Rose, West Virginia
SNMMI appreciates the new TAGs and
all the state TAGs for their willingness to support and advocate for all
nuclear medicine technologists in their state.
State Updates
Amendments to Maryland Scope of Practice Regulation for Radiation Therapy
SNMMI and the Maryland TAGs are
monitoring amendments to the Maryland regulation on Scope of Practice for
Radiation Therapy. The state proposed to amend the regulation to allow
radiation therapists to prepare unsealed radiopharmaceuticals. The SNMMI Technologists
Section wrote to Maryland to express our concerns with the regulation change,
as the training radiation therapists receive does not extend to the handling of
unsealed radiopharmaceuticals and associated activities. HPRA staff and the
Maryland TAGs plan to attend a July 2026 meeting of the Maryland Radiation
Therapy, Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, and Radiology Assistance
Advisory Committee during which the amendment to the regulation is expected to
be discussed.
Successful Louisiana Rule Change Allows Nuclear Medicine Technologists to
Sit for Either the ARRT or NMTCB CT Exam
On March 20, 2026, the Louisiana
Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners (LRTBE) announced that it has amended
its rules governing Fusion Technology Temporary Permits. The rules limit the
types of radiologic activities that may be performed and the scope of services
that may be provided to patients under these permits. When it issued the
amended regulation, the LRTBE also clarified its policies on nuclear medicine
technologists who meet national education standards performing CT examinations.
What does this mean for nuclear
medicine technologists in Louisiana?
-
Nuclear medicine technologists may now sit for either the
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or the Nuclear Medicine
Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) CT examination. The previous rule
allowed for a nuclear medicine technologist to gain supervised experience to
sit for only the ARRT CT exam.
-
Nuclear medicine technologists with a current, valid LRTBE
license, as well as a current, valid LRTBE fusion license (who possess current
CT credentials via ARRT or NMTCB), are authorized to perform CT imaging both on
fusion or standalone equipment, subject to individual facility policy.
The nuclear medicine professionals
who have spoken out, written letters, and stayed engaged in Louisiana were key
contributors to these changes. Their continued advocacy has led to a positive
impact in the state of Louisiana for nuclear medicine professionals and
patients.
Read
the Announcement of the Rule Changes
To learn more about how you can
get involved with nuclear medicine advocacy, email the Advocacy Team.
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