Radiologist assistants; revise licensure qualifications for and authorize preliminary interpretation report with initial observations.

SB 2549 revises Mississippi's licensing requirements for radiologist assistants, requiring them to be credentialed radiologic technologists with American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification and registration. It directly affects radiologist assistants and healthcare providers by clarifying communication protocols: assistants may notify providers when imaging is complete, share initial observations only with radiologists, and relay the radiologist's final or preliminary interpretations to other providers. The bill explicitly prohibits assistants from interpreting images, making diagnoses, or prescribing treatments. This legislation takes effect July 1, 2026, and aligns licensing rules with guidelines from major radiology professional organizations.