A proposal by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) making both CT and magnetic resonance equipment reviewable under the state's Certificate of Need (CON) law was removed from the final published regulations following input by ASNC member Dr. James Arrighi at an informal hearing.  CON laws, which emerged in the 1970s and require providers to receive state approval for major capital expenditures, were enacted to prevent overutilization of services and to keep health care costs in check.

Dr. Arrighi, who was representing the American College of Cardiology's Rhode Island Chapter, expressed the views of many in the cardiology community who question the ability of CON programs to legitimately improve quality of care and/or reduce costs of some procedures or services.  ASNC joined with the ACC's Rhode Island Chapter in providing formal comments on the RIDOH proposal.

ASNC Letter ot Rhode Island Department of Health (PDF)