Arkansas health officials say radiologic technologist licensure program running a deficit despite unchanged fees

At a legislative committee meeting, officials from the Arkansas Department of Health told lawmakers the state’s program that licenses radiologic technologists has run a recent deficit even though fees have not been raised since the program’s 1999 authorizing law.

Charles Thompson, an ADH attorney, told the committee that ADH licenses radiologic technologists under Act 1071 of 1999 and offers both full and limited-scope licenses. "Fees have been unchanged since the inception of the program in 1999," Thompson said, and he noted that a statutory fee cap of $75 exists but ADH has not reached it.

Thompson also said the program "does not have a fund balance and in recent years we've actually been running a deficit." When Representative Jack Lademan pressed for details, noting the ledger showed the program was about $53,000 short in the prior year, Thompson said ADH is covering the shortfall through internal cost-allocation across other programs. "As of right now, we think we're okay," Thompson said, adding that the department would notify the committee if that plan changes.

Lacey Kirchner, counsel for the Department of Labor and Licensing who was on the meeting roster for the related board, responded to a committee member’s question about fee changes by saying plainly, "No, ma'am. We have not had any fee increases." ADH staff also said the division processed three instances of automatic licensure for service members in the most recent full calendar year.

The committee accepted the ADH radiation-control licensing report as reviewed, with no formal objections recorded. The presentation did not include any staff recommendation to raise fees; ADH characterized the deficit as manageable within its current cost-allocation approach and pledged to return to the committee if circumstances change.