October 2026—Washington Update is a monthly publication by RSNA Government Relations, intended to deliver updates regarding current federal policy developments and to highlight RSNA’s initiatives to advance the Society’s policy objectives. All material featured in this newsletter reflects the most current information available at the time of release.
Please note: There will be no November edition of Washington Update due to the RSNA 2026 annual meeting. The RSNA Washington Update will resume with its final edition of 2026 in mid-December. See you in Chicago!
RSNA submitted comments to the FDA in response to the agency’s request for feedback on a discussion paper examining regulatory considerations for generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) enabled medical devices. The FDA is seeking stakeholder input on risk assessment, premarket evaluation, postmarket monitoring and other regulatory issues raised by GenAI technologies, which may present risks distinct from traditional software and AI-enabled devices. Read RSNA’s comments.
In its comments, RSNA supports a nimble, risk-based, total product lifecycle approach while emphasizing that patient safety must remain central as GenAI systems become more capable and autonomous. RSNA calls for rigorous clinical validation, meaningful transparency and traceability, continuous real-world monitoring, strong controls for device and foundation-model changes, and clear manufacturer accountability. The Society also urges the FDA to evaluate the full clinical AI system, including how technology interacts with clinicians and workflows, and to support scalable monitoring approaches that can be adopted across healthcare settings.
As part of ongoing efforts to elevate RSNA’s voice and presence in federal policy discussions, RSNA Government Relations staff participated in two national forums focused on the future of biomedical research, innovation and medical technology.
On Sept. 23, staff attended Research!America’s 2026 National Health Research Forum, bringing together federal officials and leaders from academia, patient advocacy, industry, philanthropy and the media to discuss issues affecting the future of science and medical progress. This year’s program included discussions of U.S. leadership in research and clinical innovation and the debut of Research!America’s latest report examining U.S. medical and health's investment in research and development.
RSNA staff also attended the NIST/NIBIB Symposium on Medical Metrology and Standards for American Healthcare and Commerce. Convened by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), the symposium focused on medical imaging, medical devices and diagnostics and explored which measurements and consensus standards should be prioritized to support the future of U.S. healthcare. The meeting brought together representatives from clinical medicine, medical professional societies, industry and government, with the goal of informing a national roadmap for medical metrology and standards.
RSNA’s participation in forums like these is an important component of the Society’s broader effort to build relationships and ensure that the perspectives of radiologists and the medical imaging community are represented in conversations shaping federal research and innovation policy.
With the Nov. 3 midterm elections next week, control of Congress is up for grabs, with potentially significant implications for healthcare and medical research policy. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers, but recent election models, and historical precedent, favor Democrats to capture the House, with a much closer contest deciding control of the Senate. Public opinion polling is always complex, but this forecast, updated Oct. 22, gives Democrats an 85% chance of winning the House and a 56% chance of taking the Senate, underscoring how uncertain the balance of power remains.
A change in control of the House and/or Senate would reshape the leadership and agendas of committees with jurisdiction over many of RSNA’s policy priorities. The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee has jurisdiction over NIH, health information technology and FDA-related issues, while the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) plays a central role in health policy and technology. Appropriations leadership will also matter for federal investment in medical imaging research: the Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee, which handles health-related funding, is currently led by Republicans, with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as chair and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) as ranking member. Whatever the outcome, the next Congress will confront major questions impacting radiology, federal support for biomedical research, oversight of AI and medical devices and broader healthcare affordability and access. Outside analysts expect the election results to influence not only legislative priorities, but also the intensity of congressional oversight and which health issues receive committee attention.
The 120th Congress, beginning in January 2027, will reshape the advocacy landscape through new congressional leadership, committee agendas and opportunities for engagement. RSNA will navigate this changing environment while remaining steadfast in its policy priorities and commitment to advancing medical imaging, scientific discovery and patient care.
Federal AI policy is entering a pivotal phase as Congress weighs new legislation, the Trump Administration advances an innovation-first agenda and voters press for stronger safeguards.
Congress has yet to unite around a comprehensive AI framework, but bipartisan bills that have been introduced signal areas of momentum. The American Leadership in AI Act (H.R. 8516) addresses standards, testing, research, governance and security—including GenAI in healthcare—while the FRONTIER Act (H.R. 9925) would establish oversight requirements for developers of certain frontier AI models.
The Administration continues to favor rapid AI development, industry collaboration and voluntary safeguards over broad federal regulation. Meanwhile, debate is widening to include AI’s effects on privacy, consumers and communities, especially the energy, water and infrastructure demands of the data centers needed to support AI systems.
Public concern is adding pressure: a Reuters/Ipsos survey reported that 80% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans support stricter AI regulation, while 56% favor limits on new data-center construction.
The Nov. 3 elections could reset the debate. If Republicans retain control of Congress, they would likely preserve an innovation-oriented approach with targeted safeguards. Should Democrats capture control of one of both chambers, this could bring action on a comprehensive federal AI policy framework, although intraparty divisions make the path uncertain.
Whatever the outcome in November, policymakers’ interest and focus on AI continues to grow and federal decisions on innovation, safety and oversight will carry significant implications for healthcare. RSNA will continue to engage with our partners on AI policy issues while seeking to elevate the voice and expertise of radiology in these debates.
The Trump Administration has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT), a program that allows F-1 students to obtain work experience related to their field of study. The Department of Homeland Security says the proposal is intended to combat fraud and abuse, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect U.S. workers from competition with international workers. The proposal has generated considerable concern within the scientific and higher-education communities. According to STAT, international scholars account for roughly one-quarter of life sciences Ph.D. graduates and 60% of postdoctoral researchers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies used in coronary CT angiography (CCTA) are starting to receive improved reimbursement, with fractional flow reserve derived from CT (FFR-CT) and AI-based plaque analysis securing Category I CPT codes. However, demonstrating clinical utility, generating evidence and establishing the value of physician work remains critical to expand reimbursement for AI across imaging.
Rick Abramson, MD, director of the FDA’s Digital Health Center of Excellence, recently spoke during a panel held in Boston by industry lobbying group AdvaMed. The Harvard-trained radiologist said the agency may depart from how it currently regulates AI software when evaluating these new advanced gen-AI models, which can create content in response to prompts. In his new role at the FDA, which started in February, Abramson is wrestling with how to handle regulating AI that behaves more like a human, according to a recap of the panel published by MedCity News. The discussion comes after the FDA also recently asked the public for feedback on how to evaluate gen AI products before they hit the market.
