Ohio Senate Begins Hearings on State Budget

The Ohio Senate began hearings this week (April 23) for its version of the state budget, after receiving a House-passed blueprint that stripped Medicaid expansion from Gov. John Kasich’s original proposal. The Governor's office expressed optimism that lawmakers may still consider Medicaid expansion.

State Group Resumes Work On Opiate Guidelines

The current recommendations have a “trigger” for any chronic, non-terminal pain patient who has received 80 mg or more of morphine equivalent daily dose (MED) over the past 90 days, as determined through the OARRS database. By agreeing to issue guidelines rather than rules, the Kasich Administration is also challenging the provider community to make a positive change in opiate prescription overuse and abuse within a year.

Medicaid Primary Care Incentives Delayed

mplementation of an Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision to increase payments to primary care physicians who treat Medicaid patients continues to be delayed. The program slated to take effect Jan. 1, 2013 will increase Medicaid payments to primary care physicians to the same level that Medicare pays for these same services.

HPIO Releases New Fact Sheet on Medicaid Expansion

The Ohio Medicaid Expansion Study, a partnership between the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, the Ohio State University, Regional Economic Models, Inc. and the Urban Institute, has released a new fact sheet examining the impact of not expanding Medicaid in Ohio

Ohio Supreme Court Rules on the State's Apology Statute

The Ohio Supreme Court of Ohio ruled in a 7-0 decision today (April 23) that an expression of sympathy by a physician to a patient regarding an unanticipated medical outcome may not be admitted as evidence of liability in any medical malpractice lawsuit initiated after September 13, 2004 the effective date of legislation prohibiting such evidence.

ACOFP Congress OKs Strategic Plan

The ACOFP Congress of Delegates approved the 2013-2016 Strategic Plan of the ACOFP during its annual convention on March 21 in Las Vegas

Two Ohioans Receive Fellow Designations

The Ohio ACOFP congratulates Ohio ACOFP President Douglas W. Harley, DO, FACOFP, of Akron, and J. Todd Weihl, DO, FACOFP, of Columbus, on receiving this honor.

Ohio Receives "D" for Healthcare Cost Transparency

Overall, the report, released by Catalyst for Payment Reform and the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute, gives 29 states an “F” and seven a “D.” Only two states – Massachussetts and New Hampshire received an “A.”

New Report Ranks the Health Of Ohio's Counties

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released its annual county health rankings,, March 19. The report rates the health of nearly every county in the nation and shows that much of what affects health occurs outside of the physician’s office.

AOA Urges Support of HR 1201

Reps. Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) recently introduced the "Training Tomorrow's Doctors Today" (HR 1201). Urge your Congressional Representative to support the bill.

ATSU-SOM To Place FP Residents in Ohio

The A.T. Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona has received a $4 million grant to launch a multi-state primary care residency program, with one site in Milford, Ohio.

Insurance Department Issues PLI Claims Report

A total of 3,094 Ohio medical professional liability claims were closed in 2011, according to data collected by the Ohio Department of Insurance and released, March 1, in it's seventh annual closed claim report. Malpractice claims have steadily decreased from approximately 5,000 in 2005 to 3,000 in each of the last four years.

Medicare Fee Cuts to Hit Physicians, April 2

CMS rnotified Medicare Administrative Contractors today (Friday, March 8) that the failure of Congress to act on sequestration will result in a two percent fee cut to Medicare providers, effective April 1, 2013.

Kasich Urges Lawmakers to Expand Ohio Medicaid

The Governor's two-year budget proposes to extend Medicaid coverage to adults making $15,415 or less per year (138 percent of poverty). Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government will pay 100 percent of this cost for three years, decreasing to 90 percent in 2020 and beyond.

Ohio Receives Federal Grant to Accelerate PCMH Development and Payment Reform

Ohio is of 16 states to receive a SIM grant and will use the money to develop a comprehensive plan to expand the use of patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) and episode-based payments for acute medical events.

ODH Posts Concussion Education Tools on Line

The web site contains valuable resources for players, parents, coaches, referees, and physicians. In addition to materials specifically required HB 143, the site also contains a list of frequently asked questions, fact sheets for coaches and parents, and CDC diagnosis and management educational articles for physicians. Click here to visit the web site: www.healthyohioprogram.org/concussion .

OOA Board Nominates Juhasz For AOA President-Elect

Robert S. Juhasz, DO, a past president of the OOA and currently a member of the American Osteopathic Association's Board of Trustees, has been nominated by the OOA for the position of AOA President-Elecct.

Health Department Issues Comprehensive Injury Report

The report uses multiple data sources such as death certificates, hospital data, behavioral risk factor surveillance, and CDC cost estimates to provide a comprehensive picture.

Final HIPAA Rule Enhances Patient Privacy Protection

The rule greatly enhances a patient’s privacy protections, provides individuals new rights to their health information, and strengthens the government’s ability to enforce the law.

Ohio To Decide On Medicaid Expansion

Ohio’s decision on whether to expand eligibility for the program is expected to come as part of the biennium budget process. The Health Policy Institute of Ohio's latest publication, "Policy Considerations for Medicaid Expansion in Ohio" discusses costs and benefits.

State Loan Repayment App Deadline Is Feb. 1

The 2013 application cycle for the Ohio Physician Loan Repayment Program (OPLRP) is open, and the original deadline has been extended to February 1. OPLRP is designed to recruit or retain primary care physicians within underserved areas.

Act Now For Increased Medicaid Reimbursement

You MUST self-attest through MITS by January 19, 2013, to receive reimbursement retrospectively to January 1. After January 19, reimbursement will begin as of the date you attest online.

Medicaid Updates Flouride Varnish Code

Ohio Medicaid has changed the CDP Code for coverage of the topical application of fluoride to D1208 as part of the annual update for HCPCS (HCFA Common Procedure Coding System). The change is effective for dates of service on and after January 1, 2013.

Osteopathic Continuous Certification Starts Jan 1

The American Osteopathic Association's Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS) has mandated that each specialty certifying board implement Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC). OCC will serve as a way in which board-certified DOs can maintain currency and demonstrate competency in their specialty area. The only change to the current osteopathic recertification process is the addition of a Practice Performance Assessment.

Taxpayer Relief Act Averts Medicare Fee Cuts

The new law includes a physician fee update fix through December 2013 and extends some Medicare fee-for -service policies.

Physician Groups Urge Congress To Save Primary Care Bonus

The ACOFP, the Ohio ACOFP and more 150 national and regional physician associations this week sent a letter to all House and Senate offices urging them to not to eliminate the Medicaid Primary Care Incentive bonus in order to pay for a Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) fix.

Ohio Declines To Operate An Insurance Exchange, But May Change Its Mind

Governor John Kasich has informed the federal government that Ohio will not operate its own health insurance exchange at the present time but reserves the right to change his mind if more details become available.

Ohio Seeks Grant to Expand Medicaid PCMH Models

The State of Ohio has applied for a federal State Innovation Model (SIM) grant to improve the overall health system performance by engaging public and private payers in statewide implementation of patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) and episode based payment models.

OOA Files Another Amicus Brief Regarding Medical Costs

The OOA, Ohio Hospital Association, Ohio State Medical Association, and Ohio Alliance for Civil Justice filed an amicus brief, November 2, in the Ohio Supreme Court appeal of Moretz v. Muakassa.

OOA Supports Unified Accreditation Program for GME

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), have entered into an agreement to pursue a single, unified accreditation system for graduate medical education programs in the United States beginning in July 2015.

Election Results in Few Changes at the Statehouse

Last week’s elections resulted in few changes in the Ohio General Assembly, with Republicans retaining control of the House of Representatives and Senate.The legislature will be in lame duck session for several weeks, wrapping up any unfinished business before it adjourns permanently in mid-December.

Medical Board Names Interim CEO; Suspends MOL Pilot

The State Medical Board of Ohio (OSMB) voted to suspend further participation in a Maintenance of Licensure pilot project with the Federation of State Medical Boards. A interim Executive Director has also been named to replace Richard A. Whitehouse, who resigned in October.

Stakeholders Find Acceptable Language for HB 143

OOA Board Member Jennifer J. Hauler, DO, of Dayton, participated in the discussions along with Jason P. Dapore, DO, of Columbus, who is the physician member of the Athletic Trainers Section of the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board.

Oct. 14-20 Is Ohio Advance Directives Week

Governor Kasich has proclaimed Oct 14 - 20, 2012, Ohio Advance Directive Week. Use the occasion to encourage your patients to use our free on-line resources to complete a living will and power of attorney for health care.

ACOFP VP Among Leaders Visiting White House

The group met with Advisor to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Nancy Ann DeParle, Director of the Office of Health Reform of Health and Human Services (HHS) Mike Hash, and Administrator of Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Mary Wakefield.

AACOM Endorses Legislation To Increase GME Slots

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) has endorsed legislation recently introduced by U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley (D-NY) to address the nation’s physician workforce shortage by creating 15,000 new graduate medical education (GME) slots.

HPIO Launches Presidential Election Resource Page

The page on the Health policy Institute of Ohio's web site includes links to the health platforms of both candidates, as well as select media coverage of health issues and analysis of the candidates' positions. In addition, because Medicare has become a central focus of both campaigns, there also is a section with resources related specifically to the federal program.

ACOFP Students Support Heart to Heart

The Student Association of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (SAACOFP) is always looking for ways to help those in need. Each year, students select a major project that their 10,000 members at 32 campuses can do to help improve health.

Medical Board Updates Its Telemedicine Rule

The interpretative guideline applies solely to cases that involve prescribing or personally furnishing non-controlled substances and recognizes that with advances in medical technology it may be possible for the personal and physical examination to occur through the use of the internet or other forms of telecommunication when the provider and patient are in remote locations.

DO Student Enrollment Continues Upward Growth

With more than 5,800 first-year students expected to enter one of the nation’s COMs this year, more than 20 percent of the nation’s medical students will be studying to become osteopathic physicians.

Ohio's Military Families Need You!

With just a few simple steps, you can become a TRICARE provider. Do your part to serve our country by supporting the health care needs of service members and their families. TRICARE covers a wide range of health care benefits for our active duty heroes, veterans, retirees and their families that you can help us deliver.

Ohio Selects Five Health Plans To Manage Dual Eligibles

According to the OHT, the Integrated Care Delivery System (ICDS) is designed to manage the full spectrum of Medicare and Medicaid benefitis for the dual eligible population. The ICDS will also identify and incentivize new techniques for the improvement of care.

HHS Releases Stage 2 Meaningful Use Final Rules

Ohio is currently fourth in the nation for Medicaid MU payouts and seventh nationally for Medicare payouts. A total of 6,241 eligible Ohio providers and hospitals have received $268 million in Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Payments!

ClinicSync Releases E-Prescribing Report

CliniSync (the Ohio Health Information Partnership) has released a new report about the status of e-prescribing in Ohio, along with recommendations for improving accuracy and facilitating e-prescribing of controlled substances.

Judge Dismisses Aetna's Medicaid Contract Challenge

A lawsuit filed by Aetna Better Health, Inc. over the Ohio Department of Job and Family Service’s (ODJFS) Medicaid managed care contract award process was dismissed last week by Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Robert Sheward.

CMS Pilot Project Includes Ohio DO Practices

Under the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative, CMS will pay these practices a care management fee, initially set at an average of $20 per beneficiary per month, to support enhanced, coordinated services on behalf of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. Simultaneously, participating insurance plans -- which include Ohio Medicaid, commercial health plans, and self-insured businesses -- are also offering enhanced payment.

Physician Associations Caution Against Prescribing Rules

The OOA and six other physician organizations sent a joint letter to the Governor’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team (GCOAT), August 9, strongly encouraging GCOAT “to proceed very cautiously with any additional regulatory solutions imposing opioid prescribing restrictions until the impact of current accomplishments can be evaluated and an aggressive professional and public educational program is in place.”

Health Department Releases BMI Report

“We have been partnering with schools for many years to get high-quality surveillance data that give us a statewide snapshot of the health of our children, said Andrew Wapner, DO, chronic disease medical director at the ODH. “Hopefully, these partnerships will continue so schools have the information they need to help create healthy environments to help their students succeed academically.”

Court Overturns Medicaid Provider Contributions Ban

The Ohio Osteopathic Association, Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, and the Ohio State Medical Association joined together in filing an amicus brief suporting the position of the plaintiff physicians. Although the opinion does not expressly mention the amici in its brief, attorneys involved in the case believe the associations' support helped illustrate to the justices just how overbroad the law’s effect was.

AACOM Endorses GME Reform Act

The “Resident Physician Shortage Reduction and Graduate Medical Education Accountability Act” would create 15,000 new graduate medical education (GME) slots – 3,000 per year for five years. While the bill creates two methods to apply for the slots, each hospital would be restricted to a maximum of 75 additional slots. Hospital eligibility would be determined annually by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

OOA Files Amicus Brief to Support "I'm Sorry Statute"

The OOA joined the Ohio Hospital Association and Ohio State Medical Association, July 30, to file another amicus brief in the Ohio Supreme to support RC 2317.43, which is commonly referred to as the “I’m Sorry Statute.”

OU-HCOM Holds Its 37th Annual Convocation

OOA President John F. Ramey, DO, and AOA Trustee Robert S. Juhasz, DO, welcomed 139 new students to the Ohio University on behalf of the state and national osteopathic associations during OU-HCOM’s 37th Convocation. The college also awarded two Phillips Medals of Public Service and presented white coats to the incoming class, thanks to the generosity of the Ohio Osteopathic Foundation

Medicare Conversion to 5010 Format Set for August 1

Effective August 1, 2012, the Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) program will automatically convert electronic remittance advice to the X12 Version 5010 format, If your office has not yet converted from the 4010A1 computer software, your staff may not be able to open and review payments, adjustments, and denials or post payments to patient accounts. When experiencing problems, contact your vendor, clearinghouse, or billing service and experience problems with the new format, you MUST contact your vendor or service first before contacting CGS Medicare.

Ohio Medicaid To Become Separate State Agency

The Kasich Administration is planning to separate Ohio Medicaid as a division of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) into a separate state agency, effective July 1, 2014, as part of its plan to improve performance of Ohio's $18, billion Medicaid Program.

AOA/SOMA Student Poster Deadline Is August 1

The deadline for submitting research abstracts for the 26th Annual National Research Symposium Poster Contest is August 1st. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to win awards and be published in the January 2013 Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA)!

New England COM Assistant Dean to Head OU-HCOM

Kenneth H. Johnson, DO, has been named dean of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine effective August 20. Johnson was selected to lead the Heritage College during the course of a national search.

HPIO Discusses Healthcare Ruling's Impact on Ohio

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released a new publication titled “The Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act: A review of the decision and its impact on Ohio” (pdf, 8 pages).

CMS Rule Would Increase FP Payments Seven Percent

CMS issued a proposed rule, July 6, that would increase payments to family physicians by approximately seven percent and other practitioners providing primary care services between 3 and 5 percent. The rule also proposes changes to two quality reporting programs that are associated with the MPFS – the PQRS and the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program – as well as the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Pilot Program which promotes the use of health information technology.

Ohio Medical Home Projects Surge Forward

The Patient Centered Medical Home initiative continues to develop momentum in Ohio as the Department of Health has contracted with TransforMED to help fifty physician practices transform their practices into PCMHs; the Ohio Board of Regents is currently appointing a selection committee to award 50 primary care scholarships to students attending Ohio's seven medical schools, while the CMS Center for Innovation and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is recruiting practices for care coordination projects under Medicaid and Medicare.

Ohio to Receive $40 Million from GSK Fraud Settlement

Ohio Medicaid will receive $40.2 million in recoveries from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), as the federal government, Ohio and other states have reached an agreement in principle for the largest health care fraud settlement in US history.

ACOFP Responds to Supreme Court ACA Decision

The ACOFP has issued a position statement in response to the Supreme Court decision,upholding the Accountable Care Act. Read the statement here.

US Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Reform Law

AOA and AACOM Issue Statements

By a vote of 5-4, the United States Supreme Court, today, upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) including the individual mandate, which was considered the most controversial aspect of the bill.

Aetna Protests Medicaid Contracting Process; Gets Court Restraining Order

The Fraklin County Common Please Court has granted Aetna Better Health Inc. a temporary restraining order, halting Ohio Medicaid from moving forward with its managed care contracting program until the insurer has an opportunity to protest the agency's decision to cancel its previous contract.

ACOFP Fellow Applications Due September 1, 2012

The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians is now accepting applications for the 2013 ACOFP Fellows Award. The award is designed to recognize individual members who have contributed outstandingly through teaching, authorship, research, or professional leadership, either state or national, to the stated purposes of the ACOFP.

New Primary Care Resources Now Available

Learn how innovations being made in practices across the country are improving quality of care and decreasing physician burnout.

Primary Care Progress Interviews Rick Snow, DO, About Medical Homes

Richard J. Snow, DO, of Columbus, who is leading the curriculum reform effort under Ohio's Patient-Centered Medical Home Education Pilot Project, was interviewed about his work by Primary Care Progress. Click here to see the interview: http://primarycareprogress.org/blogs/16/141.

Ohio House Recognizes Darren Sommer, DO

State Rep. Terry A. Johnson, DO, recognized Darren J. Sommer, DO, on the floor of the Ohio House of Representatives, May 23, for his role in promoting telemedical diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in military service members and veterans.

Contact Congress to Restore OTC Medications

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (PL 111-148) established new requirements that any patient wishing to purchase OTC medications and other health care products, using their FSA or HSA, must first obtain a prescription from their physician. The “Restoring Access to Medication Act” corrects this impediment to health care and consumer choice and, as a result, improves the quality and efficiency of health care.

Cleveland Clinic To Open OU-HCOM Campus

$49.1 Million Investment to Focus on Primary Care

Cleveland Clinic, Ohio University and its Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM) have signed an affiliation agreement to develop a Northeast Ohio regional OU-HCOM extension campus to be located at Cleveland Clinic’s South Pointe Hospital campus in Warrensville Heights. Through this affiliation, the partners are addressing the growing shortage of primary care physicians in Ohio and investing a combined $49.1 million into Northeast Ohio.

Dr. Martin Attends White House Meeting

ACOFP President Paul A. Martin, DO, of Dayton, Ohio, accompanied AOA President Martin S. Levine, DO, and AOA President-Elect Ray E. Stower, DO, to a town hall meeting at the White House, June 6.

Molina, Buckeye Back In As Medicaid MCO Finalists

Ohio Medicaid has dropped potential managed care contracts with Aetna Better Health of Ohio and the Meridian Health Plan of Ohio and selected Molina Healthcare and Buckeye Community Health Plan instead under a proposed reorganization of Ohio’s Medicaid managed care program, effective January 2014.

Questions About "Meaningful Use"?

Call the Partnership Hotline

Someone from The Partnership is available to take calls to the 1-866-955-8971 hotline from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The full list of topics for the hotline is: Medicaid meaningful use, registration, timing of payments, clinical quality measures, and adopt, implement, upgrade.

E-Prescribe Before June 30 to Avoid Medicare Penalty

Physicians must submit ten electronic prescriptions by June 30, 2012, to avoid a 1.5 percent penalty on Medicare Part B allowed charges in 2013. For complete information, educational resources and answers to frequently asked questions visit the CMS Web Site.

Rep. Terry Johnson, DO, Receives Military Honor

State Representative Terry A. Johnson, DO, was once again in the spotlight as he received the Legion Merit of Honor, May 22, from State Representative Danny Bupt and Ohio Adjutant General Deborah Ashenhurst during a session of the Ohio House of Representatives.