11/27/2015

Medical Board Moves Forward With “One-Bite” Revisions

Physicians’ groups are concerned about proposal’s effect on physicians needing mental health and substance abuse treatment

The State Medical Board of Ohio recently released its preliminary draft legislation to eliminate Ohio’s one-bite rule. Under the one-bite program, physicians with mental health or substance abuse issues may voluntarily seek treatment without notifying the State Medical Board.

The proposed legislation would replace one-bite with a “First Occurrence Recovery Program,” which would require all physicians seeking treatment to report this information to the Medical Board. The draft bill’s proposed language also changes the treatment requirements that are currently required and would modify the number of Medical Board-approved treatment providers.

Ohio ACEP is concerned by the legislation and its potential for discouraging physicians to seek help for mental health and substance abuse problems. The Chapter has participated with a coalition of nine physicians’ organizations advocating on this issue under the umbrella of the Medical Association Coalition.

Another meeting of the Coalition is being scheduled to prepare a formal response to the draft legislation. Stay tuned for developments in future issues of the Advocacy Update!