08/26/2016

Infant Mortality Bill Includes Continuing Education Mandates

Chapter supports action on infant mortality, opposes required “cultural competency” training for physicians

In May, Sens. Shannon Jones (R – Springboro) and Charleta Tavares (D – Columbus) introduced legislation to address Ohio’s infant mortality rate. Senate Bill 332 would implement many of the recommendations made by the Ohio Commission on Infant Mortality, which was created by the General Assembly in 2014.

Included in SB 332 is a provision requiring all physicians to complete continuing education in cultural competency. While Ohio ACEP applauds legislators’ efforts to reduce Ohio’s unacceptably high infant mortality rate and supports measures that are proven to accomplish that goal, we are against mandatory cultural competency training for physicians.

In the past, Ohio ACEP has opposed legislation that would mandate training in cultural competency, including bills like Sen. Tavares’ Senate Bill 33, which was introduced in 2015.

Senators have indicated that SB 332 is a priority for the upcoming lame duck session. The bill is being considered by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Check future editions of the Advocacy Update for the latest on the legislation’s progress.