09/30/2016

Amended Infant Mortality Bill Passes Senate

Chapter applauds action on infant mortality and supports amendment to remove “cultural competency” requirement

Senate Bill 332, introduced by Sens. Shannon Jones (R – Springboro) and Charleta Tavares (D – Columbus) has been amended and passed by the Ohio Senate by a vote of 29-1. The bill would implement many of the recommendations made by the Ohio Commission on Infant Mortality, which was created by the General Assembly in 2014.

As first introduced, SB 332 also contained a provision requiring all physicians to complete continuing education in cultural competency. While physicians support efforts to reduce Ohio’s unacceptable infant mortality rate, Ohio ACEP and other medical societies are against mandatory cultural competence training.

In response to these concerns, SB 332 was amended to instead require licensure boards (including the Ohio State Medical Board) to provide licensees with a list of optional continuing education opportunities for cultural competency.

Now that SB 332 has cleared the Senate, the bill’s next stop is the Ohio House. Legislators have indicated the bill is a priority for the upcoming lame duck session, so stay tuned to future editions of the Advocacy Update for the latest on SB 332’s progress.