Lawmakers Take Action on Health Care Bills

The House Health Committee made changes to HB 177, the APRN scope of practice expansion bill, and adopted this latest version as the working document. It allows APRNs to practice independently after 12 months or 2,000 hours of practice in a clinical setting, whichever is longer. It also authorizes these APRNs to assess and clear concussed athletes in youth sports. The OOA continues to urge opposition to the bill. The physician-led, team-based approach to care is in the best interest of patients. 

Other bills heard this week in Committee included:

• HB 318 Regards sales of kratom products
  HB 323 Authorizes psychologists to prescribe drugs/therapeutic devices
• HB 408 Regards children’s crisis care facilities
• HB 418 Regards prescription drugs and medication switching
• HB 433 Requires Medicaid MCOs to engage in competitive selection for lab services

On Wednesday, the House approved HB 224 which allows nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to order drugs and direct other providers to administer them in certain instances, although it does not give them the authority to write outpatient prescriptions. The bill allows supervising physicians to opt out of the expanded authority for CRNAs if they believe it is in the best interest of the patient. The compromise bill passed 94-2 and now moves to Senate Committee.

The Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee met Thursday. The agenda included:

• SB 178 Regards podiatrist authority to administer flu vaccine
• SB 220 Designates Aortic Aneurysm Awareness Day
• SB 255 Permits long-term care resident to monitor room electronically
• SB 251 Requires child care providers complete infant safe sleep program
• SB 260 Regards abortion-inducing drugs
• HB 203 Specifies requirements for mobile dental facility operations

Additionally, the Senate Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee considered:

• SB 254 Regards mental health and substance use disorder benefit parity

ODH Classifies Coronavirus as Class A Disease

Last Friday, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) declared novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) an immediately reportable disease. By issuing a “Director’s Journal Entry,” ODH Director Amy Acton, MD, elevated the virus to a Class A disease as a proactive step to ensure appropriate reporting of suspected cases.

Classifying a disease as Class A means that confirmed or suspected cases of 2019-nCoV must be reported immediately to the local health district where the person lives (or the local health district where the person is being evaluated if the person’s residence is unknown or not in Ohio). Required reporters include physicians providing care, administrators in charge of hospitals, clinics or other institutions providing care or treatment, laboratory administrators, or any individual having knowledge of a person with nCoV.

The 2019-nCoV outbreak started in Wuhan, China, in December. Yesterday, the CDC announced that the first human-to-human transmission of the virus has occurred in the US.

New Database Informs Law Enforcement of Communication Disability

Individuals with a medically diagnosed communication disability are able to voluntarily enroll in a database to inform law enforcement of their challenge communicating. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles recently released a video explaining how to enroll in the database. 

As part of the enrollment process, physicians, psychiatrists and psychologists may be asked to complete the Communication Disability Verification Form for their patients. Although the patient may bring the form to their appointment, it is also available online.

AOBEM Launches Online OCC

The American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM) has launched online Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) for Component 3. The new OCC exam for AOBEM, called Continuous Osteopathic Recertification Examination (CORE), will be taken annually and replace the high stakes, 10 year examination. Physicians holding AOBEM certificates that expire in 2020 or beyond are eligible to participate in CORE. All new diplomates will enter directly into CORE upon successful completion of the initial certification process.

This marks the third AOA board to move OCC online, with several others planning to follow this year.

Visit the AOA Board Certification website to learn more about the CORE phase-in plan, eligibility requirements, and application process.

Membership Has Its Rewards!

Thank you to those who’ve paid their 2020-2021 dues. Invoices have been mailed, but you can also safely and conveniently renew online.

The OOA works on your behalf to advance the osteopathic profession. The OOA:

• Protects the value of your osteopathic medical degree through legislative advocacy and state agency engagement.
• Provides informational updates through OSTEOFACTS, Buckeye Osteopathic Physician, social media, and www.OhioDO.org.
• Provides resources for students to train in programs with Osteopathic Recognition.
• Maintains a job board for possible next steps.
• Provides discounts on professional liability insurance, legal counsel, vaccine purchases (and a free financial planning consultation).
• And so much more!

If we need to contact someone in your clinic or office directly to help with dues processing, please email Joanne Barnhart at jbarnhart@OhioDO.org.

Benefit yourself and the profession by renewing today!