Record Number of Counties on Red Alert

Ohio’s coronavirus numbers continue to head in the wrong direction. Today, the state reached an all-time high of new cases: 2,518 in the past 24 hours. It’s the 10th time this month for the number of new daily cases to set a state record.

Per the Public Health Advisory System map released on Thursday, 38 counties currently have a very high risk of exposure and spread (Red Level 3), up from 29 counties last week. This is the highest number of Red Level 3 counties since the launch of the advisory system in July. It means 92.8% of Ohioans are living in a county that is Red Level 3 and/or high incidence. Only 1 percent of Ohioans live in a Yellow Level 1 county.

According to local health departments across the state, spread is primarily occurring during social and family gatherings.

Many counties are also seeing a sustained increase in hospitalizations. At Tuesday’s briefing Gov. Mike DeWine said hospitals across Ohio were treating 1,221 COVID-19 patients which is the most hospitalized patients at one time since the start of the pandemic. A total of 216 of these hospitalizations were reported in the past 24 hours which is the highest number of hospitalizations reported in a single day and more than 50 hospitalizations more than the previous high in mid-July. Ohio is also recording an increase in ICU admissions and ventilator utilization. 

Ohio Develops Draft Plan for COVID-19 Vaccine

As the state begins to build the framework for the next stage in combatting COVID-19, it released a four-phase plan to rollout a vaccine.

Per the draft document, the first doses will go to high-risk health care workers and first responders. The first phase also prioritizes patients in long-term care facilities and those at high risk for developing COVID-19 complications due to preexisting conditions.

The second phase includes distribution to health care workers and other essential workers who are at high risk for exposure. It includes teachers and school staff members; older Ohioans; residents with preexisting conditions; people living in group homes or homeless shelters; people in recovery for substance use; people with physical or mental disabilities; and inmates and staff in prisons, jails and detention centers. People of color, who have been disproportionately harmed by the virus, could also be prioritized during phase two.

The third phase includes young adults; children; and workers in unspecified industries that are critical to the functioning of society.

The fourth phase allows all Ohioans to be vaccinated.

The draft also includes a process for provider recruitment and enrollment. Ohio officials have said they are focused on immediate preparedness for:

• A statewide provider distribution framework following CDC advice on phased deployment of the vaccine.
• A Receipt, Storage, and Staging (RSS) warehouse for repackaging and redistributing vaccines to medium-sized and smaller providers across Ohio.
• Onboarding partners to the immunization provider registry, and reviewing progress with stakeholders and the public.

A webinar from the Governor’s Pandemic Response and Recovery Leadership Team includes preliminary information to become an Ohio COVID-19 vaccine provider. The first step is to log in to OHID, https://ohid.ohio.gov; click Sites & Applications tab and search for “Vaccination Program (COVID-19)” to request access.

Medical Board Adopts Rules

At its October meeting, the State Medical Board adopted the following sets of rules.  They have an effective date of October 31 and are available on the Board’s website.

Opioid Addiction Treatment

• 4731-33-01 Definitions
• 4731-33-02 Standards and procedures for withdrawal management for drug or alcohol addiction

Controlled Substance Prescribing

• 4731-11-01 Definitions
• 4731-11-14 Prescribing for subacute and chronic pain

Consult Agreements

• 4731-35-01 Consult agreements
• 4731-35-02 Standards for managing drug therapy

Before You Vote...

Have you voted yet? Be sure to check OOPAC’s state legislative candidate survey before you do. Candidates continue to submit their questionnaires. To date, 44 responses have been received. The website is continually updated.

OOPAC is OOA’s political arm and supports candidates committed to protecting patient care by ensuring physicians serve as the leader in a team approach to medicine. The PAC supports candidates who promote patient safety and quality care by guaranteeing health care providers treat within their scope of practice.

Northwestern Mutual is Your Financial Partner

It’s time-consuming—and can be overwhelming—to research and develop a financial plan for yourself and your family. This is true regardless of your asset size or net worth. But the OOA can help!

Your membership gets you a free comprehensive financial planning consultation with Northwestern Mutual. The market value of this planning exceeds $2,000.

Shawn Phelps and the team at Northwestern Mutual will work with you to understand your current circumstances and financial goals. Whether you’re looking to protect, grow or transfer wealth for the future, they can help build a strategy that is right for you.

Renew Your Medical License by December 1

Physicians with a Medical Board license set to expire between March 9, 2020, and November 30, 2020, were granted an extension because of the COVID-19 emergency. Those licenses will now expire December 1, 2020. There is no penalty for renewing early. However, late fees, fines and discipline can occur for missing the renewal deadline.

To find your renewal date or renew a license, log into eLicense.ohio.gov. Contact license@med.ohio.gov for questions or assistance during the renewal process.