NBOME Announces Alternative Pathways for 2020, 2021

The Special Commission on Osteopathic Medical Licensure Assessment reviewed and endorsed temporary pathways for the Class of 2021 and 2020 to be eligible for the COMLEX-USA Level 3. For these graduates, eligibility to take COMLEX-USA Level 3 will be based on an attestation of their fundamental clinical skills from Deans and Residency Program Directors as outlined below.

These temporary pathways have been approved by the NBOME Board of Directors.

Eligibility for the COMLEX-USA Level 3 can be earned by the following pathways:

Pathway 1: for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 who have taken and passed COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE (as for prior DO graduates):

• Passing both COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and Level 2-PE
• Graduation from an accredited college of osteopathic medicine (COM) with a DO degree as attested by the COM Dean
• Attestation by the Residency Program Director of an ACGME accredited program that you are in good academic and professional standing
• 6 months of GME completion prior to taking COMLEX-USA Level 3 (Recommendation ONLY)

Pathway 2: for the Class of 2021, who have never taken COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE:

• Passing COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE
• Attestation by COM Dean that you have graduated and have demonstrated the fundamental osteopathic clinical skills necessary for graduation
• Attestation by the Residency Program Director of an ACGME accredited program that you are in good academic and professional standing
• 6 months of GME completion prior to taking COMLEX-USA Level 3 (Recommendation ONLY)
• There is no requirement to travel to take COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE and there is no fee

Pathway 3: for the Classes of 2020 and 2021, who have unsuccessfully attempted (failed) COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE:

• Passing COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE
• Attestation by COM Dean that you have graduated and have demonstrated the fundamental osteopathic clinical skills necessary for graduation
• Attestation by the Program Director of an ACGME accredited program that you are in good academic and professional standing
• 6 months of GME completion prior to taking COMLEX-USA Level 3 (Required)
• There is no requirement to travel to take COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE and there is no fee

For complete details, see the NBOME website.

March COVID-19 Vaccinations Increased 94% in Ohio

During the month of March more than 1.6 million Ohioans received a vaccine as eligibility gradually opened to everyone 16 and older. It was an increase of 94% from the more than 840,000 vaccinations received in February.

In Franklin County, Ohio’s largest county, the percentage increase was even greater, up 130% from 78,000 vaccinations in February to 180,000 vaccinations in March.

The significant increase was expected as the number of doses of vaccine increased, as well as expanded eligibility. In February, COVID-19 vaccinations were limited to those 65 and older, K-12 teachers and staff, health care workers, and those with early childhood conditions that are carried into adulthood. Everyone 16 and older became eligible in the last week of March.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced yesterday that as Ohio continues to receive increases in its vaccine allotment, the state will allot more doses to areas that are seeing case spikes or increases in demand. Ohio will begin working with employers and other organizations to offer workplace vaccination clinics. Beginning the week of April 12, vaccine providers can earmark up to 25 percent of their vaccine allocation to vaccinate their own employees or to partner with local employers, labor unions, and other organizations to vaccinate their employees at their work locations. The state issued guidance for providers.

In addition, DeWine announced the state will begin working with local colleges and universities to offer vaccination clinics on campuses across the state. These higher-education vaccination clinics will start on various campuses next week and will offer the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The goal is to offer on-campus clinics to all of Ohio’s college students before the academic year ends in May.

“Although young people are less likely to get sick from the coronavirus, they are significant carriers of the virus,” DeWine said. “By offering one-dose clinics on campus, students who wish to be vaccinated will have a nearby, convenient location to get the vaccine with their peers.”

As of this afternoon, 17.76% of Ohioans have completed their vaccine.

Increase in Cases, Variant Spread

Ohio’s statewide average had been just under 150 cases per 100,000 population. The two-week case rate has now risen to 167.1 cases per 100,000. New cases had been relatively flat through the month of March, but cases are beginning to increase once again.

According to Ohio Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, variant activity continues to rise, closely mirroring what is occurring in the rest of the nation. Michigan is currently experiencing an increase in cases that is more than 3.5 times what Ohio is seeing, and according to the CDC, this increase appears to be driven substantially by variants. Most of Ohio’s rising cases numbers and variant cases are happening in the area of the state bordering Michigan.

Gov. Mike DeWine has said he worries Ohio’s rising numbers could foreshadow another surge as the state races to get vaccines into more arms.

New health data compiled by ODH shows case increases in 56 counties over the past week, however, because there are not yet significant increases in health care utilization at the county level, most counties stayed at the same level this week on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System map.

Level changes on the 1/Yellow-2/Orange-3/Red-4/Purple scale include:

• Van Wert County moved from yellow to orange.
• Auglaize, Paulding and Scioto moved from red to orange.
• Carroll, Mercer, and Morgan counties moved from orange to yellow.
• Clinton County dropped from red to yellow.

Take a Short Health Tech Survey! 

Inform our efforts by answering a handful of questions related to some of your favorite acronyms like EHR, HIE, and RPM. Your willingness to share info related to your patient care benefits the OOA immensely.

Worth noting, the survey will also help gauge our response to proposed legislation that requires e-prescribing for all Schedule II drugs except in certain emergency situations. Sponsors of the bill say the legislation, HB 193, is meant to address the ongoing concerns of the state’s opioid crisis by reducing situations where individuals try to obtain Schedule II drugs from pharmacies with stolen or fraudulent prescriptions.

Please take the NEW survey right away. 

Insurance Department Solicits Comments on Surprise Billing Law

Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB 388 regarding surprise medical billing into law in January. This new law creates a multi-step process for negotiating out-of-network payments and prohibits balance billing. The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) is responsible for administering and enforcing many provisions of this law beginning in January 2022.

ODI is currently soliciting feedback for implementing the new law. Six general areas have been identified that will need addressed in rulemaking. At this time, Ohioans are invited to provide comments regarding these areas. There will be additional opportunities to provide input later in the process through formal public comment periods.

Beware! SMBO News

Physicians are receiving an email, from an entity called SurveyClub with the subject line “NEW Important survey for MDs/DOs!” The email address is customercare@surveyclubmail.com. The message is written to suggest the State Medical Board of Ohio endorses the survey; the SMBO does not.

It appears this vendor is using the public contact information from the SMBO website.

In other news, SMBO released a rule package yesterday. These rules are being posted for a third public comment period after receiving comments from the November 19, 2020, public comment period. The Ohio Department of Health and the Radiation-Generating Equipment Committee reviewed the public comments at a public meeting on February 12, 2021, and made revisions.

Comments may be submitted on this rule package electronically until 4/15/2021 12:00:00 AM. Submit comments here.

Package Title
3701:1-67-04, 3701:1-67-12
External Beam Radiation Therapy Equipment

Rule Numbers
3701:1-67-04 Quality management program
3701:1-67-12 Notification of medical events

For more information, click here.

Happy Osteopathic Medicine Month!

April is Osteopathic Medicine Recognition Month in Ohio. In 2016, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed HB 352 to honor the “significant contributions made by the osteopathic field of medicine to improve the health of Ohioans.” The legislation was written by then State Rep. Terry Johnson, DO, now a state senator.

Celebrate the month by attending the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium, April 23-25, and earning 21.5 hours of AOA Category 1-A credit, learning the latest in the art and science of patient care, and enjoying camaraderie with your fellow DOs. Register at www.OhioDO.org/cme.

Support the Profession and Enhance Your Wine Skills

The grapes may be old, but DOs of any age can enjoy this event! The Ohio Osteopathic Foundation cordially invites you to an exciting evening of osteopathic fellowship and wonderful wine during its inaugural virtual wine tasting!

You’ll choose three wines, receive full bottles from Debonne Vineyards, and then log on to Zoom May 13, 7 pm, to learn about your selections and have some fun.

Tickets cost $100. Proceeds benefit the osteopathic family through the OOF. Registration and details are here.