Legislative Update

The OOA offered proponent testimony for HB 159 in the House Health Committee this week. The bill would prohibit sun lamp tanning services for minors. The testimony noted the legislation prioritizes preventive care with benefits that can last a lifetime and effective prevention provides not only improved health outcomes but also equates to reduced cost in the health care system. 

The Ohio Senate approved legislation this week to allow residents in long-term care facilities to maintain monitoring devices in their rooms. SB 58, passed unanimously, spells out who can legally authorize and install electronic monitoring devices and view captured images. It also permits long-term care facilities to develop and prescribe a form for anyone who has installed a camera in a room.

New Health Order Released, Cases Continue to Decline

On Monday, the Ohio Department of Health officially amended its remaining health order to conform to the new CDC guidance, which allows those who have been vaccinated to stop wearing masks. Under the CDC's new guidance, those who have not been vaccinated should still wear a mask and socially distance.

Ohio’s order reflects the CDC’s recommendation that everyone wear masks when in a health care setting, when traveling on public transportation (including airplanes), and when at a business or employer that chooses to require masks. The CDC recommendations make clear that businesses will be able to choose for themselves whether they continue to require masks in their premises. If a business chooses to require masking for employees and customers, that is permitted under the CDC guidance and Ohio's order. If a business chooses not to require masks and leave that choice to customers and employees, that is also permitted in the CDC guidance and Ohio’s order.

As advised by the CDC, Ohio’s order also continues to require masking in congregate settings, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and in settings with large numbers of unvaccinated individuals, such as schools and daycare centers.

The COVID-19 case rate continues to drop, with much of the state at orange, the second-lowest level, on the state’s coronavirus heat map. This week, the reported incidence rate is 97.1 per 100,000 people, down from 119.9 last week. It is below the CDC’s threshold for high incidence of 100 cases per 100,000 people.

The Public Health Advisory System map, released yesterday, includes 14 counties at Level 1/Yellow; 57 counties at Level 2/Orange; and 17 counties at Level 3/Red. There are no counties listed as Level 4/Purple. A county stays at Level 3/Red until it drops below the high incidence threshold of more than 100 cases per 100,000 over a two-week period.

According to this week’s ICU map, the statewide average for the percentage of Ohio’s ICU patients who were COVID-positive was 7.7%, down from 9.1% last week. The data is based on the state’s eight hospital preparedness regions.

Ohio Sees Surge in Vaccinations

According to the Ohio Department of Health, days after Gov. Mike DeWine announced the Vax-A-Million and college scholarship drawings for vaccinated Ohioans, the state saw a surge in vaccinations. Based on preliminary data, ODH said the recent period showed a 53% week-to-week increase (May 13 to 18) with more than 113,000 Ohioans receiving their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines compared to the time period before the announcement, where 74,000 people received their first dose (May 6 to 11).

In addition, each day between Thursday, May 13, and Monday, May 17, shows a higher number of vaccinations than the same day the previous week. Several of those mark the highest in multiple consecutive weeks, including:

Friday, May 14: Highest Friday in four weeks.
Sunday, May 16: Highest Sunday in four weeks.
Monday, May 17: Highest Monday in four weeks.

The increase in vaccinations is across all ages, except those 80 and older. ODH Director Stephanie McCloud noted that demographic is already highly vaccinated. “Although the rate among that group is decreasing, it is doing so at a less rapid pace, demonstrating some positive impact even in that group,” she said.

The recent addition of those age 12-15 accounts for 37,771 first doses administered since last Thursday; the remaining 67% of first doses were administered to those age 16 or older.

As of this morning, 43.45% of Ohioans have started the vaccination process. Delaware County has the highest percentage of vaccinated residents at 56.83%. Holmes County is the lowest at 14.16%.

Vax-A-Million is a public outreach campaign consisting of a series of statewide drawings to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and provide incentives to Ohioans to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Ohioans 12 to 17 years of age, who have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccination, may enter for a chance to win one of five four-year full-ride scholarships, including room and board, tuition, and books, to any Ohio state college or university.

Ohioans 18 years of age and older who have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccination if receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose if receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, have a chance to win one of five, $1 million prizes.

Ohio Vax-a-Million is an opt-in program. Winners will be announced each Wednesday, starting May 26, for five weeks.

Medical Board Seeks Feedback

The State Medical Board of Ohio is seeking physician input on two separate issues: Certificate to Recommend (CTR) and ICD-10.

A survey for physicians with a CTR is here. Completion of the survey satisfies the requirement for physicians with a CTR to submit an annual report to the board. It includes questions about common practices, patient interactions, and practice settings. Data will be analyzed to better understand the needs of certified providers and presented in the CTR physician annual report.

SMBO has updated its ICD-10 tool to better assist physicians’ efforts in the safe and effective prescribing of opiates. Before going live, the Board is looking for physicians willing to assist by utilizing the updated tool and answering five questions. Any physician who is willing, should contact Matt Harney at mattharney@OhioDO.org.

The ICD-10 tool is here. The questions are:

1. How useful did you find the resources on the website? Would you suggest adding any other resource materials or links?
2. Did you find the instructional materials (video, handout, tool instructions) helpful?
3. Is the data presented in a way in which you can easily interpret and utilize? What questions do you have regarding the data presented in the tool?
4. Is there any data missing that you would like to see? Is any of the data currently shown of no value to you?
5. Do you have any other additional feedback you would like to provide?

Take a Quick Survey about Noncompete Agreements

A bill being considered at the Statehouse—SB 150—would ban noncompete agreements for Ohio physicians as a condition of employment. The bill would also allow current or prospective physician employees to sue an employer that violates this prohibition.

We’d like to better understand how pervasive these agreements are. Help inform our work with this short survey. Owners of physician groups, hospital administrators, and employed physicians are invited to complete the survey. It’ll only take 30 seconds, so jump right in!

State Trauma Committee Seeks Nominations

The Trauma Committee of the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services (EMFTS) is seeking nominations for seat #6 and seat #22.

Seat #6 is designated for a physician who is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation or American Osteopathic Board of Rehabilitation Medicine and actively provides rehabilitative care to trauma victims.

Seat #22 is designated as a representative of a hospital that is not a trauma center and actively provides emergency care to trauma patients. The nominees shall be a hospital administrator, physician, nurse or other clinical professional.

The Trauma Committee was created to advise and assist the EMFTS in all matters regarding trauma care and the Ohio Trauma System. Its membership is spelled out in Revised Code. Of note, the Director shall not appoint to the committee more than one member who is employed by or practices at the same hospital, health system, or emergency medical services organization.

The Committee generally meets every other month. Candidates should submit a CV to OOA Executive Director Matt Harney at mattharney@OhioDO.org.