Put to the Test

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) provided updated COVID-19 testing guidance this week. This guidance applies to all COVID-19 testing in the state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established priority groups for testing. Ohio has modified these groups to meet the state-specific needs in light of changes in testing availability and evolving knowledge of COVID-19 and its impact on Ohioans. The state continues to emphasize testing of patients who are most severely ill, patients who are moderately ill with a high risk of complications — such as those who are elderly and those with serious medical issues — and individuals who are critical to providing care and service to those who are ill. According to Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio’s testing capacity will significantly increase by late May. That will allow individuals in lower risk tiers to be tested and help to further contain and respond to COVID-19 in Ohio.  

On Tuesday, DeWine announced cuts of nearly $800 million— most affecting education and health care — to offset the loss of tax revenue as a result of the coronavirus. Preliminary figures show overall tax receipts at 35.3% below estimates. The cuts include a $300 million reduction in K-12 school funding, $210 million from Medicaid spending (which is expected to be partially offset by the 6.2% federal medical assistance percentage increase retroactive to January 1), and $110 million from college and university funding. The Ohio Constitution requires a balanced budget by June 30 each year, which is the end of the state fiscal year.

New guidance was issued this week by the CDC for certification of COVID-19 deaths and updated COVID-19 coding rules.

Restless Legislative Branch Flexes in Quiet Statehouse

This week, lawmakers reconvened at an eerily quiet Statehouse to consider about a dozen bills. On Tuesday, the House Finance Committee considered HB 388, a bill that would cap out-of-network billing for in-network settings.  The Department of Insurance has issued guidance barring balanced billing involving COVID-19 patients, however no such guidance has been issued for other procedures or conditions. The bill is considerably more favorable to insurers than balanced billing legislation being considered in the Senate—SB 198. There was no vote on the bill.

The House also passed an amendment to SB 1 that would dramatically diminish the power of the Ohio Department of Health Director to issue emergency orders. The bill would effectively terminate orders after two weeks if JCARR failed to take action. Based on initial public comments from leadership, the bill appears to have a more difficult path in the Senate. Nonetheless, Gov. Mike DeWine pledged to veto the bill if it made its way to his desk. If efforts did advance, there appears to not be enough votes to override a veto based on the House vote from this week.

ODH Loan Repayment Program Deadline June 15

The application cycle for the Ohio Substance Use Disorder Professional Loan Repayment Program is open. The goal of the SUDLRP is to increase access to SUD treatment for underserved communities and populations. In exchange for loan repayment assistance, clinicians commit to practice for two years at an eligible site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), as well as in other high-burdened SUD areas of the state, accept Medicare and Medicaid, and see clients regardless of ability to pay.

Full-time and part-time practice options are allowable, with a minimum of 50% of direct client care hours required to be spent providing SUD treatment.

Get the application and details here.

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Your OOA Leadership Team

The OOA Board of Trustees for 2020-2021 will be lead by the Executive Committee team of:

President Sandra L. Cook, DO, of Geneva

President-Elect Henry L. Wehrum, DO, of Columbus

Vice President Jennifer L. Gwilym, DO, of Athens

Treasurer Nicklaus J. Hess, DO, of Dayton

Immediate Past President Charles D. Milligan, DO, of Orrville

The Board welcomes one new member: District 3 (Dayton) Trustee Chelsea A. Nickolson, DO. Dr. Nickolson is a 2013 graduate of Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and is affiliated with Grandview Medical Center, where she served her internal medicine residency.