Registration Extended for VOC On-Demand

Due to popular demand, registration for The VOC (Virtual Osteopathic Conference) is being extended to June 25.

Developed by a team of physicians from six states, The VOC offers high-quality, relevant CME in a fully virtual and on-demand format. Up to 48 credits are available, but you can purchase in 8-credit increments. Credits are available to complete through June 30.

Over the past three years, more than 2,000 physicians throughout the US have participated in The VOC. And 98% of attendees recommend it to colleagues.

Register here.

OOA Supports Bill to Prevent Violence against Health Care Providers

The OOA signed onto a letter this week with nearly a dozen physician organizations in the state to support HB 452, legislation aimed at preventing violence against health care providers and hospital employees.

Sponsored by State Reps. Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Rachel Baker (D-Cincinnati), the bill requires all hospitals to have a violence prevention and reporting plan in place, as well as standardized notification requirements for patients and visitors on these policies. Further, the Ohio Department of Health is tasked with creating a process for hospital plans and incidents to be reported and analyzed. Lastly, HB 452 requires the Ohio Department of Higher Education to survey students of clinical education programs on training for workplace violence.

The bill is expected to see movement in the Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee this month. The General Assembly will be on summer recess from July through October.

Committee Approves Never Alone Act, Tees up ‘Right to Refuse’ and Pharmacy Vaccine Bills

Earlier this week, the Ohio House Health Provider Services Committee met to vote on HB 236, the Never Alone Act. Sponsored by State Reps. Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Melanie Miller (R-Ashland), HB 236 would prohibit hospitals, nursing homes, and other congregate care settings from restricting patient visitation during a public health emergency.

Under HB 236, upon admission, a patient can designate an advocate who must be permitted access to the patient with few exceptions. This is meant to address scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic when patients were not allowed visitation due to state or federal rules limiting access.

There are some limits on who may serve as an advocate, and HB 236 includes a provision allowing access to be achieved through virtual or telehealth means. The bill has undergone several revisions in committee before passing unanimously; the bill could see a House floor vote as early as next week. We expect HB 236 to be enacted by the end of the year.

Committee Chair State Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) also announced a committee hearing next week that will include possible votes on a handful of bills of interest to OOA: SB 144 (Pharmacy Vaccines for Children); HB 102 (Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapists Licensure); and SB 28 (Physician Assistant Compact).

Additionally, the committee will hold a second hearing on HB 319, the Conscientious Right to Refuse Act. Sponsored by State Reps. Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) and Scott Wiggam (R-Wooster), this bill seeks to prohibit hospitals and other facilities from requiring employees to receive influenza, COVID, or other vaccines as a condition of employment or practice. This has been a hot topic at the Statehouse even before the COVID-19 pandemic, and we anticipate opposition testimony later this month. OOA is likely to join several other physician groups and hospitals in raising concerns with this legislation.

Governor’s Vision Strike Force Holds Inaugural Meeting

During his State of the State Address in April, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called for the creation of a Children’s Vision Strike Force to address access to comprehensive eye exams and corrective eyewear for children who fail a vision screening. Last month, DeWine announced the membership of the group and the inaugural meeting was held on Monday.

Chaired by Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, the Strike Force is comprised of eye care providers, cabinet directors, K-12 education leaders, and vision advocates. The focus is to strengthen Ohio’s vision screening program; identify new ways to connect children with comprehensive eye care should it be needed; and address funding and cost barriers to these services.

The Task Force plans to meet monthly with a goal to develop recommendations for next year’s operating budget.

It’s White Coat Season

The start of medical school is just around the corner for first-year students at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. With that, comes the invitation to personally welcome the Class of 2028 by sponsoring the purchase of a white coat. The Ohio Osteopathic Association and individual donors provide each student with their first white coat as a gift to commemorate the beginning of their academic career as a medical student.

By making a $45 donation, you can sponsor the purchase of a coat to connect with these newest members of the Ohio osteopathic family. When you make your donation, you have the opportunity to write a short note to a new student. Your words of encouragement, advice, or any message of your choice will be printed onto an OOA notecard and tucked in the coat pocket. Students will receive their coats and notes at the Convocation & White Coat Ceremony in August.

The coats have OOA and HCOM patches, providing a sense of unity and belonging.

Make your donation online here. Be sure to write your message in the comment box.

DeWine Authorizes Emergency Ban of Nine Synthetic Opioids

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order, June 4, authorizing the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to immediately classify nine synthetic opioids as Schedule I controlled substances, effectively banning their sale and use in the state.

These nine synthetic opioids are known as nitazenes. Initially developed decades ago as potential alternatives for morphine that were never approved for medical use, new nitazene compounds are increasingly being found in the illicit drug supply in Ohio.

These nitazenes are often more potent than other Schedule I opioids like heroin or fentanyl and present an elevated risk of negative outcomes caused by unintentional drug poisonings, including death.

The emergency order was prompted by intelligence gathered as part of an early detection process developed by the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), in partnership with RecoveryOhio, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, and a network of forensic toxicologists and chemists known as the Emerging Drug Scientific Working Group. The early detection process, which includes the proactive collection of reports from Ohio’s criminal justice system and forensic labs, allows ONIC to identify, analyze, and triage information on emerging drugs that are not controlled substances.

Nitazene compounds are becoming increasingly involved in overdose deaths in Ohio. As recently as 2020, just three overdose deaths involving nitazene compounds were confirmed and reported to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). However, a significant jump occurred in 2021 and 2022, which saw an average of 57 such deaths per year. Although 2023 data is not yet complete, ODH has recorded 77 nitazene-involved overdose deaths for the year – and this number only represents confirmed cases. Due to underreporting, the true number of overdose deaths involving nitazene compounds is expected to be much higher.

Grassroots Campaign Supports Deferred Loan  

The osteopathic profession fully endorses Congressional bills that support the physician workforce by addressing student debt associated with medical education.

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) recently partnered with the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) on a grassroots campaign to build support for the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act (HR 1202/S. 704).

The bill allows medical residents to defer student loan payments without accruing interest during residency, easing financial strain and enabling service in high-need specialties and underserved areas.

Osteopathic medical students continue to face significant financial challenges due to the high cost of education. The interest that begins accruing on student loans during residency, despite limited income, exacerbates this burden and can influence career choices away from areas that need them most.

Find out more and send a letter to your Member of Congress here.

Upcoming Deadlines for Certifying Boards

Application deadlines are quickly approaching. Below are deadlines in June and July for osteopathic certifying boards.

American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology initial subspecialty and OCC subspecialty exams – June 22 (first deadline); clinical exam – June 30 (first deadline); oral written exam – July 19 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology initial and OCC subspecialty exams – July 1 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine oral exam – June 21 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Family Medicine initial primary and OCC exams – July 10 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine initial and OCC subspecialty exams – June 16 (first deadline) initial primary exam – June 18 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine initial primary oral and written exams – July 15 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology primary oral and initial subspecialty exams – June 18 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Pathology initial primary and subspecialty exams – June 15 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Radiology initial subspecialty exams – June 27 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Surgery initial primary oral and clinical exams – July 25 (first deadline)

Hospice and Palliative Medicine initial and OCC exams – June 16 (first deadline)

Sleep Medicine initial and OCC exams – June 16 (first deadline)

Sports Medicine initial subspecialty exam – June 21 (final deadline)

For questions, contact Chaunessie Baggett at CBaggett@osteopathic.org.