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11/21/2024
AMA House of Delegates Recognizes Contributions of Two OSMA Leaders
Nov. 21, 2024 – Last week at the American Medical Association (AMA) Interim meeting of the House of Delegates (HOD), two OSMA Past-Presidents and members of the Ohio Delegation to the AMA—William Sternfeld, M.D. and Anthony Armstrong, M.D.—were recognized in front of the HOD for their service to Ohio and the AMA.
11/21/2024
AMA Study Analyzes Competition in Health Insurance – Includes Ohio Data
Nov. 21, 2024 – The 2024 Update to Competition in Health Insurance includes the two largest insurers’ market shares and a measure of market concentration for 382 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), the 50 states including Ohio, and the District of Columbia. It finds that the vast majority of health insurance markets remain stubbornly highly concentrated and at risk for insurer mergers to substantially lessen competition.
11/21/2024
Physician Leadership Institute Opportunity – Apply by Dec. 31
Nov. 21, 2024 – The Physicians Foundation and Brandeis University announced the launch of The Physicians Foundation’s Leadership Institute at Brandeis University. They are seeking visionary physicians. Only 25 physicians will be selected to participate in this prestigious, one-year hybrid training program.
11/20/2024
Take Action Now: Medicare Physician Payment Reform Bill Introduced
Oct. 31, 2024 - Your action is needed to help pass bill HR 10073 to eliminate the proposed Medicare cut and include an actual payment increase to support physicians.
11/14/2024
People First: Types of AI and How to Put Them to Work on Clinician Burnout and Health Disparities
Nov. 14, 2024 – We can learn from prior AI failures, not to mention failures of EHR implementation, to successfully integrate certain types of AI into daily healthcare operations. We will not solve the clinician burnout crisis or achieve equity in healthcare using AI alone, but strategic applications of AI can assist us in both areas.
11/07/2024
OSMA Legislative “Lame Duck” Preview
Nov. 7, 2024 - OSMA’s Advocacy team is prepared to be all hands on deck through the last day of session in December. Lame duck can be an unpredictable time, but we do have a general idea of what issues may be in focus, and where our priorities will be in the coming weeks.
11/06/2024
OSMA's Election Takeaways – 2024 Recap & Results
Nov. 6, 2024 – Get our overview of what happened and how the OSMAPAC’s endorsed candidates fared in this week’s elections. And stay tuned for advocacy updates as the Ohio Legislature moves into its lame duck session!
10/24/2024
Criteria for Postponing Non-Emergent & Non-Urgent Procedures due to National IV Fluid Shortage
Oct. 24, 2024 - OSMA and the Ohio Hospital Association are distributing the following information based on these recommendations should your healthcare institution need to safely postpone some procedures using “Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources” principles.
10/23/2024
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 26
Oct. 23, 2024 - Let your patients know: This day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.
10/23/2024
Annual Medicare Open Enrollment: Resources for Your Patients
Oct. 23, 2024 - Many Medicare patients ask their doctor about enrollment. CMS and the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) have developed a number of tools and resources that you can provide your patients.
10/17/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Josie Lowell
Oct. 17, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our Wright State 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/17/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Saksha Krishnan
Oct. 17, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our OSU 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/17/2024
Medicare Physician Payment - Physician Advocacy Effort Helps Generate Significant Response from Congress
Oct. 17, 2024 – As you may recall, we recently put out a call for physicians to contact their representatives in Congress and encourage them to urge House leadership to expeditiously replace the 2.8% Medicare physician payment cut with a payment update reflective of inflationary pressures before January 1, 2025.
10/16/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Katherine Esser
Oct. 16, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our University of Toledo 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/16/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Nikita Das
Oct. 16, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our Case Western Reserve University 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/16/2024
OSMA Joins Court Brief to Protect Children from Flavored Tobacco
Oct. 16, 2024 – OSMA recently signed on to an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in a case concerning the State of Ohio’s authority to prohibit municipalities from banning flavored tobacco products.
10/15/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Shannon Daley
Oct. 15, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our Ohio University 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/15/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Umida Burkhanova
Oct. 15, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our NEOMED 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/10/2024
IV Solutions Supply Shortage – What to Know
Oct. 10, 2024 – As you have probably already heard, Hurricane Helene created significant damage to the Baxter North Cove manufacturing site in Western North Carolina. The damage has caused a significant disruption and shortage in the supply of IV solutions to Ohio’s healthcare facilities. Baxter currently supplies about 85% of the IV solution used in Ohio.
10/10/2024
Malpractice Case Study: Could Closing the Loop Have Saved This Patient’s Life?
Oct. 10, 2024 – OSMA’s exclusively-endorsed medical liability insurance partner, The Doctors Company (TDC), provides the following case study to help you managed liability risk in your office.
10/03/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Adam Beucler
Oct. 3, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our UC 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding his progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/03/2024
Tips for Purchasing Health Insurance for Your Practice
Oct 3, 2024 – We are fast approaching the 2024-25 health insurance renewal season. This is the time when insurance carriers adjust the annual premiums and product offerings available to employer groups like OSMA practices.
10/02/2024
Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) Fee Schedule & Rule Update
Oct 2, 2024 – BWC recently released the following information. The updated rules take effect on Oct. 1, 2024.
09/26/2024
Impacted by the Change Healthcare Cyberattack?
Sept 26, 2024 – CMS is still accepting PY 2023 MIPS EUC Reweighting Requests through Oct. 11 and just issued the following update regarding the MIPS program reporting impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
09/17/2024
We Need Your Help! OSMA Continues Advocacy Efforts for Medicare Payment Reform
Sept 17, 2024 – Our goal is to get House leadership to take immediate action to not only stop the 2.8 percent cut to physician Medicare payments, but also to provide physicians with a much-needed payment update that reflects the inflationary pressure they're facing while running a medical practice.
09/12/2024
National Physician Suicide Awareness Day
Sept 12, 2024 – This year, Sept. 17 marks the 7th annual day in September dedicated to honoring the memory of colleagues who have died by suicide—as we continue to raise awareness and discussion on how to prevent it.
09/11/2024
CMS Provides Resources for National Recovery Month: Take the First Step
Sept 11, 2024 – During National Recovery Month this September, talk with your patients about appropriate Medicare screening and treatment options.
09/10/2024
Sept 17: Strategies for Prescribing Opioids for the Management of Pain
Sept 10, 2024 – On Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. EST the AMA and leadership from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) will discuss the FSMB Strategies for Prescribing Opioids for the Management of Pain, which were adopted by the FSMB House of Delegates earlier this year.
09/10/2024
Nov. 13-15: 2024 BWC Health & Medical Symposium
Sept 10, 2024 – The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation has released information regarding its 2024 Health & Medical Symposium.
09/09/2024
Terminating Patient Relationships—What You Need to Know
Sept 9, 2024 – Get risk management advice from our exclusively endorsed partner for medical liability insurance, The Doctors Company.
09/05/2024
OSMA Comments on Proposed 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rules
Sept 5, 2024 – Today, OSMA submitted comments to CMS on the proposed 2025 Medicare physician fee schedule rules.
09/05/2024
UnitedHealthcare® Announces Details of Prior Authorization Gold Card to Start
Sept 5, 2024 – For the last year, OSMA has been advocating for HB 130 that would create a prior authorization gold card program for physicians in Ohio. As these efforts continue, one of the biggest payers in Ohio, UnitedHealthcare (UHC), has announced the details of a gold card program they will implement in Ohio and across the nation starting October 1.
09/04/2024
Ohio Medicaid Notice on Issues with Fee-For-Service Claims Management
Sept 4, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid has issued the following notice regarding fee-for-service claims management.
08/29/2024
Franklin County Judge Issues Temporary Injunction Against Various Abortion-Related Statutes
Aug 29, 2024 – A judge in Franklin County has temporarily blocked a few abortion related statutes in Ohio, citing Ohio’s recently passed constitutional amendment language.
08/27/2024
Stethoscope Donations Needed for Tribute Art Installation in Progress
Aug 27, 2024 – The Disposables—an art exhibit honoring physicians we have lost to suicide—is creating additional artwork and needs donated stethoscopes (old or unneeded). Please considering donating if you are able.
08/21/2024
Federal District Court Blocks FTC Non-Compete Ban
Aug 21, 2024 – The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) recently finalized rule banning non-compete agreements across the country will not be going into effect on September 4, as a Texas Federal District Court Judge has struck down the rule.
08/20/2024
Next Edition of Clinical QuickNotes on Substance Use Disorders Released
Aug 20, 2024 – The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD-COE) at Case Western Reserve University has released the second of its series, “Clinical QuickNotes on Substance Use Disorders.” This QuickNote is titled “What’s Happened with Alcohol Use Disorder.”
08/15/2024
OSMA Files Brief Defending Physicians from Broadening Exposure in Medical Malpractice Claims
Aug 15, 2024 – OSMA's advocacy team is constantly reviewing cases both at the state and federal level for any impact on our members. Of all of the issues we handle, medical malpractice laws protecting providers are the ones almost continuously under attack in litigation.
08/14/2024
Legal Update: What is Impacting Healthcare in Ohio?
Aug 15, 2024 – Litigation and legislation concerning gender-affirming care have both exploded over the past few years. In particular, many states have enacted laws that prohibit gender-affirming care for minors.
08/12/2024
Support the OSMAPAC in this Critical Election Year!
Aug 14, 2024 – OSMA is always there for you to help make your voice heard on the issues that matter most – and the Ohio State Medical Association Political Action Committee (OSMAPAC) is crucial to our continued success.
08/07/2024
No Surprises Act Court Decision Supports Physician Practices
Aug 7, 2024 – Recently, the US Fifth Circuit Court upheld a lower court surprise billing decision in favor of healthcare providers. The court held that a federal rule concerning the arbitration process in payment disputes of surprise billing claims conflicts with the Administrative Procedures Act and that the federal departments exceeded their rulemaking authority.
08/06/2024
CMS to Hold Physician Practice Listening Sessions in SW Ohio
Aug 6, 2024 – In partnership with OSMA, the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, and the Montgomery County Medical Society, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Chicago Regional Office will be holding listening sessions to gather feedback from physicians and staff from practices in southwest Ohio. The sessions will be held August 12 and August 14.
08/06/2024
Ohio Medicaid Update – Provider Network Management Module Training
Aug 6, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) provided the following training update this week... "ODM in partnership with Maximus, the Provider Network Management (PNM) module vendor, is excited to share that we are continuing our provider awareness and training efforts. Training is scheduled for August 7 - 21."
08/05/2024
Which Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is Best for Your Practice?
Aug 5, 2024 – Today’s healthcare has a high-priority on the convenience of patients. But keeping things running smoothly and delivering top-notch care is critical. EMRs offer a ton of benefits for both you and your patients.
07/25/2024
Summer Regulatory & Legal Update
July 25, 2024 – Compliance Reminder: HIPAA Reproductive Privacy Rule implementation has essentially updated HIPAA for providers in three ways. Also, read the latest on gender-affirming care cases, i.e. the Supreme Court case United States v. Skrmetti, and how a Franklin County judge issued a temporarily injunction for the enforcement of the House Bill 68 legislation, which would prevent transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care.
07/18/2024
OSMA Mid-Year Advocacy Wrap Up
July 18, 2024 – The legislative sessions have been extremely hectic, with both chambers of the Statehouse moving a record number of bills through committee hearings and floor votes. Your OSMA Advocacy team was actively involved as many of our priority advocacy issues were among those experiencing activity.
07/11/2024
Ohio Medicaid Launched New Modules on June 30—What You Need To Know
July 11, 2024 – On June 30, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) implemented new features in the Ohio Medicaid Enterprise System (OMES). ODM provided OSMA the following update to send to our members.
07/11/2024
HHS Releases 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rules—Reductions Continue
July 11, 2024 – On July 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rules. In the press release, HHS stated the following related to 2025 rates...
07/11/2024
Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Issues in Healthcare and Insurance Public Policy
July 11, 2024 – The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare setting and its effects on professional liability insurance are rapidly evolving. As AI technology advances and becomes more integrated into healthcare, the legislative and regulatory framework is just starting to catch up.
06/25/2024
OSMA's IMG Section Meets with ODH on Workforce and J1 Visa Waiver Program
June 25, 2024 – In June, several members of the OSMA’s International Medical Graduate (IMG) Section met with staff from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to discuss the timeline and opportunities for increased education related to the administration of the J1 Visa Waiver Program in Ohio.
06/24/2024
Coming Soon: New Ohio Medicine Format
June 24, 2024 – Based on feedback from our OSMA members, we have reformatted our print publication that sends to our membership, Ohio Medicine.
06/19/2024
Legislative Advocacy Update – June
June 19, 2024 – The OSMA advocacy team has had an action-packed several weeks at the Statehouse in Columbus as legislators prepare to wrap up their sessions for the summer recess before the upcoming fall elections.
06/18/2024
Recent Medical Board & Legal News
June 18, 2024 – Get an update on the Supreme Court decision on Mifepristone, what the Ohio Med Board has rejected as qualifying conditions for the recommendation of medical marijuana, and a new HIPAA privacy rule.
06/18/2024
Legislation Reintroduced to Reform Medicare Advantage Plans use of Prior Authorization
June 18, 2024 – A bipartisan bill, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (S. 4532 / H.R. 8702), has been reintroduced at the federal level to reform the use of prior authorization by Medicare Advantage plans. Both Ohio Senators—Brown and Vance—have co-sponsored the bill as well as congressman Balderson, Carey, Latta and Wenstrup. In total there are 135 U.S. House of Representatives and 45 senators signed on as co-sponsors.
06/13/2024
Ohio Physician Leaders Attend AMA Annual Meeting
June 13, 2024 – Over the last week, a delegation of Ohio physicians elected by members of the OSMA attended the American Medical Association’s Annual Meeting—joining with colleagues from across the country to review and debate policy. There were also a number of physicians from Ohio elected or appointed to leadership positions.
06/12/2024
Ohio Department of Health Alerts Healthcare Providers about Lyme Disease and Other Tickborne Diseases
June 12, 2024 – Tickborne diseases have been on the rise—and we have seen a 35-fold increase in reported Lyme disease cases in Ohio over the past 13 years.
06/12/2024
Compliance Tips: Understanding the Importance of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) List
June 12, 2024 – Employers in the healthcare industry, regardless of the size of the healthcare organization, are required to check the OIG Exclusion List before hiring or engaging individuals or entities to confirm that they are not on the list.
06/05/2024
Cybersecurity in Healthcare—Tips for Protecting your Practice
June 5, 2024 – Based on member feedback, OSMA has developed a free (for members) on-demand webinar to help your practice recognize common types of phishing, acquire techniques to prevent cyber-attacks, and take proactive measures to implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards.
06/05/2024
TDC Providing a Dividend for Eligible Ohio Members & Announces Tribute Plan Milestone for Retirees
June 5, 2024 – OSMA’s exclusively endorsed medical liability insurance partner, The Doctors Company (TDC), has approved a 2024 premium dividend of approximately $14.7 million, bringing the total distributed dividends to date to more than $470 million. Additionally, TDC announced that its Tribute Plan has now distributed more than $175 million to approximately 14,000 retirees.
06/05/2024
Training on New Provider Network Management Modules from Ohio Medicaid
June 5, 2024 – Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) provided the following update on training opportunities related to its newly developed Provider Network Management (PNM) modules that become effective on June 30. Be sure your practice is prepared for these changes.
05/22/2024
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Elizabeth Muennich, MD, FAAD
May 22, 2024 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Muennich as our new President, and we thank Dr. Eric Drobny who has successfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Muennich, her medical career, and her vision for OSMA.
05/15/2024
May Legislative Advocacy Update
May 15, 2024 – Our OSMA Advocacy team is currently facing the additional challenge of limited chances for movement on our priority issues, but thankfully we can report that due to our efforts, progress continues for the OSMA advocacy agenda.
05/14/2024
Feds Solicit Complaints for Anti-Competitive Behavior in Healthcare
May 14, 2024 – In late April of this year, the Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, and Department of Health and Human Services announced a joint online portal to solicit complaints from providers and members of the public to report anti-competitive behavior in the healthcare marketplace.
05/14/2024
Ohio Medical Board Receives Expert Reports on Medical Marijuana Conditions
May 14, 2024 – At its May meeting, the State Medical Board received expert third-party reports for the petitions to add two new conditions to the Board’s list of those permissible for a medical marijuana condition.
05/14/2024
Meet OSMA's New Medical Student Section Chair
May 14, 2024 – My name is Ellena Privitera and I am delighted to be serving as your new chair of the MSS! I’m originally from Cincinnati and received my bachelor’s degree in medical sciences at the University of Cincinnati. I recently finished my M3 year at the Ohio State University and will be on a leave-of-absence as a Fulbright scholar in Portugal while serving as your chair before joining the class of 2026 for M4.
05/13/2024
Planned Parenthood Challenges Additional Ohio Abortion Laws
May 13, 2024 – Last week, Planned Parenthood motioned the court in their case to file an amended complaint to include the recently-passed Constitutional right to abortion as support to their initial claims—which challenged an Ohio law that required any initial dose of medication-induced abortion to be consumed by the patient while physically present in the same location of their physician.
05/07/2024
Medical Student Abstract Poster Competition
May 7, 2024 – Ohio medical students were recently invited to submit an abstract for poster presentation. This was an excellent opportunity for students to become involved in OSMA's Annual Meeting and to enhance their reputation both within and outside their institution—and to network with physicians about policy, research, career interests and more.
05/07/2024
Training Offered on New ODM Provider Network Management Module
May 7, 2024 – Last week the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announced the following training opportunities on the new provider network management (PNM) module. Make sure you are prepared for the June 30 implementation.
05/06/2024
New Learning Tool on Substance Use Disorders Released
May 6, 2024 – The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD-COE) at Case Western Reserve University has released a new learning tool, “Clinical QuickNotes on Substance Use Disorders.” The QuickNotes provide brief overviews of various clinically relevant topics and are designed for busy physicians to review in just a few minutes.
05/06/2024
The Social Determinants of Health: What Medical Professionals Need to Know
May 6, 2024 – Each day, patients’ health is affected—for better or for worse—by factors like income, education, access to fresh food, access to green space, or access to a safe living space and neighborhood. Healthcare professionals witness how these aspects, known as the social determinants of health (SDOH), influence the arc of a person’s life. Fortunately, clinicians and organizations can craft more effective and equitable care interventions by elevating their awareness of key aspects of SDOH.
05/02/2024
Ohio Medicaid Announces Updates to Address Fee-For-Service (FFS) Claim Challenges
May 2, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) issued the following update this week. OSMA has been working with the Department on administrative challenges related to FFS claims and hopes these upgrades will address some of the problems practices have been facing.
05/02/2024
Preparing for the New CMS Prior Authorization & Interoperability Rules
May 2, 2024 – Since the announcement of the final rule, a variety of informational resources have been developed including a fact sheet, webinar recording and FAQ. To ensure your practice is prepared for the implementation, please be sure to review these resources provided by CMS.
05/02/2024
2024 MIPS Annual Call for Quality & Cost Measures is Open Until May 10
May 1, 2024 – Last week, CMS released the following reminder about MIPS Quality and Cost Measures...
05/01/2024
Tips for Navigating the Insurance Credentialing Process
May 1, 2024 – After a healthcare provider receives their diploma it’s time to open a clinic and see patients. The next step involves navigating the intricate process of insurance credentialing. This is a complex process that needs to be completed the correct way the first time. Otherwise, the healthcare provider and/or clinic stands to lose its revenue stream.
04/25/2024
FTC Issues Final Rule On Non-Compete Language – Legal Action Anticipated
April 25, 2024 – In January of 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued notice of a proposed rule prohibiting non-compete agreements between nearly every employee/employer under the FTC’s jurisdiction, including physician employment agreements.
04/25/2024
Are You Experiencing “Take Backs” on Claims Already Paid?
April 25, 2024 – If so, we need to hear from you! ...OSMA is currently collecting information from practices to assist are advocacy efforts to ensure currently laws are enforced and work towards some updates in the law.
04/24/2024
State Medical Board & Regulatory Update
April 24, 2024 – The State Medical Board of Ohio's recent activity has been around topics of adopting the official licensure status of "retired," working on Board rules concerning Medication-Assisted Treatment, and a newly-hosted podcast to inform members and the general public on current Board matters.
04/24/2024
Compliance Reminder – Is Your Information Updated in Medicaid’s Provider Network Management Portal?
April 24, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid sent out the following reminder to all practices this week.
04/23/2024
Meet Our 2024 Summer Scholars Recipients!
April 23, 2024 - Thanks to your generosity, one medical student from each of Ohio’s 7 medical schools has been chosen to receive this award. Since 2022, $52,500 has been awarded to 21 medical students with unpaid internships, to assist with summer expenses when financial aid is not available.
04/18/2024
Legislative Update: Gender Affirming Care Legislation for Ohio Youth Temporarily Blocked by Judge
April 18, 2024 – This week, a Franklin County judge issued a temporary injunction for the enforcement of House Bill 68, legislation which would prevent transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care.
04/18/2024
OSMA’s Advocacy Results in Directive from the Department of Insurance on Change Healthcare
April 18, 2024 – Last month, OSMA and OHA sent a joint letter to the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI), requesting a directive be sent to all licensed health insurers in Ohio to create flexibility for physicians' and hospitals' interactions with payers due to the major disruption caused by the Change Healthcare cyberattack. Last week, ODI followed through on this request and sent a notice to all payers outlining the specific requests that we made.
04/17/2024
BWC Virtual Provider Forum on Physician’s Report of Work Ability is April 24—Have Your Voice Heard
April 17, 2024 – If your practice sees patients covered by worker’s compensation, you now have a chance to interact with the Bureau’s leadership and medical directors regarding the Physician’s Report of Work Ability. BWC sent out the following notice—don’t miss your chance to connect with key leaders and physicians.
04/11/2024
2024 OSMA Annual Meeting Recap
April 11, 2024 – This past weekend, OSMA members from across the state gathered together in Columbus for the OSMA Annual Meeting—an opportunity to network, share ideas, and conduct important policy work on behalf of their profession and their patients. Read on for a full summary of the event's happenings.
04/11/2024
Why It's Vital to Choose a Doctor-Owned Medical Malpractice Insurer
April 11, 2024 – Choosing a medical malpractice insurer involves more than just reviewing the cost of premiums—physicians must consider which insurer has their best interests at heart.
03/28/2024
Spring Legislative Preview
March 28, 2024 – Now that the March 19 primary elections have passed, the Ohio Legislature is expected to return to the Statehouse for a flurry of activity shortly after the upcoming holiday. The Ohio House and Senate will conduct a series of hearings and sessions from mid-April up until the legislators depart back to their districts for the summer recess and to campaign for the general election this fall.
03/26/2024
Are You Being Paid 2024 Rates? Check Your Medicaid Claims
March 26, 2024 – As a result of OSMA advocacy efforts last year, on Jan. 1 Ohio increased the Medicaid fee schedule resulting in the majority of codes increasing by 5% with a cumulative impact of about $400 million in new funding. The implementation of the increase has been challenging and it's essential that practices review their claims payment history since Jan. 1 to ensure you are receiving the appropriate increase.
03/21/2024
OSMA Seeks Ohio Department of Insurance Action on Change Healthcare Cyberattack
March 21, 2024 – OSMA and the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) sent a joint letter to the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) to direct commercial health insurance plans in Ohio to provide administrative and financial relief for physician practices and hospitals impacted by the cyberattack on Change Healthcare.
03/20/2024
Partial Medicare Fee Schedule Fix Passed and Implemented
March 20, 2024 – While not erasing the entire 3.37 percent cut that went into effect on January 1, recent passage of the Consolidated Appropriation Act created a 1.68 percent update to the Medicare Physician Payment Schedule conversion factor.
03/14/2024
CMS Announces MIPS Deadline Changes and Advanced Payments for Change Healthcare Issues
March 14, 2024 – Earlier this week, CMS made two announcements regarding proactive activities to address the challenges physicians and other healthcare providers are experiencing as a result of the Change Healthcare cyberattack. One addresses opportunities for practices to receive advanced payment, and the other extends the deadline for MIPS 2023 data submission to April 15.
03/10/2024
Remember to Verify/Update Your Provider Information
March 10, 2024 – Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid sent out an important reminder to all physicians regarding verifying your information in the Provider Network Management Provider Directory.
03/07/2024
How Cyberattacks are Crippling Ohio's Health Care Systems
March 7, 2024 – OSMA President, Dr. Eric Drobny, recently talked with the Columbus Dispatch about why the cyberattack on Change Healthcare is having such a ripple effect on the healthcare industry, how practices may continue to see impacts for weeks to come, and the OSMA’s role in supporting members.
03/07/2024
Cyberattack on Change Healthcare – Latest Information
March 7, 2024 – Over the last two weeks, since the Feb. 21 cyberattack on Change Healthcare, members have contacted OSMA about the major disruption the attack has caused to their practices. While the process of resolving the issue is ongoing, OSMA has been working with our state and national partners to ensure we’re providing the latest information to members. In the last few days, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) and the AMA have released updates and resources.
03/05/2024
COMPLIANCE: Preventative Medicine for Your Practice
March 5, 2024 – Every healthcare organization since 2010 has been required to have, not only a compliance program, but an effective one. Unfortunately, compliance sometimes is referred to in a negative way. It really shouldn’t be. It needs to be the culture of your practice. That is, if you want to be sustainable and successful.
03/05/2024
CMS Education Session: Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule
March 5, 2024 – Last week, CMS announced it will provide a virtual education session March 26, 2024, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM regarding its recently finalized rule on interoperability and prior authorization.
02/23/2024
2023 Foundation Donor Recognition
Feb 23, 2024 – In recognition of contributions January 1, 2023 through February 7, 2024—as well as our Founders Society of donors who have given accumulatively, $1,846 or greater since April 2021.
02/23/2024
A Unified Call to Action
Feb 23, 2024 – As we continue to support and expand the Well-Being CARE service, we invite you to join us in this vital initiative.
02/21/2024
February Legislative Update
January 21, 2024 – This month, your OSMA Advocacy team has been working extensively behind the scenes with legislators and other interested parties on several key issues, preparing for upcoming legislative sessions next week and later this spring after the primary election.
02/20/2024
Celebrating Black History Month - Dr. Chatman feature
February 20, 2024 – In honor of Black History Month, we’re profiling some of the African American physician pioneers in Ohio, including past OSMA president Dr. Chatman.
02/20/2024
Celebrating Black History Month - Dr. Armstrong feature
February 20, 2024 – In honor of Black History Month, we’re profiling some of the African American physician pioneers in Ohio, including past OSMA president Dr. Armstrong.
02/15/2024
Medical Board Update
February 15, 2024 – On February 14, the State Medical Board of Ohio accepted review of two potential additional qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana recommendation. Those conditions are (1) Female Orgasmic Difficulty Disorder and (2) Autism Spectrum Disorder.
02/12/2024
HHS Updates Opioid Treatment Program Regulations for First Time in 20 Years
February 12, 2024 – Last week the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published new rules related to opioid treatment and issued the following statement.
02/06/2024
Managed Care Entity Claim Denial Resources Available
February 6, 2024 – Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) sent out a notice on its new Reimbursement Information Page. See the full notice here, and be sure to provide the page and resources to your claims processing staff.
02/06/2024
CMS Releases New 2024 Resources on Quality Payment Programs
February 5, 2024 – Last week, CMS notified all providers to review updated resources and information related to many of its Qualify Payment Programs. Be sure to review this information and share the resources with your staff.
01/25/2024
Recent Override of Two Gubernatorial Vetoes
January 25, 2024 – An update on: Governor DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68, the gender-affirming care legislation, being overridden by a vote in the Ohio House, as well as information about the regulatory process surrounding the development of new administrative rules regarding gender transition care for Ohioans under the age of 21.
01/24/2024
Free PPE Offered by Department of Health
January 24, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is offering non-sterile personal protective equipment (PPE) to you at no charge. The PPE (gloves, masks, gowns, hand sanitizer, etc.) was purchased as part of Ohio‘s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
01/23/2024
Important Reminders From Ohio Medicaid
January 23, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid just sent out the following important update for physicians. Be sure to check your renewal status, and remind your patients to check their Medicaid coverage.
01/18/2024
Ohio Legislative Update!
January 18, 2024 – Last week, despite strong and consistent advocacy efforts by OSMA and a large coalition of medical organizations, members of the Ohio House of Representatives returned to Columbus in order to vote to overturn Governor DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68. As a reminder, HB 68 would ban gender-affirming care – including use of hormones, puberty blockers, and surgeries – for patients in Ohio under the age of 18. Also, members of the Ohio House have unanimously voted to pass House Bill 179—on vicarious liability in tort actions, and provides that the tolling of the limitations period during the defendant's absence or concealment does not apply to statutes of repose.
01/18/2024
Legal Update: Physician Wrongful Death Liability Claim Protections Upheld
January 18, 2024 – The Ohio Supreme Court confirmed limits on physician liability in wrongful death cases late in 2023.
01/17/2024
CMS Announces Final Rules Regulation Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization
January 17, 2024 – We are pleased to report that earlier this week, CMS announced its final rule package that will address some of the challenges physicians face with the prior authorization system.
01/03/2024
New Year Brings Medicaid Rate Increase for Ohio Physicians
January 3, 2024 – On January 1, the majority of the codes in the Ohio Medicaid fee schedule for non-institutional providers (this includes physicians) increased by 5% or more—thus resulting in $415 million in additional funding this year. Additionally, fee schedules for ambulatory surgery centers, vision services, and others have also increased. Securing the Medicaid rate increase was OSMA’s top legislative priority in 2023!
12/19/2023
Thank You for Your Support in 2023!
December 19, 2023 – We're looking forward to 2024... I want to thank every OSMA member for their support and for being a passionate advocate for our profession. During the past year, OSMA staff and leadership were involved in a wide variety of activities that I hope have benefitted every physician in Ohio—and will continue to do so. 2023 highlights include...
12/15/2023
OSMA December Legislative Update
December 15, 2023 – The Ohio Legislature has completed its activities and recessed until the New Year, and the past several weeks at the Statehouse have been a whirlwind of hearings, meetings, and legislative sessions as legislators prepared to wind down for the holidays. Here’s a review of important and recent updates on issues your OSMA advocacy team has been involved in this year, and a brief peek at what these developments mean for our advocacy agenda in 2024.
12/14/2023
Take Action Now: New Medicare Payment Fix Bill Introduced
December 14, 2023 – As we have informed OSMA members over the last two months, unless Congress takes action, the 2024 Medicare physician fee schedule includes a 3.37% payment cut for physicians.
12/14/2023
State Medical Board and Ohio Legal Update
December 14, 2023 – The State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) met on December 13 to finalize the election of Board members, while the Supreme Court of Ohio has ordered the parties in Preterm Cleveland v Yost to submit briefs in the wake of the passage of Issue 2.
12/13/2023
Attention Medical Students: 2024 Fellowship Opportunity
December 13, 2023 – Have free time this upcoming summer? Want to get a hands-on advocacy experience? The Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) is looking for a driven and personable medical student for a 6-8 week internship in summer 2024!
12/06/2023
Advocacy Update: Help Avert the Medicare Payment Cut!
November 28, 2023 – In addition to our direct advocacy efforts, we’re asking members to contact Congress to help fix Medicare now. We need everyone’s help to avert the cut.
12/06/2023
OSMA Advocacy Leads to More Than $400 Million in Increased Medicaid Reimbursement
November 28, 2023 – OSMA’s top legislative priority for 2023 was to increase Medicaid reimbursement for physicians. Working with the administration, a provision to increase the Medicaid fee schedule was included in the initial budget proposal and remained in the version passed by both the House and Senate—and ultimately signed by the governor at the end of June.
12/04/2023
Need Help with Workers’ Compensation Issues?
December 4, 2023 – BWC Provider Engagement directors are available to serve as your personal contacts at the BWC. They offer you the latest updates, expertise, and convey your information regarding issues or concerns that need immediate attention. Reach out to a Provider Engagement director as soon as you need help with workers’ compensation and injury-management issues.
12/04/2023
Should You Offer Your Services as a Paid Clinical Expert?
December 4, 2023 – Healthcare practitioners frequently serve as independent experts in professional liability claims. You may be contacted by an attorney who asks you to review a case and render an opinion involving patient care provided by other medical, dental, or advanced practice clinicians.
11/27/2023
Medicaid Fee-for-Service Claim Denials & Reprocessing
November 27, 2023 – Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) and its Ohio Medicaid Enterprise System vendors are diligently focused on providing transparency and visibility regarding care and services.
11/26/2023
Improving Women’s Health in Primary Care
November 26, 2023 – The Weitzman ECHO interactive learning series for Ohio primary care medical providers, behavioral health providers, and other care team members will explore the complexity of common women’s health needs.
11/26/2023
Lead-Free Ohio Initiative
November 26, 2023 – Childhood lead poisoning continues to be a significant public health issue in Ohio. The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is offering new programming to assist practices and participate in the Lead-Free Ohio initiative.
05/30/2023
Our 2023 Summer Scholars Recipients!
May 30, 2023 - Thanks to your generosity, we are thrilled to introduce the 2023 cohort of OSMA Foundation Summer Scholars scholarship recipients! Look for more in-depth profiles of each of these Summer Scholars throughout June and July. The future of medicine is certainly bright.
03/26/2023
Member Q&A with Jay Williamson, MD
March 26, 2023 – OSMA member leaders work tirelessly on behalf of our members to ensure OSMA is meeting the needs of physicians and responding to the ever-changing healthcare landscape. We’d like to spotlight Dr. Jay Williamson.
02/21/2023
Student Member Q&A with David Warner
February 21, 2023 – OSMA member leaders work tirelessly on behalf of our members to ensure OSMA is meeting the needs of physicians and responding to the ever-changing healthcare landscape. We’d like to spotlight a student member, David Warner.
08/01/2022
Your Well-being Checkup And Referral Engagement Service
August 1, 2022 – The need for well-being support has never been higher, and the OSMA Foundation is supporting Ohio's healthcare workforce with a way to measure factors like personal anxiety, depression and burnout and connect with credible resources who can help.
04/26/2022
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Brian Santin, MD
April 26, 2022 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Santin as our new President, and we thank Dr. Lisa B. Egbert who tactfully completed her term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Santin, his medical career, and his vision for leading OSMA.
02/16/2022
Member Q&A with John A. Bastulli, MD
February 16, 2022
01/24/2022
Council Q&A with Shannon C. Trotter, DO
January 24, 2022
12/20/2021
Member Q&A with Jeffrey R. Leipzig, MD
December 20, 2021
11/22/2021
Council Q&A with John R. Corker, MD, FACEP
November 22, 2021
10/14/2021
Council Q&A with Gregory Surfield, MD, FACS
October 13, 2021
09/07/2021
Council Q&A with Michelle Knopp, MD
September 7, 2021
08/24/2021
Council Q&A with Mary LaPlante, MD, FACOG
August 24, 2021
07/28/2021
Council Q&A with Mary LaPlante, MD, FACOG
July 28, 2021
04/23/2021
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Lisa Egbert, MD
April 23, 2021 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Egbert as our new President, and we thank Dr. Anthony Armstrong who skillfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Egbert, her medical career, and her vision for leading OSMA.
02/11/2021
Health Equity Q&A with OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD
February 11, 2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic and elevated conversations about racial justice have brought the issue of healthcare equity to the forefront for healthcare professionals everywhere. As we support members in 2021, we’re pleased to share thoughts from OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD on health equity and what this means for Ohio physicians.
08/01/2019
Ohio Physicians Give Feedback on Medicaid Managed Care Program
Many of our members provide daily patient care to Ohio’s Medicaid population and thus are uniquely qualified to provide meaningful information to assist the Ohio Department of Medicaid in its upcoming competitive Medicaid managed care procurement process. The comments we received from our members generally centered on areas where improvement is most desired, including plan accountability, grievances and appeals, provider support, benefits and delivery, and care coordination and management.
07/23/2019
Wrap Up: Ohio Delegation to the American Medical Association
Your OSMA Delegation to the AMA worked diligently on behalf of Ohio physicians during the recent 2019 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Ohio resolutions were carried forward and either adopted as new policy or committed the AMA to continue existing policy for another ten years.
07/18/2019
Ohio Budget Process Complete
The OSMA Government Relations team has been engaging with legislators on health care-related budget items since the governor’s initial proposal was released, and has been following and participating in the ongoing debates about a number of health policy decisions.
07/18/2019
Terminating Patient Relationships
Just as it is an acceptable and reasonable practice to screen incoming patients, it is acceptable and reasonable to know when to end patient relationships that are no longer therapeutic. It is critical, however, to end the patient relationship in a manner that will not lead to claims of discrimination or abandonment.
07/18/2019
Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition Offers Online CME Courses
The Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition (OPWC), which represents Ohio physicians and hospitals and focuses on addressing physician burnout, launched six videos in its continuing medical education (CME) wellness video series.
07/18/2019
Training Managers Who Walk the Walk
Identifying and training role models in your business or practice is key to creating a positive, productive work environment. Which managers should you cultivate as role models to lead your organization?
06/06/2019
New Pain Management Toolkit Available
A new state toolkit designed to assist primary care doctors who prescribe opioids will be released this month by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
06/06/2019
The $4.6 Billion Price Tag of Physician Burnout
To put a price on burnout, the study authors culled data from recent research findings and reports — including direct or inferred findings on doctors cutting back on hours or quitting as a result of burnout.
01/03/2019
Physician Well-Being: The Real 5th Vital Sign
"The reason we should care about burnout is because it has the potential for serious consequences on the quality of patient care and safety, patient satisfaction, professionalism, physicians’ own care and safety, and the viability of the health care system..."
12/06/2018
Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient Registry Opens: What it Means for Doctors
The amount of product will be extremely limited, as growers and dispensaries come online throughout 2019.
Education
10/24/2024
Criteria for Postponing Non-Emergent & Non-Urgent Procedures due to National IV Fluid Shortage
Oct. 24, 2024 - OSMA and the Ohio Hospital Association are distributing the following information based on these recommendations should your healthcare institution need to safely postpone some procedures using “Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources” principles.
10/10/2024
IV Solutions Supply Shortage – What to Know
Oct. 10, 2024 – As you have probably already heard, Hurricane Helene created significant damage to the Baxter North Cove manufacturing site in Western North Carolina. The damage has caused a significant disruption and shortage in the supply of IV solutions to Ohio’s healthcare facilities. Baxter currently supplies about 85% of the IV solution used in Ohio.
09/26/2024
Impacted by the Change Healthcare Cyberattack?
Sept 26, 2024 – CMS is still accepting PY 2023 MIPS EUC Reweighting Requests through Oct. 11 and just issued the following update regarding the MIPS program reporting impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
09/12/2024
National Physician Suicide Awareness Day
Sept 12, 2024 – This year, Sept. 17 marks the 7th annual day in September dedicated to honoring the memory of colleagues who have died by suicide—as we continue to raise awareness and discussion on how to prevent it.
09/11/2024
CMS Provides Resources for National Recovery Month: Take the First Step
Sept 11, 2024 – During National Recovery Month this September, talk with your patients about appropriate Medicare screening and treatment options.
09/10/2024
Sept 17: Strategies for Prescribing Opioids for the Management of Pain
Sept 10, 2024 – On Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. EST the AMA and leadership from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) will discuss the FSMB Strategies for Prescribing Opioids for the Management of Pain, which were adopted by the FSMB House of Delegates earlier this year.
09/10/2024
Nov. 13-15: 2024 BWC Health & Medical Symposium
Sept 10, 2024 – The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation has released information regarding its 2024 Health & Medical Symposium.
09/09/2024
Terminating Patient Relationships—What You Need to Know
Sept 9, 2024 – Get risk management advice from our exclusively endorsed partner for medical liability insurance, The Doctors Company.
09/04/2024
Ohio Medicaid Notice on Issues with Fee-For-Service Claims Management
Sept 4, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid has issued the following notice regarding fee-for-service claims management.
08/21/2024
Federal District Court Blocks FTC Non-Compete Ban
Aug 21, 2024 – The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) recently finalized rule banning non-compete agreements across the country will not be going into effect on September 4, as a Texas Federal District Court Judge has struck down the rule.
08/20/2024
Next Edition of Clinical QuickNotes on Substance Use Disorders Released
Aug 20, 2024 – The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD-COE) at Case Western Reserve University has released the second of its series, “Clinical QuickNotes on Substance Use Disorders.” This QuickNote is titled “What’s Happened with Alcohol Use Disorder.”
08/06/2024
CMS to Hold Physician Practice Listening Sessions in SW Ohio
Aug 6, 2024 – In partnership with OSMA, the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, and the Montgomery County Medical Society, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Chicago Regional Office will be holding listening sessions to gather feedback from physicians and staff from practices in southwest Ohio. The sessions will be held August 12 and August 14.
08/06/2024
Ohio Medicaid Update – Provider Network Management Module Training
Aug 6, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) provided the following training update this week... "ODM in partnership with Maximus, the Provider Network Management (PNM) module vendor, is excited to share that we are continuing our provider awareness and training efforts. Training is scheduled for August 7 - 21."
08/05/2024
Which Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is Best for Your Practice?
Aug 5, 2024 – Today’s healthcare has a high-priority on the convenience of patients. But keeping things running smoothly and delivering top-notch care is critical. EMRs offer a ton of benefits for both you and your patients.
07/11/2024
Ohio Medicaid Launched New Modules on June 30—What You Need To Know
July 11, 2024 – On June 30, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) implemented new features in the Ohio Medicaid Enterprise System (OMES). ODM provided OSMA the following update to send to our members.
07/11/2024
Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Issues in Healthcare and Insurance Public Policy
July 11, 2024 – The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare setting and its effects on professional liability insurance are rapidly evolving. As AI technology advances and becomes more integrated into healthcare, the legislative and regulatory framework is just starting to catch up.
06/25/2024
OSMA's IMG Section Meets with ODH on Workforce and J1 Visa Waiver Program
June 25, 2024 – In June, several members of the OSMA’s International Medical Graduate (IMG) Section met with staff from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to discuss the timeline and opportunities for increased education related to the administration of the J1 Visa Waiver Program in Ohio.
06/12/2024
Ohio Department of Health Alerts Healthcare Providers about Lyme Disease and Other Tickborne Diseases
June 12, 2024 – Tickborne diseases have been on the rise—and we have seen a 35-fold increase in reported Lyme disease cases in Ohio over the past 13 years.
06/12/2024
Compliance Tips: Understanding the Importance of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) List
June 12, 2024 – Employers in the healthcare industry, regardless of the size of the healthcare organization, are required to check the OIG Exclusion List before hiring or engaging individuals or entities to confirm that they are not on the list.
06/05/2024
Cybersecurity in Healthcare—Tips for Protecting your Practice
June 5, 2024 – Based on member feedback, OSMA has developed a free (for members) on-demand webinar to help your practice recognize common types of phishing, acquire techniques to prevent cyber-attacks, and take proactive measures to implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards.
06/05/2024
Training on New Provider Network Management Modules from Ohio Medicaid
June 5, 2024 – Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) provided the following update on training opportunities related to its newly developed Provider Network Management (PNM) modules that become effective on June 30. Be sure your practice is prepared for these changes.
05/07/2024
Medical Student Abstract Poster Competition
May 7, 2024 – Ohio medical students were recently invited to submit an abstract for poster presentation. This was an excellent opportunity for students to become involved in OSMA's Annual Meeting and to enhance their reputation both within and outside their institution—and to network with physicians about policy, research, career interests and more.
05/07/2024
Training Offered on New ODM Provider Network Management Module
May 7, 2024 – Last week the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announced the following training opportunities on the new provider network management (PNM) module. Make sure you are prepared for the June 30 implementation.
05/06/2024
The Social Determinants of Health: What Medical Professionals Need to Know
May 6, 2024 – Each day, patients’ health is affected—for better or for worse—by factors like income, education, access to fresh food, access to green space, or access to a safe living space and neighborhood. Healthcare professionals witness how these aspects, known as the social determinants of health (SDOH), influence the arc of a person’s life. Fortunately, clinicians and organizations can craft more effective and equitable care interventions by elevating their awareness of key aspects of SDOH.
05/02/2024
Preparing for the New CMS Prior Authorization & Interoperability Rules
May 2, 2024 – Since the announcement of the final rule, a variety of informational resources have been developed including a fact sheet, webinar recording and FAQ. To ensure your practice is prepared for the implementation, please be sure to review these resources provided by CMS.
05/02/2024
2024 MIPS Annual Call for Quality & Cost Measures is Open Until May 10
May 1, 2024 – Last week, CMS released the following reminder about MIPS Quality and Cost Measures...
05/01/2024
Tips for Navigating the Insurance Credentialing Process
May 1, 2024 – After a healthcare provider receives their diploma it’s time to open a clinic and see patients. The next step involves navigating the intricate process of insurance credentialing. This is a complex process that needs to be completed the correct way the first time. Otherwise, the healthcare provider and/or clinic stands to lose its revenue stream.
04/24/2024
Compliance Reminder – Is Your Information Updated in Medicaid’s Provider Network Management Portal?
April 24, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid sent out the following reminder to all practices this week.
04/18/2024
OSMA’s Advocacy Results in Directive from the Department of Insurance on Change Healthcare
April 18, 2024 – Last month, OSMA and OHA sent a joint letter to the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI), requesting a directive be sent to all licensed health insurers in Ohio to create flexibility for physicians' and hospitals' interactions with payers due to the major disruption caused by the Change Healthcare cyberattack. Last week, ODI followed through on this request and sent a notice to all payers outlining the specific requests that we made.
04/17/2024
BWC Virtual Provider Forum on Physician’s Report of Work Ability is April 24—Have Your Voice Heard
April 17, 2024 – If your practice sees patients covered by worker’s compensation, you now have a chance to interact with the Bureau’s leadership and medical directors regarding the Physician’s Report of Work Ability. BWC sent out the following notice—don’t miss your chance to connect with key leaders and physicians.
04/11/2024
2024 OSMA Annual Meeting Recap
April 11, 2024 – This past weekend, OSMA members from across the state gathered together in Columbus for the OSMA Annual Meeting—an opportunity to network, share ideas, and conduct important policy work on behalf of their profession and their patients. Read on for a full summary of the event's happenings.
04/11/2024
Why It's Vital to Choose a Doctor-Owned Medical Malpractice Insurer
April 11, 2024 – Choosing a medical malpractice insurer involves more than just reviewing the cost of premiums—physicians must consider which insurer has their best interests at heart.
03/14/2024
CMS Announces MIPS Deadline Changes and Advanced Payments for Change Healthcare Issues
March 14, 2024 – Earlier this week, CMS made two announcements regarding proactive activities to address the challenges physicians and other healthcare providers are experiencing as a result of the Change Healthcare cyberattack. One addresses opportunities for practices to receive advanced payment, and the other extends the deadline for MIPS 2023 data submission to April 15.
03/10/2024
Remember to Verify/Update Your Provider Information
March 10, 2024 – Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid sent out an important reminder to all physicians regarding verifying your information in the Provider Network Management Provider Directory.
03/05/2024
COMPLIANCE: Preventative Medicine for Your Practice
March 5, 2024 – Every healthcare organization since 2010 has been required to have, not only a compliance program, but an effective one. Unfortunately, compliance sometimes is referred to in a negative way. It really shouldn’t be. It needs to be the culture of your practice. That is, if you want to be sustainable and successful.
03/05/2024
CMS Education Session: Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule
March 5, 2024 – Last week, CMS announced it will provide a virtual education session March 26, 2024, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM regarding its recently finalized rule on interoperability and prior authorization.
02/15/2024
Medical Board Update
February 15, 2024 – On February 14, the State Medical Board of Ohio accepted review of two potential additional qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana recommendation. Those conditions are (1) Female Orgasmic Difficulty Disorder and (2) Autism Spectrum Disorder.
02/12/2024
HHS Updates Opioid Treatment Program Regulations for First Time in 20 Years
February 12, 2024 – Last week the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published new rules related to opioid treatment and issued the following statement.
02/06/2024
Managed Care Entity Claim Denial Resources Available
February 6, 2024 – Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) sent out a notice on its new Reimbursement Information Page. See the full notice here, and be sure to provide the page and resources to your claims processing staff.
02/06/2024
CMS Releases New 2024 Resources on Quality Payment Programs
February 5, 2024 – Last week, CMS notified all providers to review updated resources and information related to many of its Qualify Payment Programs. Be sure to review this information and share the resources with your staff.
01/03/2024
New Year Brings Medicaid Rate Increase for Ohio Physicians
January 3, 2024 – On January 1, the majority of the codes in the Ohio Medicaid fee schedule for non-institutional providers (this includes physicians) increased by 5% or more—thus resulting in $415 million in additional funding this year. Additionally, fee schedules for ambulatory surgery centers, vision services, and others have also increased. Securing the Medicaid rate increase was OSMA’s top legislative priority in 2023!
12/19/2023
Thank You for Your Support in 2023!
December 19, 2023 – We're looking forward to 2024... I want to thank every OSMA member for their support and for being a passionate advocate for our profession. During the past year, OSMA staff and leadership were involved in a wide variety of activities that I hope have benefitted every physician in Ohio—and will continue to do so. 2023 highlights include...
11/26/2023
Improving Women’s Health in Primary Care
November 26, 2023 – The Weitzman ECHO interactive learning series for Ohio primary care medical providers, behavioral health providers, and other care team members will explore the complexity of common women’s health needs.
11/26/2023
Lead-Free Ohio Initiative
November 26, 2023 – Childhood lead poisoning continues to be a significant public health issue in Ohio. The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is offering new programming to assist practices and participate in the Lead-Free Ohio initiative.
04/26/2022
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Brian Santin, MD
April 26, 2022 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Santin as our new President, and we thank Dr. Lisa B. Egbert who tactfully completed her term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Santin, his medical career, and his vision for leading OSMA.
04/23/2021
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Lisa Egbert, MD
April 23, 2021 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Egbert as our new President, and we thank Dr. Anthony Armstrong who skillfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Egbert, her medical career, and her vision for leading OSMA.
07/18/2019
Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition Offers Online CME Courses
The Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition (OPWC), which represents Ohio physicians and hospitals and focuses on addressing physician burnout, launched six videos in its continuing medical education (CME) wellness video series.
06/06/2019
New Pain Management Toolkit Available
A new state toolkit designed to assist primary care doctors who prescribe opioids will be released this month by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
Legislative & Regulatory
11/20/2024
Take Action Now: Medicare Physician Payment Reform Bill Introduced
Oct. 31, 2024 - Your action is needed to help pass bill HR 10073 to eliminate the proposed Medicare cut and include an actual payment increase to support physicians.
11/07/2024
OSMA Legislative “Lame Duck” Preview
Nov. 7, 2024 - OSMA’s Advocacy team is prepared to be all hands on deck through the last day of session in December. Lame duck can be an unpredictable time, but we do have a general idea of what issues may be in focus, and where our priorities will be in the coming weeks.
11/06/2024
OSMA's Election Takeaways – 2024 Recap & Results
Nov. 6, 2024 – Get our overview of what happened and how the OSMAPAC’s endorsed candidates fared in this week’s elections. And stay tuned for advocacy updates as the Ohio Legislature moves into its lame duck session!
10/17/2024
Medicare Physician Payment - Physician Advocacy Effort Helps Generate Significant Response from Congress
Oct. 17, 2024 – As you may recall, we recently put out a call for physicians to contact their representatives in Congress and encourage them to urge House leadership to expeditiously replace the 2.8% Medicare physician payment cut with a payment update reflective of inflationary pressures before January 1, 2025.
10/16/2024
OSMA Joins Court Brief to Protect Children from Flavored Tobacco
Oct. 16, 2024 – OSMA recently signed on to an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in a case concerning the State of Ohio’s authority to prohibit municipalities from banning flavored tobacco products.
09/17/2024
We Need Your Help! OSMA Continues Advocacy Efforts for Medicare Payment Reform
Sept 17, 2024 – Our goal is to get House leadership to take immediate action to not only stop the 2.8 percent cut to physician Medicare payments, but also to provide physicians with a much-needed payment update that reflects the inflationary pressure they're facing while running a medical practice.
09/05/2024
OSMA Comments on Proposed 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rules
Sept 5, 2024 – Today, OSMA submitted comments to CMS on the proposed 2025 Medicare physician fee schedule rules.
09/05/2024
UnitedHealthcare® Announces Details of Prior Authorization Gold Card to Start
Sept 5, 2024 – For the last year, OSMA has been advocating for HB 130 that would create a prior authorization gold card program for physicians in Ohio. As these efforts continue, one of the biggest payers in Ohio, UnitedHealthcare (UHC), has announced the details of a gold card program they will implement in Ohio and across the nation starting October 1.
08/29/2024
Franklin County Judge Issues Temporary Injunction Against Various Abortion-Related Statutes
Aug 29, 2024 – A judge in Franklin County has temporarily blocked a few abortion related statutes in Ohio, citing Ohio’s recently passed constitutional amendment language.
08/21/2024
Federal District Court Blocks FTC Non-Compete Ban
Aug 21, 2024 – The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) recently finalized rule banning non-compete agreements across the country will not be going into effect on September 4, as a Texas Federal District Court Judge has struck down the rule.
08/15/2024
OSMA Files Brief Defending Physicians from Broadening Exposure in Medical Malpractice Claims
Aug 15, 2024 – OSMA's advocacy team is constantly reviewing cases both at the state and federal level for any impact on our members. Of all of the issues we handle, medical malpractice laws protecting providers are the ones almost continuously under attack in litigation.
08/14/2024
Legal Update: What is Impacting Healthcare in Ohio?
Aug 15, 2024 – Litigation and legislation concerning gender-affirming care have both exploded over the past few years. In particular, many states have enacted laws that prohibit gender-affirming care for minors.
08/12/2024
Support the OSMAPAC in this Critical Election Year!
Aug 14, 2024 – OSMA is always there for you to help make your voice heard on the issues that matter most – and the Ohio State Medical Association Political Action Committee (OSMAPAC) is crucial to our continued success.
08/07/2024
No Surprises Act Court Decision Supports Physician Practices
Aug 7, 2024 – Recently, the US Fifth Circuit Court upheld a lower court surprise billing decision in favor of healthcare providers. The court held that a federal rule concerning the arbitration process in payment disputes of surprise billing claims conflicts with the Administrative Procedures Act and that the federal departments exceeded their rulemaking authority.
07/25/2024
Summer Regulatory & Legal Update
July 25, 2024 – Compliance Reminder: HIPAA Reproductive Privacy Rule implementation has essentially updated HIPAA for providers in three ways. Also, read the latest on gender-affirming care cases, i.e. the Supreme Court case United States v. Skrmetti, and how a Franklin County judge issued a temporarily injunction for the enforcement of the House Bill 68 legislation, which would prevent transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care.
07/18/2024
OSMA Mid-Year Advocacy Wrap Up
July 18, 2024 – The legislative sessions have been extremely hectic, with both chambers of the Statehouse moving a record number of bills through committee hearings and floor votes. Your OSMA Advocacy team was actively involved as many of our priority advocacy issues were among those experiencing activity.
07/11/2024
HHS Releases 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rules—Reductions Continue
July 11, 2024 – On July 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rules. In the press release, HHS stated the following related to 2025 rates...
06/19/2024
Legislative Advocacy Update – June
June 19, 2024 – The OSMA advocacy team has had an action-packed several weeks at the Statehouse in Columbus as legislators prepare to wrap up their sessions for the summer recess before the upcoming fall elections.
06/18/2024
Recent Medical Board & Legal News
June 18, 2024 – Get an update on the Supreme Court decision on Mifepristone, what the Ohio Med Board has rejected as qualifying conditions for the recommendation of medical marijuana, and a new HIPAA privacy rule.
06/18/2024
Legislation Reintroduced to Reform Medicare Advantage Plans use of Prior Authorization
June 18, 2024 – A bipartisan bill, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (S. 4532 / H.R. 8702), has been reintroduced at the federal level to reform the use of prior authorization by Medicare Advantage plans. Both Ohio Senators—Brown and Vance—have co-sponsored the bill as well as congressman Balderson, Carey, Latta and Wenstrup. In total there are 135 U.S. House of Representatives and 45 senators signed on as co-sponsors.
06/13/2024
Ohio Physician Leaders Attend AMA Annual Meeting
June 13, 2024 – Over the last week, a delegation of Ohio physicians elected by members of the OSMA attended the American Medical Association’s Annual Meeting—joining with colleagues from across the country to review and debate policy. There were also a number of physicians from Ohio elected or appointed to leadership positions.
05/15/2024
May Legislative Advocacy Update
May 15, 2024 – Our OSMA Advocacy team is currently facing the additional challenge of limited chances for movement on our priority issues, but thankfully we can report that due to our efforts, progress continues for the OSMA advocacy agenda.
05/14/2024
Feds Solicit Complaints for Anti-Competitive Behavior in Healthcare
May 14, 2024 – In late April of this year, the Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, and Department of Health and Human Services announced a joint online portal to solicit complaints from providers and members of the public to report anti-competitive behavior in the healthcare marketplace.
05/14/2024
Ohio Medical Board Receives Expert Reports on Medical Marijuana Conditions
May 14, 2024 – At its May meeting, the State Medical Board received expert third-party reports for the petitions to add two new conditions to the Board’s list of those permissible for a medical marijuana condition.
05/13/2024
Planned Parenthood Challenges Additional Ohio Abortion Laws
May 13, 2024 – Last week, Planned Parenthood motioned the court in their case to file an amended complaint to include the recently-passed Constitutional right to abortion as support to their initial claims—which challenged an Ohio law that required any initial dose of medication-induced abortion to be consumed by the patient while physically present in the same location of their physician.
04/24/2024
State Medical Board & Regulatory Update
April 24, 2024 – The State Medical Board of Ohio's recent activity has been around topics of adopting the official licensure status of "retired," working on Board rules concerning Medication-Assisted Treatment, and a newly-hosted podcast to inform members and the general public on current Board matters.
04/18/2024
Legislative Update: Gender Affirming Care Legislation for Ohio Youth Temporarily Blocked by Judge
April 18, 2024 – This week, a Franklin County judge issued a temporary injunction for the enforcement of House Bill 68, legislation which would prevent transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care.
04/18/2024
OSMA’s Advocacy Results in Directive from the Department of Insurance on Change Healthcare
April 18, 2024 – Last month, OSMA and OHA sent a joint letter to the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI), requesting a directive be sent to all licensed health insurers in Ohio to create flexibility for physicians' and hospitals' interactions with payers due to the major disruption caused by the Change Healthcare cyberattack. Last week, ODI followed through on this request and sent a notice to all payers outlining the specific requests that we made.
04/17/2024
BWC Virtual Provider Forum on Physician’s Report of Work Ability is April 24—Have Your Voice Heard
April 17, 2024 – If your practice sees patients covered by worker’s compensation, you now have a chance to interact with the Bureau’s leadership and medical directors regarding the Physician’s Report of Work Ability. BWC sent out the following notice—don’t miss your chance to connect with key leaders and physicians.
04/11/2024
2024 OSMA Annual Meeting Recap
April 11, 2024 – This past weekend, OSMA members from across the state gathered together in Columbus for the OSMA Annual Meeting—an opportunity to network, share ideas, and conduct important policy work on behalf of their profession and their patients. Read on for a full summary of the event's happenings.
03/28/2024
Spring Legislative Preview
March 28, 2024 – Now that the March 19 primary elections have passed, the Ohio Legislature is expected to return to the Statehouse for a flurry of activity shortly after the upcoming holiday. The Ohio House and Senate will conduct a series of hearings and sessions from mid-April up until the legislators depart back to their districts for the summer recess and to campaign for the general election this fall.
03/26/2024
Are You Being Paid 2024 Rates? Check Your Medicaid Claims
March 26, 2024 – As a result of OSMA advocacy efforts last year, on Jan. 1 Ohio increased the Medicaid fee schedule resulting in the majority of codes increasing by 5% with a cumulative impact of about $400 million in new funding. The implementation of the increase has been challenging and it's essential that practices review their claims payment history since Jan. 1 to ensure you are receiving the appropriate increase.
03/21/2024
OSMA Seeks Ohio Department of Insurance Action on Change Healthcare Cyberattack
March 21, 2024 – OSMA and the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) sent a joint letter to the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) to direct commercial health insurance plans in Ohio to provide administrative and financial relief for physician practices and hospitals impacted by the cyberattack on Change Healthcare.
03/20/2024
Partial Medicare Fee Schedule Fix Passed and Implemented
March 20, 2024 – While not erasing the entire 3.37 percent cut that went into effect on January 1, recent passage of the Consolidated Appropriation Act created a 1.68 percent update to the Medicare Physician Payment Schedule conversion factor.
02/21/2024
February Legislative Update
January 21, 2024 – This month, your OSMA Advocacy team has been working extensively behind the scenes with legislators and other interested parties on several key issues, preparing for upcoming legislative sessions next week and later this spring after the primary election.
02/15/2024
Medical Board Update
February 15, 2024 – On February 14, the State Medical Board of Ohio accepted review of two potential additional qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana recommendation. Those conditions are (1) Female Orgasmic Difficulty Disorder and (2) Autism Spectrum Disorder.
02/12/2024
HHS Updates Opioid Treatment Program Regulations for First Time in 20 Years
February 12, 2024 – Last week the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published new rules related to opioid treatment and issued the following statement.
01/25/2024
Recent Override of Two Gubernatorial Vetoes
January 25, 2024 – An update on: Governor DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68, the gender-affirming care legislation, being overridden by a vote in the Ohio House, as well as information about the regulatory process surrounding the development of new administrative rules regarding gender transition care for Ohioans under the age of 21.
01/18/2024
Ohio Legislative Update!
January 18, 2024 – Last week, despite strong and consistent advocacy efforts by OSMA and a large coalition of medical organizations, members of the Ohio House of Representatives returned to Columbus in order to vote to overturn Governor DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68. As a reminder, HB 68 would ban gender-affirming care – including use of hormones, puberty blockers, and surgeries – for patients in Ohio under the age of 18. Also, members of the Ohio House have unanimously voted to pass House Bill 179—on vicarious liability in tort actions, and provides that the tolling of the limitations period during the defendant's absence or concealment does not apply to statutes of repose.
01/18/2024
Legal Update: Physician Wrongful Death Liability Claim Protections Upheld
January 18, 2024 – The Ohio Supreme Court confirmed limits on physician liability in wrongful death cases late in 2023.
01/17/2024
CMS Announces Final Rules Regulation Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization
January 17, 2024 – We are pleased to report that earlier this week, CMS announced its final rule package that will address some of the challenges physicians face with the prior authorization system.
01/03/2024
New Year Brings Medicaid Rate Increase for Ohio Physicians
January 3, 2024 – On January 1, the majority of the codes in the Ohio Medicaid fee schedule for non-institutional providers (this includes physicians) increased by 5% or more—thus resulting in $415 million in additional funding this year. Additionally, fee schedules for ambulatory surgery centers, vision services, and others have also increased. Securing the Medicaid rate increase was OSMA’s top legislative priority in 2023!
12/19/2023
Thank You for Your Support in 2023!
December 19, 2023 – We're looking forward to 2024... I want to thank every OSMA member for their support and for being a passionate advocate for our profession. During the past year, OSMA staff and leadership were involved in a wide variety of activities that I hope have benefitted every physician in Ohio—and will continue to do so. 2023 highlights include...
12/15/2023
OSMA December Legislative Update
December 15, 2023 – The Ohio Legislature has completed its activities and recessed until the New Year, and the past several weeks at the Statehouse have been a whirlwind of hearings, meetings, and legislative sessions as legislators prepared to wind down for the holidays. Here’s a review of important and recent updates on issues your OSMA advocacy team has been involved in this year, and a brief peek at what these developments mean for our advocacy agenda in 2024.
12/14/2023
Take Action Now: New Medicare Payment Fix Bill Introduced
December 14, 2023 – As we have informed OSMA members over the last two months, unless Congress takes action, the 2024 Medicare physician fee schedule includes a 3.37% payment cut for physicians.
12/14/2023
State Medical Board and Ohio Legal Update
December 14, 2023 – The State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) met on December 13 to finalize the election of Board members, while the Supreme Court of Ohio has ordered the parties in Preterm Cleveland v Yost to submit briefs in the wake of the passage of Issue 2.
12/13/2023
Attention Medical Students: 2024 Fellowship Opportunity
December 13, 2023 – Have free time this upcoming summer? Want to get a hands-on advocacy experience? The Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) is looking for a driven and personable medical student for a 6-8 week internship in summer 2024!
12/06/2023
Advocacy Update: Help Avert the Medicare Payment Cut!
November 28, 2023 – In addition to our direct advocacy efforts, we’re asking members to contact Congress to help fix Medicare now. We need everyone’s help to avert the cut.
12/06/2023
OSMA Advocacy Leads to More Than $400 Million in Increased Medicaid Reimbursement
November 28, 2023 – OSMA’s top legislative priority for 2023 was to increase Medicaid reimbursement for physicians. Working with the administration, a provision to increase the Medicaid fee schedule was included in the initial budget proposal and remained in the version passed by both the House and Senate—and ultimately signed by the governor at the end of June.
11/27/2023
Medicaid Fee-for-Service Claim Denials & Reprocessing
November 27, 2023 – Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) and its Ohio Medicaid Enterprise System vendors are diligently focused on providing transparency and visibility regarding care and services.
04/26/2022
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Brian Santin, MD
April 26, 2022 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Santin as our new President, and we thank Dr. Lisa B. Egbert who tactfully completed her term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Santin, his medical career, and his vision for leading OSMA.
04/23/2021
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Lisa Egbert, MD
April 23, 2021 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Egbert as our new President, and we thank Dr. Anthony Armstrong who skillfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Egbert, her medical career, and her vision for leading OSMA.
02/11/2021
Health Equity Q&A with OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD
February 11, 2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic and elevated conversations about racial justice have brought the issue of healthcare equity to the forefront for healthcare professionals everywhere. As we support members in 2021, we’re pleased to share thoughts from OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD on health equity and what this means for Ohio physicians.
08/01/2019
Ohio Physicians Give Feedback on Medicaid Managed Care Program
Many of our members provide daily patient care to Ohio’s Medicaid population and thus are uniquely qualified to provide meaningful information to assist the Ohio Department of Medicaid in its upcoming competitive Medicaid managed care procurement process. The comments we received from our members generally centered on areas where improvement is most desired, including plan accountability, grievances and appeals, provider support, benefits and delivery, and care coordination and management.
07/23/2019
Wrap Up: Ohio Delegation to the American Medical Association
Your OSMA Delegation to the AMA worked diligently on behalf of Ohio physicians during the recent 2019 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Ohio resolutions were carried forward and either adopted as new policy or committed the AMA to continue existing policy for another ten years.
07/18/2019
Ohio Budget Process Complete
The OSMA Government Relations team has been engaging with legislators on health care-related budget items since the governor’s initial proposal was released, and has been following and participating in the ongoing debates about a number of health policy decisions.
Member News
11/21/2024
AMA House of Delegates Recognizes Contributions of Two OSMA Leaders
Nov. 21, 2024 – Last week at the American Medical Association (AMA) Interim meeting of the House of Delegates (HOD), two OSMA Past-Presidents and members of the Ohio Delegation to the AMA—William Sternfeld, M.D. and Anthony Armstrong, M.D.—were recognized in front of the HOD for their service to Ohio and the AMA.
11/21/2024
AMA Study Analyzes Competition in Health Insurance – Includes Ohio Data
Nov. 21, 2024 – The 2024 Update to Competition in Health Insurance includes the two largest insurers’ market shares and a measure of market concentration for 382 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), the 50 states including Ohio, and the District of Columbia. It finds that the vast majority of health insurance markets remain stubbornly highly concentrated and at risk for insurer mergers to substantially lessen competition.
11/21/2024
Physician Leadership Institute Opportunity – Apply by Dec. 31
Nov. 21, 2024 – The Physicians Foundation and Brandeis University announced the launch of The Physicians Foundation’s Leadership Institute at Brandeis University. They are seeking visionary physicians. Only 25 physicians will be selected to participate in this prestigious, one-year hybrid training program.
11/20/2024
Take Action Now: Medicare Physician Payment Reform Bill Introduced
Oct. 31, 2024 - Your action is needed to help pass bill HR 10073 to eliminate the proposed Medicare cut and include an actual payment increase to support physicians.
11/14/2024
People First: Types of AI and How to Put Them to Work on Clinician Burnout and Health Disparities
Nov. 14, 2024 – We can learn from prior AI failures, not to mention failures of EHR implementation, to successfully integrate certain types of AI into daily healthcare operations. We will not solve the clinician burnout crisis or achieve equity in healthcare using AI alone, but strategic applications of AI can assist us in both areas.
11/07/2024
OSMA Legislative “Lame Duck” Preview
Nov. 7, 2024 - OSMA’s Advocacy team is prepared to be all hands on deck through the last day of session in December. Lame duck can be an unpredictable time, but we do have a general idea of what issues may be in focus, and where our priorities will be in the coming weeks.
11/06/2024
OSMA's Election Takeaways – 2024 Recap & Results
Nov. 6, 2024 – Get our overview of what happened and how the OSMAPAC’s endorsed candidates fared in this week’s elections. And stay tuned for advocacy updates as the Ohio Legislature moves into its lame duck session!
10/24/2024
Criteria for Postponing Non-Emergent & Non-Urgent Procedures due to National IV Fluid Shortage
Oct. 24, 2024 - OSMA and the Ohio Hospital Association are distributing the following information based on these recommendations should your healthcare institution need to safely postpone some procedures using “Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources” principles.
10/23/2024
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 26
Oct. 23, 2024 - Let your patients know: This day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.
10/23/2024
Annual Medicare Open Enrollment: Resources for Your Patients
Oct. 23, 2024 - Many Medicare patients ask their doctor about enrollment. CMS and the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) have developed a number of tools and resources that you can provide your patients.
10/17/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Josie Lowell
Oct. 17, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our Wright State 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/17/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Saksha Krishnan
Oct. 17, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our OSU 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/17/2024
Medicare Physician Payment - Physician Advocacy Effort Helps Generate Significant Response from Congress
Oct. 17, 2024 – As you may recall, we recently put out a call for physicians to contact their representatives in Congress and encourage them to urge House leadership to expeditiously replace the 2.8% Medicare physician payment cut with a payment update reflective of inflationary pressures before January 1, 2025.
10/16/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Katherine Esser
Oct. 16, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our University of Toledo 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/16/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Nikita Das
Oct. 16, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our Case Western Reserve University 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/16/2024
OSMA Joins Court Brief to Protect Children from Flavored Tobacco
Oct. 16, 2024 – OSMA recently signed on to an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in a case concerning the State of Ohio’s authority to prohibit municipalities from banning flavored tobacco products.
10/15/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Shannon Daley
Oct. 15, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our Ohio University 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/15/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Umida Burkhanova
Oct. 15, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our NEOMED 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding her progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/10/2024
IV Solutions Supply Shortage – What to Know
Oct. 10, 2024 – As you have probably already heard, Hurricane Helene created significant damage to the Baxter North Cove manufacturing site in Western North Carolina. The damage has caused a significant disruption and shortage in the supply of IV solutions to Ohio’s healthcare facilities. Baxter currently supplies about 85% of the IV solution used in Ohio.
10/10/2024
Malpractice Case Study: Could Closing the Loop Have Saved This Patient’s Life?
Oct. 10, 2024 – OSMA’s exclusively-endorsed medical liability insurance partner, The Doctors Company (TDC), provides the following case study to help you managed liability risk in your office.
10/03/2024
Impact Update from Summer Scholar, Adam Beucler
Oct. 3, 2024 - The OSMA Foundation has an update from our UC 2024 Summer Scholar recipient regarding his progress, internship experiences, and reflections on what is next!
10/03/2024
Tips for Purchasing Health Insurance for Your Practice
Oct 3, 2024 – We are fast approaching the 2024-25 health insurance renewal season. This is the time when insurance carriers adjust the annual premiums and product offerings available to employer groups like OSMA practices.
10/02/2024
Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) Fee Schedule & Rule Update
Oct 2, 2024 – BWC recently released the following information. The updated rules take effect on Oct. 1, 2024.
09/26/2024
Impacted by the Change Healthcare Cyberattack?
Sept 26, 2024 – CMS is still accepting PY 2023 MIPS EUC Reweighting Requests through Oct. 11 and just issued the following update regarding the MIPS program reporting impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
09/17/2024
We Need Your Help! OSMA Continues Advocacy Efforts for Medicare Payment Reform
Sept 17, 2024 – Our goal is to get House leadership to take immediate action to not only stop the 2.8 percent cut to physician Medicare payments, but also to provide physicians with a much-needed payment update that reflects the inflationary pressure they're facing while running a medical practice.
09/12/2024
National Physician Suicide Awareness Day
Sept 12, 2024 – This year, Sept. 17 marks the 7th annual day in September dedicated to honoring the memory of colleagues who have died by suicide—as we continue to raise awareness and discussion on how to prevent it.
09/11/2024
CMS Provides Resources for National Recovery Month: Take the First Step
Sept 11, 2024 – During National Recovery Month this September, talk with your patients about appropriate Medicare screening and treatment options.
09/10/2024
Sept 17: Strategies for Prescribing Opioids for the Management of Pain
Sept 10, 2024 – On Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. EST the AMA and leadership from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) will discuss the FSMB Strategies for Prescribing Opioids for the Management of Pain, which were adopted by the FSMB House of Delegates earlier this year.
09/10/2024
Nov. 13-15: 2024 BWC Health & Medical Symposium
Sept 10, 2024 – The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation has released information regarding its 2024 Health & Medical Symposium.
09/09/2024
Terminating Patient Relationships—What You Need to Know
Sept 9, 2024 – Get risk management advice from our exclusively endorsed partner for medical liability insurance, The Doctors Company.
09/05/2024
OSMA Comments on Proposed 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rules
Sept 5, 2024 – Today, OSMA submitted comments to CMS on the proposed 2025 Medicare physician fee schedule rules.
09/05/2024
UnitedHealthcare® Announces Details of Prior Authorization Gold Card to Start
Sept 5, 2024 – For the last year, OSMA has been advocating for HB 130 that would create a prior authorization gold card program for physicians in Ohio. As these efforts continue, one of the biggest payers in Ohio, UnitedHealthcare (UHC), has announced the details of a gold card program they will implement in Ohio and across the nation starting October 1.
09/04/2024
Ohio Medicaid Notice on Issues with Fee-For-Service Claims Management
Sept 4, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid has issued the following notice regarding fee-for-service claims management.
08/29/2024
Franklin County Judge Issues Temporary Injunction Against Various Abortion-Related Statutes
Aug 29, 2024 – A judge in Franklin County has temporarily blocked a few abortion related statutes in Ohio, citing Ohio’s recently passed constitutional amendment language.
08/27/2024
Stethoscope Donations Needed for Tribute Art Installation in Progress
Aug 27, 2024 – The Disposables—an art exhibit honoring physicians we have lost to suicide—is creating additional artwork and needs donated stethoscopes (old or unneeded). Please considering donating if you are able.
08/21/2024
Federal District Court Blocks FTC Non-Compete Ban
Aug 21, 2024 – The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) recently finalized rule banning non-compete agreements across the country will not be going into effect on September 4, as a Texas Federal District Court Judge has struck down the rule.
08/20/2024
Next Edition of Clinical QuickNotes on Substance Use Disorders Released
Aug 20, 2024 – The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD-COE) at Case Western Reserve University has released the second of its series, “Clinical QuickNotes on Substance Use Disorders.” This QuickNote is titled “What’s Happened with Alcohol Use Disorder.”
08/15/2024
OSMA Files Brief Defending Physicians from Broadening Exposure in Medical Malpractice Claims
Aug 15, 2024 – OSMA's advocacy team is constantly reviewing cases both at the state and federal level for any impact on our members. Of all of the issues we handle, medical malpractice laws protecting providers are the ones almost continuously under attack in litigation.
08/14/2024
Legal Update: What is Impacting Healthcare in Ohio?
Aug 15, 2024 – Litigation and legislation concerning gender-affirming care have both exploded over the past few years. In particular, many states have enacted laws that prohibit gender-affirming care for minors.
08/12/2024
Support the OSMAPAC in this Critical Election Year!
Aug 14, 2024 – OSMA is always there for you to help make your voice heard on the issues that matter most – and the Ohio State Medical Association Political Action Committee (OSMAPAC) is crucial to our continued success.
08/07/2024
No Surprises Act Court Decision Supports Physician Practices
Aug 7, 2024 – Recently, the US Fifth Circuit Court upheld a lower court surprise billing decision in favor of healthcare providers. The court held that a federal rule concerning the arbitration process in payment disputes of surprise billing claims conflicts with the Administrative Procedures Act and that the federal departments exceeded their rulemaking authority.
08/06/2024
CMS to Hold Physician Practice Listening Sessions in SW Ohio
Aug 6, 2024 – In partnership with OSMA, the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, and the Montgomery County Medical Society, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Chicago Regional Office will be holding listening sessions to gather feedback from physicians and staff from practices in southwest Ohio. The sessions will be held August 12 and August 14.
08/06/2024
Ohio Medicaid Update – Provider Network Management Module Training
Aug 6, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) provided the following training update this week... "ODM in partnership with Maximus, the Provider Network Management (PNM) module vendor, is excited to share that we are continuing our provider awareness and training efforts. Training is scheduled for August 7 - 21."
08/05/2024
Which Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is Best for Your Practice?
Aug 5, 2024 – Today’s healthcare has a high-priority on the convenience of patients. But keeping things running smoothly and delivering top-notch care is critical. EMRs offer a ton of benefits for both you and your patients.
07/25/2024
Summer Regulatory & Legal Update
July 25, 2024 – Compliance Reminder: HIPAA Reproductive Privacy Rule implementation has essentially updated HIPAA for providers in three ways. Also, read the latest on gender-affirming care cases, i.e. the Supreme Court case United States v. Skrmetti, and how a Franklin County judge issued a temporarily injunction for the enforcement of the House Bill 68 legislation, which would prevent transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care.
07/18/2024
OSMA Mid-Year Advocacy Wrap Up
July 18, 2024 – The legislative sessions have been extremely hectic, with both chambers of the Statehouse moving a record number of bills through committee hearings and floor votes. Your OSMA Advocacy team was actively involved as many of our priority advocacy issues were among those experiencing activity.
07/11/2024
Ohio Medicaid Launched New Modules on June 30—What You Need To Know
July 11, 2024 – On June 30, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) implemented new features in the Ohio Medicaid Enterprise System (OMES). ODM provided OSMA the following update to send to our members.
07/11/2024
HHS Releases 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rules—Reductions Continue
July 11, 2024 – On July 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rules. In the press release, HHS stated the following related to 2025 rates...
07/11/2024
Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Issues in Healthcare and Insurance Public Policy
July 11, 2024 – The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare setting and its effects on professional liability insurance are rapidly evolving. As AI technology advances and becomes more integrated into healthcare, the legislative and regulatory framework is just starting to catch up.
06/25/2024
OSMA's IMG Section Meets with ODH on Workforce and J1 Visa Waiver Program
June 25, 2024 – In June, several members of the OSMA’s International Medical Graduate (IMG) Section met with staff from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to discuss the timeline and opportunities for increased education related to the administration of the J1 Visa Waiver Program in Ohio.
06/24/2024
Coming Soon: New Ohio Medicine Format
June 24, 2024 – Based on feedback from our OSMA members, we have reformatted our print publication that sends to our membership, Ohio Medicine.
06/19/2024
Legislative Advocacy Update – June
June 19, 2024 – The OSMA advocacy team has had an action-packed several weeks at the Statehouse in Columbus as legislators prepare to wrap up their sessions for the summer recess before the upcoming fall elections.
06/18/2024
Recent Medical Board & Legal News
June 18, 2024 – Get an update on the Supreme Court decision on Mifepristone, what the Ohio Med Board has rejected as qualifying conditions for the recommendation of medical marijuana, and a new HIPAA privacy rule.
06/18/2024
Legislation Reintroduced to Reform Medicare Advantage Plans use of Prior Authorization
June 18, 2024 – A bipartisan bill, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (S. 4532 / H.R. 8702), has been reintroduced at the federal level to reform the use of prior authorization by Medicare Advantage plans. Both Ohio Senators—Brown and Vance—have co-sponsored the bill as well as congressman Balderson, Carey, Latta and Wenstrup. In total there are 135 U.S. House of Representatives and 45 senators signed on as co-sponsors.
06/13/2024
Ohio Physician Leaders Attend AMA Annual Meeting
June 13, 2024 – Over the last week, a delegation of Ohio physicians elected by members of the OSMA attended the American Medical Association’s Annual Meeting—joining with colleagues from across the country to review and debate policy. There were also a number of physicians from Ohio elected or appointed to leadership positions.
06/12/2024
Ohio Department of Health Alerts Healthcare Providers about Lyme Disease and Other Tickborne Diseases
June 12, 2024 – Tickborne diseases have been on the rise—and we have seen a 35-fold increase in reported Lyme disease cases in Ohio over the past 13 years.
06/12/2024
Compliance Tips: Understanding the Importance of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) List
June 12, 2024 – Employers in the healthcare industry, regardless of the size of the healthcare organization, are required to check the OIG Exclusion List before hiring or engaging individuals or entities to confirm that they are not on the list.
06/05/2024
Cybersecurity in Healthcare—Tips for Protecting your Practice
June 5, 2024 – Based on member feedback, OSMA has developed a free (for members) on-demand webinar to help your practice recognize common types of phishing, acquire techniques to prevent cyber-attacks, and take proactive measures to implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards.
06/05/2024
TDC Providing a Dividend for Eligible Ohio Members & Announces Tribute Plan Milestone for Retirees
June 5, 2024 – OSMA’s exclusively endorsed medical liability insurance partner, The Doctors Company (TDC), has approved a 2024 premium dividend of approximately $14.7 million, bringing the total distributed dividends to date to more than $470 million. Additionally, TDC announced that its Tribute Plan has now distributed more than $175 million to approximately 14,000 retirees.
06/05/2024
Training on New Provider Network Management Modules from Ohio Medicaid
June 5, 2024 – Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) provided the following update on training opportunities related to its newly developed Provider Network Management (PNM) modules that become effective on June 30. Be sure your practice is prepared for these changes.
05/22/2024
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Elizabeth Muennich, MD, FAAD
May 22, 2024 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Muennich as our new President, and we thank Dr. Eric Drobny who has successfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Muennich, her medical career, and her vision for OSMA.
05/15/2024
May Legislative Advocacy Update
May 15, 2024 – Our OSMA Advocacy team is currently facing the additional challenge of limited chances for movement on our priority issues, but thankfully we can report that due to our efforts, progress continues for the OSMA advocacy agenda.
05/14/2024
Feds Solicit Complaints for Anti-Competitive Behavior in Healthcare
May 14, 2024 – In late April of this year, the Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, and Department of Health and Human Services announced a joint online portal to solicit complaints from providers and members of the public to report anti-competitive behavior in the healthcare marketplace.
05/14/2024
Ohio Medical Board Receives Expert Reports on Medical Marijuana Conditions
May 14, 2024 – At its May meeting, the State Medical Board received expert third-party reports for the petitions to add two new conditions to the Board’s list of those permissible for a medical marijuana condition.
05/14/2024
Meet OSMA's New Medical Student Section Chair
May 14, 2024 – My name is Ellena Privitera and I am delighted to be serving as your new chair of the MSS! I’m originally from Cincinnati and received my bachelor’s degree in medical sciences at the University of Cincinnati. I recently finished my M3 year at the Ohio State University and will be on a leave-of-absence as a Fulbright scholar in Portugal while serving as your chair before joining the class of 2026 for M4.
05/13/2024
Planned Parenthood Challenges Additional Ohio Abortion Laws
May 13, 2024 – Last week, Planned Parenthood motioned the court in their case to file an amended complaint to include the recently-passed Constitutional right to abortion as support to their initial claims—which challenged an Ohio law that required any initial dose of medication-induced abortion to be consumed by the patient while physically present in the same location of their physician.
05/07/2024
Medical Student Abstract Poster Competition
May 7, 2024 – Ohio medical students were recently invited to submit an abstract for poster presentation. This was an excellent opportunity for students to become involved in OSMA's Annual Meeting and to enhance their reputation both within and outside their institution—and to network with physicians about policy, research, career interests and more.
05/07/2024
Training Offered on New ODM Provider Network Management Module
May 7, 2024 – Last week the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announced the following training opportunities on the new provider network management (PNM) module. Make sure you are prepared for the June 30 implementation.
05/06/2024
New Learning Tool on Substance Use Disorders Released
May 6, 2024 – The Ohio Substance Use Disorders Center of Excellence (SUD-COE) at Case Western Reserve University has released a new learning tool, “Clinical QuickNotes on Substance Use Disorders.” The QuickNotes provide brief overviews of various clinically relevant topics and are designed for busy physicians to review in just a few minutes.
05/06/2024
The Social Determinants of Health: What Medical Professionals Need to Know
May 6, 2024 – Each day, patients’ health is affected—for better or for worse—by factors like income, education, access to fresh food, access to green space, or access to a safe living space and neighborhood. Healthcare professionals witness how these aspects, known as the social determinants of health (SDOH), influence the arc of a person’s life. Fortunately, clinicians and organizations can craft more effective and equitable care interventions by elevating their awareness of key aspects of SDOH.
05/02/2024
Ohio Medicaid Announces Updates to Address Fee-For-Service (FFS) Claim Challenges
May 2, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) issued the following update this week. OSMA has been working with the Department on administrative challenges related to FFS claims and hopes these upgrades will address some of the problems practices have been facing.
05/02/2024
Preparing for the New CMS Prior Authorization & Interoperability Rules
May 2, 2024 – Since the announcement of the final rule, a variety of informational resources have been developed including a fact sheet, webinar recording and FAQ. To ensure your practice is prepared for the implementation, please be sure to review these resources provided by CMS.
05/02/2024
2024 MIPS Annual Call for Quality & Cost Measures is Open Until May 10
May 1, 2024 – Last week, CMS released the following reminder about MIPS Quality and Cost Measures...
05/01/2024
Tips for Navigating the Insurance Credentialing Process
May 1, 2024 – After a healthcare provider receives their diploma it’s time to open a clinic and see patients. The next step involves navigating the intricate process of insurance credentialing. This is a complex process that needs to be completed the correct way the first time. Otherwise, the healthcare provider and/or clinic stands to lose its revenue stream.
04/25/2024
FTC Issues Final Rule On Non-Compete Language – Legal Action Anticipated
April 25, 2024 – In January of 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued notice of a proposed rule prohibiting non-compete agreements between nearly every employee/employer under the FTC’s jurisdiction, including physician employment agreements.
04/25/2024
Are You Experiencing “Take Backs” on Claims Already Paid?
April 25, 2024 – If so, we need to hear from you! ...OSMA is currently collecting information from practices to assist are advocacy efforts to ensure currently laws are enforced and work towards some updates in the law.
04/24/2024
State Medical Board & Regulatory Update
April 24, 2024 – The State Medical Board of Ohio's recent activity has been around topics of adopting the official licensure status of "retired," working on Board rules concerning Medication-Assisted Treatment, and a newly-hosted podcast to inform members and the general public on current Board matters.
04/24/2024
Compliance Reminder – Is Your Information Updated in Medicaid’s Provider Network Management Portal?
April 24, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid sent out the following reminder to all practices this week.
04/23/2024
Meet Our 2024 Summer Scholars Recipients!
April 23, 2024 - Thanks to your generosity, one medical student from each of Ohio’s 7 medical schools has been chosen to receive this award. Since 2022, $52,500 has been awarded to 21 medical students with unpaid internships, to assist with summer expenses when financial aid is not available.
04/18/2024
Legislative Update: Gender Affirming Care Legislation for Ohio Youth Temporarily Blocked by Judge
April 18, 2024 – This week, a Franklin County judge issued a temporary injunction for the enforcement of House Bill 68, legislation which would prevent transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care.
04/18/2024
OSMA’s Advocacy Results in Directive from the Department of Insurance on Change Healthcare
April 18, 2024 – Last month, OSMA and OHA sent a joint letter to the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI), requesting a directive be sent to all licensed health insurers in Ohio to create flexibility for physicians' and hospitals' interactions with payers due to the major disruption caused by the Change Healthcare cyberattack. Last week, ODI followed through on this request and sent a notice to all payers outlining the specific requests that we made.
04/17/2024
BWC Virtual Provider Forum on Physician’s Report of Work Ability is April 24—Have Your Voice Heard
April 17, 2024 – If your practice sees patients covered by worker’s compensation, you now have a chance to interact with the Bureau’s leadership and medical directors regarding the Physician’s Report of Work Ability. BWC sent out the following notice—don’t miss your chance to connect with key leaders and physicians.
04/11/2024
2024 OSMA Annual Meeting Recap
April 11, 2024 – This past weekend, OSMA members from across the state gathered together in Columbus for the OSMA Annual Meeting—an opportunity to network, share ideas, and conduct important policy work on behalf of their profession and their patients. Read on for a full summary of the event's happenings.
04/11/2024
Why It's Vital to Choose a Doctor-Owned Medical Malpractice Insurer
April 11, 2024 – Choosing a medical malpractice insurer involves more than just reviewing the cost of premiums—physicians must consider which insurer has their best interests at heart.
03/28/2024
Spring Legislative Preview
March 28, 2024 – Now that the March 19 primary elections have passed, the Ohio Legislature is expected to return to the Statehouse for a flurry of activity shortly after the upcoming holiday. The Ohio House and Senate will conduct a series of hearings and sessions from mid-April up until the legislators depart back to their districts for the summer recess and to campaign for the general election this fall.
03/26/2024
Are You Being Paid 2024 Rates? Check Your Medicaid Claims
March 26, 2024 – As a result of OSMA advocacy efforts last year, on Jan. 1 Ohio increased the Medicaid fee schedule resulting in the majority of codes increasing by 5% with a cumulative impact of about $400 million in new funding. The implementation of the increase has been challenging and it's essential that practices review their claims payment history since Jan. 1 to ensure you are receiving the appropriate increase.
03/21/2024
OSMA Seeks Ohio Department of Insurance Action on Change Healthcare Cyberattack
March 21, 2024 – OSMA and the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) sent a joint letter to the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) to direct commercial health insurance plans in Ohio to provide administrative and financial relief for physician practices and hospitals impacted by the cyberattack on Change Healthcare.
03/20/2024
Partial Medicare Fee Schedule Fix Passed and Implemented
March 20, 2024 – While not erasing the entire 3.37 percent cut that went into effect on January 1, recent passage of the Consolidated Appropriation Act created a 1.68 percent update to the Medicare Physician Payment Schedule conversion factor.
03/14/2024
CMS Announces MIPS Deadline Changes and Advanced Payments for Change Healthcare Issues
March 14, 2024 – Earlier this week, CMS made two announcements regarding proactive activities to address the challenges physicians and other healthcare providers are experiencing as a result of the Change Healthcare cyberattack. One addresses opportunities for practices to receive advanced payment, and the other extends the deadline for MIPS 2023 data submission to April 15.
03/10/2024
Remember to Verify/Update Your Provider Information
March 10, 2024 – Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid sent out an important reminder to all physicians regarding verifying your information in the Provider Network Management Provider Directory.
03/07/2024
How Cyberattacks are Crippling Ohio's Health Care Systems
March 7, 2024 – OSMA President, Dr. Eric Drobny, recently talked with the Columbus Dispatch about why the cyberattack on Change Healthcare is having such a ripple effect on the healthcare industry, how practices may continue to see impacts for weeks to come, and the OSMA’s role in supporting members.
03/07/2024
Cyberattack on Change Healthcare – Latest Information
March 7, 2024 – Over the last two weeks, since the Feb. 21 cyberattack on Change Healthcare, members have contacted OSMA about the major disruption the attack has caused to their practices. While the process of resolving the issue is ongoing, OSMA has been working with our state and national partners to ensure we’re providing the latest information to members. In the last few days, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) and the AMA have released updates and resources.
03/05/2024
COMPLIANCE: Preventative Medicine for Your Practice
March 5, 2024 – Every healthcare organization since 2010 has been required to have, not only a compliance program, but an effective one. Unfortunately, compliance sometimes is referred to in a negative way. It really shouldn’t be. It needs to be the culture of your practice. That is, if you want to be sustainable and successful.
03/05/2024
CMS Education Session: Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule
March 5, 2024 – Last week, CMS announced it will provide a virtual education session March 26, 2024, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM regarding its recently finalized rule on interoperability and prior authorization.
02/23/2024
2023 Foundation Donor Recognition
Feb 23, 2024 – In recognition of contributions January 1, 2023 through February 7, 2024—as well as our Founders Society of donors who have given accumulatively, $1,846 or greater since April 2021.
02/23/2024
A Unified Call to Action
Feb 23, 2024 – As we continue to support and expand the Well-Being CARE service, we invite you to join us in this vital initiative.
02/21/2024
February Legislative Update
January 21, 2024 – This month, your OSMA Advocacy team has been working extensively behind the scenes with legislators and other interested parties on several key issues, preparing for upcoming legislative sessions next week and later this spring after the primary election.
02/20/2024
Celebrating Black History Month - Dr. Chatman feature
February 20, 2024 – In honor of Black History Month, we’re profiling some of the African American physician pioneers in Ohio, including past OSMA president Dr. Chatman.
02/20/2024
Celebrating Black History Month - Dr. Armstrong feature
February 20, 2024 – In honor of Black History Month, we’re profiling some of the African American physician pioneers in Ohio, including past OSMA president Dr. Armstrong.
02/15/2024
Medical Board Update
February 15, 2024 – On February 14, the State Medical Board of Ohio accepted review of two potential additional qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana recommendation. Those conditions are (1) Female Orgasmic Difficulty Disorder and (2) Autism Spectrum Disorder.
02/12/2024
HHS Updates Opioid Treatment Program Regulations for First Time in 20 Years
February 12, 2024 – Last week the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published new rules related to opioid treatment and issued the following statement.
02/06/2024
Managed Care Entity Claim Denial Resources Available
February 6, 2024 – Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) sent out a notice on its new Reimbursement Information Page. See the full notice here, and be sure to provide the page and resources to your claims processing staff.
02/06/2024
CMS Releases New 2024 Resources on Quality Payment Programs
February 5, 2024 – Last week, CMS notified all providers to review updated resources and information related to many of its Qualify Payment Programs. Be sure to review this information and share the resources with your staff.
01/25/2024
Recent Override of Two Gubernatorial Vetoes
January 25, 2024 – An update on: Governor DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68, the gender-affirming care legislation, being overridden by a vote in the Ohio House, as well as information about the regulatory process surrounding the development of new administrative rules regarding gender transition care for Ohioans under the age of 21.
01/24/2024
Free PPE Offered by Department of Health
January 24, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is offering non-sterile personal protective equipment (PPE) to you at no charge. The PPE (gloves, masks, gowns, hand sanitizer, etc.) was purchased as part of Ohio‘s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
01/23/2024
Important Reminders From Ohio Medicaid
January 23, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid just sent out the following important update for physicians. Be sure to check your renewal status, and remind your patients to check their Medicaid coverage.
01/18/2024
Ohio Legislative Update!
January 18, 2024 – Last week, despite strong and consistent advocacy efforts by OSMA and a large coalition of medical organizations, members of the Ohio House of Representatives returned to Columbus in order to vote to overturn Governor DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68. As a reminder, HB 68 would ban gender-affirming care – including use of hormones, puberty blockers, and surgeries – for patients in Ohio under the age of 18. Also, members of the Ohio House have unanimously voted to pass House Bill 179—on vicarious liability in tort actions, and provides that the tolling of the limitations period during the defendant's absence or concealment does not apply to statutes of repose.
01/18/2024
Legal Update: Physician Wrongful Death Liability Claim Protections Upheld
January 18, 2024 – The Ohio Supreme Court confirmed limits on physician liability in wrongful death cases late in 2023.
01/17/2024
CMS Announces Final Rules Regulation Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization
January 17, 2024 – We are pleased to report that earlier this week, CMS announced its final rule package that will address some of the challenges physicians face with the prior authorization system.
01/03/2024
New Year Brings Medicaid Rate Increase for Ohio Physicians
January 3, 2024 – On January 1, the majority of the codes in the Ohio Medicaid fee schedule for non-institutional providers (this includes physicians) increased by 5% or more—thus resulting in $415 million in additional funding this year. Additionally, fee schedules for ambulatory surgery centers, vision services, and others have also increased. Securing the Medicaid rate increase was OSMA’s top legislative priority in 2023!
12/19/2023
Thank You for Your Support in 2023!
December 19, 2023 – We're looking forward to 2024... I want to thank every OSMA member for their support and for being a passionate advocate for our profession. During the past year, OSMA staff and leadership were involved in a wide variety of activities that I hope have benefitted every physician in Ohio—and will continue to do so. 2023 highlights include...
12/15/2023
OSMA December Legislative Update
December 15, 2023 – The Ohio Legislature has completed its activities and recessed until the New Year, and the past several weeks at the Statehouse have been a whirlwind of hearings, meetings, and legislative sessions as legislators prepared to wind down for the holidays. Here’s a review of important and recent updates on issues your OSMA advocacy team has been involved in this year, and a brief peek at what these developments mean for our advocacy agenda in 2024.
12/14/2023
Take Action Now: New Medicare Payment Fix Bill Introduced
December 14, 2023 – As we have informed OSMA members over the last two months, unless Congress takes action, the 2024 Medicare physician fee schedule includes a 3.37% payment cut for physicians.
12/14/2023
State Medical Board and Ohio Legal Update
December 14, 2023 – The State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) met on December 13 to finalize the election of Board members, while the Supreme Court of Ohio has ordered the parties in Preterm Cleveland v Yost to submit briefs in the wake of the passage of Issue 2.
12/13/2023
Attention Medical Students: 2024 Fellowship Opportunity
December 13, 2023 – Have free time this upcoming summer? Want to get a hands-on advocacy experience? The Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) is looking for a driven and personable medical student for a 6-8 week internship in summer 2024!
12/06/2023
Advocacy Update: Help Avert the Medicare Payment Cut!
November 28, 2023 – In addition to our direct advocacy efforts, we’re asking members to contact Congress to help fix Medicare now. We need everyone’s help to avert the cut.
12/06/2023
OSMA Advocacy Leads to More Than $400 Million in Increased Medicaid Reimbursement
November 28, 2023 – OSMA’s top legislative priority for 2023 was to increase Medicaid reimbursement for physicians. Working with the administration, a provision to increase the Medicaid fee schedule was included in the initial budget proposal and remained in the version passed by both the House and Senate—and ultimately signed by the governor at the end of June.
12/04/2023
Need Help with Workers’ Compensation Issues?
December 4, 2023 – BWC Provider Engagement directors are available to serve as your personal contacts at the BWC. They offer you the latest updates, expertise, and convey your information regarding issues or concerns that need immediate attention. Reach out to a Provider Engagement director as soon as you need help with workers’ compensation and injury-management issues.
12/04/2023
Should You Offer Your Services as a Paid Clinical Expert?
December 4, 2023 – Healthcare practitioners frequently serve as independent experts in professional liability claims. You may be contacted by an attorney who asks you to review a case and render an opinion involving patient care provided by other medical, dental, or advanced practice clinicians.
11/27/2023
Medicaid Fee-for-Service Claim Denials & Reprocessing
November 27, 2023 – Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) and its Ohio Medicaid Enterprise System vendors are diligently focused on providing transparency and visibility regarding care and services.
11/26/2023
Improving Women’s Health in Primary Care
November 26, 2023 – The Weitzman ECHO interactive learning series for Ohio primary care medical providers, behavioral health providers, and other care team members will explore the complexity of common women’s health needs.
11/26/2023
Lead-Free Ohio Initiative
November 26, 2023 – Childhood lead poisoning continues to be a significant public health issue in Ohio. The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is offering new programming to assist practices and participate in the Lead-Free Ohio initiative.
05/30/2023
Our 2023 Summer Scholars Recipients!
May 30, 2023 - Thanks to your generosity, we are thrilled to introduce the 2023 cohort of OSMA Foundation Summer Scholars scholarship recipients! Look for more in-depth profiles of each of these Summer Scholars throughout June and July. The future of medicine is certainly bright.
03/26/2023
Member Q&A with Jay Williamson, MD
March 26, 2023 – OSMA member leaders work tirelessly on behalf of our members to ensure OSMA is meeting the needs of physicians and responding to the ever-changing healthcare landscape. We’d like to spotlight Dr. Jay Williamson.
02/21/2023
Student Member Q&A with David Warner
February 21, 2023 – OSMA member leaders work tirelessly on behalf of our members to ensure OSMA is meeting the needs of physicians and responding to the ever-changing healthcare landscape. We’d like to spotlight a student member, David Warner.
08/01/2022
Your Well-being Checkup And Referral Engagement Service
August 1, 2022 – The need for well-being support has never been higher, and the OSMA Foundation is supporting Ohio's healthcare workforce with a way to measure factors like personal anxiety, depression and burnout and connect with credible resources who can help.
04/26/2022
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Brian Santin, MD
April 26, 2022 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Santin as our new President, and we thank Dr. Lisa B. Egbert who tactfully completed her term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Santin, his medical career, and his vision for leading OSMA.
02/16/2022
Member Q&A with John A. Bastulli, MD
February 16, 2022
01/24/2022
Council Q&A with Shannon C. Trotter, DO
January 24, 2022
12/20/2021
Member Q&A with Jeffrey R. Leipzig, MD
December 20, 2021
11/22/2021
Council Q&A with John R. Corker, MD, FACEP
November 22, 2021
10/14/2021
Council Q&A with Gregory Surfield, MD, FACS
October 13, 2021
09/07/2021
Council Q&A with Michelle Knopp, MD
September 7, 2021
08/24/2021
Council Q&A with Mary LaPlante, MD, FACOG
August 24, 2021
07/28/2021
Council Q&A with Mary LaPlante, MD, FACOG
July 28, 2021
04/23/2021
Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Lisa Egbert, MD
April 23, 2021 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Egbert as our new President, and we thank Dr. Anthony Armstrong who skillfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Egbert, her medical career, and her vision for leading OSMA.
02/11/2021
Health Equity Q&A with OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD
February 11, 2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic and elevated conversations about racial justice have brought the issue of healthcare equity to the forefront for healthcare professionals everywhere. As we support members in 2021, we’re pleased to share thoughts from OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD on health equity and what this means for Ohio physicians.
08/01/2019
Ohio Physicians Give Feedback on Medicaid Managed Care Program
Many of our members provide daily patient care to Ohio’s Medicaid population and thus are uniquely qualified to provide meaningful information to assist the Ohio Department of Medicaid in its upcoming competitive Medicaid managed care procurement process. The comments we received from our members generally centered on areas where improvement is most desired, including plan accountability, grievances and appeals, provider support, benefits and delivery, and care coordination and management.
07/18/2019
Ohio Budget Process Complete
The OSMA Government Relations team has been engaging with legislators on health care-related budget items since the governor’s initial proposal was released, and has been following and participating in the ongoing debates about a number of health policy decisions.
07/18/2019
Terminating Patient Relationships
Just as it is an acceptable and reasonable practice to screen incoming patients, it is acceptable and reasonable to know when to end patient relationships that are no longer therapeutic. It is critical, however, to end the patient relationship in a manner that will not lead to claims of discrimination or abandonment.
07/18/2019
Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition Offers Online CME Courses
The Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition (OPWC), which represents Ohio physicians and hospitals and focuses on addressing physician burnout, launched six videos in its continuing medical education (CME) wellness video series.
07/18/2019
Training Managers Who Walk the Walk
Identifying and training role models in your business or practice is key to creating a positive, productive work environment. Which managers should you cultivate as role models to lead your organization?
06/06/2019
New Pain Management Toolkit Available
A new state toolkit designed to assist primary care doctors who prescribe opioids will be released this month by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
06/06/2019
The $4.6 Billion Price Tag of Physician Burnout
To put a price on burnout, the study authors culled data from recent research findings and reports — including direct or inferred findings on doctors cutting back on hours or quitting as a result of burnout.
01/03/2019
Physician Well-Being: The Real 5th Vital Sign
"The reason we should care about burnout is because it has the potential for serious consequences on the quality of patient care and safety, patient satisfaction, professionalism, physicians’ own care and safety, and the viability of the health care system..."
12/06/2018
Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient Registry Opens: What it Means for Doctors
The amount of product will be extremely limited, as growers and dispensaries come online throughout 2019.
COVID News
08/27/2024
Stethoscope Donations Needed for Tribute Art Installation in Progress
Aug 27, 2024 – The Disposables—an art exhibit honoring physicians we have lost to suicide—is creating additional artwork and needs donated stethoscopes (old or unneeded). Please considering donating if you are able.
01/24/2024
Free PPE Offered by Department of Health
January 24, 2024 – The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is offering non-sterile personal protective equipment (PPE) to you at no charge. The PPE (gloves, masks, gowns, hand sanitizer, etc.) was purchased as part of Ohio‘s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
08/01/2022
Your Well-being Checkup And Referral Engagement Service
August 1, 2022 – The need for well-being support has never been higher, and the OSMA Foundation is supporting Ohio's healthcare workforce with a way to measure factors like personal anxiety, depression and burnout and connect with credible resources who can help.
02/16/2022
Member Q&A with John A. Bastulli, MD
February 16, 2022
01/24/2022
Council Q&A with Shannon C. Trotter, DO
January 24, 2022
12/20/2021
Member Q&A with Jeffrey R. Leipzig, MD
December 20, 2021
11/22/2021
Council Q&A with John R. Corker, MD, FACEP
November 22, 2021
10/14/2021
Council Q&A with Gregory Surfield, MD, FACS
October 13, 2021
09/07/2021
Council Q&A with Michelle Knopp, MD
September 7, 2021
08/24/2021
Council Q&A with Mary LaPlante, MD, FACOG
August 24, 2021
“Having a diverse collection of mentors has allowed me to explore all my career options and is helping me figure out how to build the career I want.”
- Michelle I. Knopp, MD