The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians participated in a House of Medicine meeting on November 1. The meeting, held at the Columbus Athletic Club, was organized by the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA). Lobbyist David Paragas, JD; Deputy Executive Vice President (EVP) Kate Mahler, CAE; and EVP Ann Spicer attended representing the OAFP.
OSMA President Susan Hubbell, MD, welcomed attendees and reviewed OSMA’s legislative priorities identifying enforcement of Ohio’s prior authorization statute as a major objective in the coming months. Ohio has a good prior authorization law on the books, but if it isn’t being properly enforced, it doesn’t matter how good the law is. In the coming weeks, the OSMA will be conducting a survey about what physician practices are experiencing regarding prior authorization. The OAFP will ask its members to participate in this survey (you don’t have to be an OSMA member to participate). Watch for details on how to participate later this month.
The OSMA House of Delegates meeting will be held Friday-Saturday, March 21-22, 2020, at the Hilton at Easton in Columbus, OH. The deadline for submitting resolutions for consideration by the OSMA House of Delegates is Tuesday, January 21, 2020.
OSMA lobbyist Monica Hueckel updated attendees on current legislative issues being monitored. Legislative proposals include scope of practice bills – House Bill (HB) 177 (advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) independent practice), HB 224 (certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) practice) and HB 323 (psychologists prescribing); price transparency (Senate Bill (SB) 97); surprise billing (SB 198); and a ban on tanning for individuals younger than 18 (HB 329). Mental health parity legislation is expected to be introduced prior to the end of the calendar year. An opioid bill limiting controlled substance prescriptions to three days for acute pain is also anticipated.
OSMA Chief Executive Officer Todd Baker updated the group on the Medicaid managed care contract reprocurement process. Paramount is the only current contractor not planning to participate. Several companies, who aren’t currently in Ohio’s Medicaid managed care market, plan to compete for an opportunity to enter the market.
OSMA Regulatory Affairs Manager Jennifer Hayhurst reviewed current regulatory issues being monitored by the OSMA. Those issues include the continued rollout of medical marijuana in the state. To date, there are 44 dispensaries operating statewide, 575 physicians are registered to recommend medical marijuana to patients and 64,000 patients have medical marijuana cards. Also under 5-year review are the State Medical Board of Ohio’s (SMBO) weight loss prescribing rules which are among the most restrictive and burdensome in the nation; unfortunately, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy supports the restrictions as they are currently written so the prospect of revising them appears dim. Participants were informed of the SMBO’s efforts to require licensees to complete one hour of continuing medical education (CME) every two years on the “duty to report misconduct.” The OAFP and the OSMA both have long-standing policies opposing mandating content-specific CME as a condition of licensure.
The OAFP thanks the OSMA for organizing these House of Medicine meetings. The OAFP appreciates OSMA’s efforts in sharing information that assists us all in advocating for our physician members.