On August 30, Ohio Academy of Family Physicians Lobbyist David Paragas and Executive Vice President Ann Spicer represented the OAFP at a House of Medicine meeting hosted by the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA). The meeting was chaired by OSMA President Robyn Chatman, MD, a family physician and OAFP member.
During the nearly three-hour meeting, attendees reviewed legislation and regulatory matters that are likely to be discussed in the months ahead. Highlights included discussion of scope bills (giving certified registered nurse anesthetists independent practice, permitting psychologists to prescribe psychotropic drugs, and allowing physical therapists to diagnose).
House Bill 273, a bill that would prohibit a physician from being required to secure maintenance of certification (MOC) as a condition of licensure, reimbursement, employment, or privileges, generated the most discussion. While many are extremely frustrated with the cost and time that MOC requires to complete, others expressed concern that elimination of professional self-regulation could open the door to outside regulation from the legislature or state medical boards. The OAFP will be discussing this issue at its Public Policy Committee meeting in November.
Since the price transparency statute was not eliminated in the budget bill, the lawsuit to stop the statute’s implementation continues. A hearing is scheduled for late September in Williams County. There is a stay on implementation of the price transparency law until then.
Attendees reviewed the rules for medical marijuana and prescribing opioids for acute pain. There is hope that the compounding rules implemented by the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy will be re-opened for discussion so that additional exemptions can be added.
The various physician organizations also discussed their respective positions on Issue 2, the drug pricing initiated statute that will appear on the November 2017 general election ballot.