The Ohio Primary Care Physician Workforce Collaborative met on May 1. Ohio Academy of Family Physicians President Don Mack, MD, represents the Academy on the Collaborative. OAFP members Doug Harley, DO, and Ted Wymyslo, MD, are also members of the eight-member group.
The mission of the Ohio Primary Care Physician Workforce Collaborative is to ensure an adequate supply and distribution of primary care physicians in Ohio who are trained to provide comprehensive, continuous primary care using the Advanced Primary Care (APC) model.
The collaborative began reviewing best practices in other states as to what has been successful in growing primary care physicians to meet population health needs. Specific information was provided on workforce activities in Indiana, Montana, Idaho, California, New Mexico, New York, and Texas.
The group discussed legislative strategy relative to implementation of future recommendations. The Ohio General Assembly will not be in session much prior to the November general election so adding recommendations to an existing bill (that is moving) during lame duck session would be an option. The group also hopes that both candidates for governor will incorporate recommendations into their platforms and act on them after taking office in January (possible through the state budget process).
The next step for the group will be a discussion of recommendations and strategies with Greg Moody, director of the Governor’s Office of Health Transformation.
The next meeting of the Ohio Primary Care Physician Workforce Collaborate will be held on Tuesday, June 5.