Interested parties met with Representative Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City, OH) on May 19 to address needed revisions to one-bite, a means that impaired physicians who have caused no patient harm can use to anonymously seek treatment without fearing disciplinary action from the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO).
During the meeting, it was agreed that a small work group of representatives from the SMBO and the Ohio Physicians Health Plan would begin meeting regularly to attempt to hammer out agreements on the following issues:
- Defining one-bite eligibility requirements (so they can be more easily applied and are a predictive model of determination of eligibility)
- Administration of one-bite relative to determination and monitoring responsibilities
- Enhancing treatment provider standards for one-bite participants (there are presently 27 approved treatment providers)
- Ensuring that approved treatment providers have qualified staff to administer one-bite.
The large interested parties group will meet again on Tuesday, June 14, at which time the small group will report on progress made.
For more information, visit the OAFP website and watch future issues of the Weekly Family Medicine Update for updates.