The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) advocacy team monitors healthcare related legislation, rule changes, and legislative updates for Ohio’s family physicians.
To access the OAFP Bill Tracker, visit the OAFP Public Policy webpage and click on the Bill Tracker icon.
Read on for this week’s updates and contact Advocacy Manager Micah Cook with questions or for ways to get involved.
House Bill 68 Gender Affirming Care Update
Source: NEA Consulting
The Senate, mostly along party lines, approved legislation on December 13 that would ban gender-reassignment surgeries and medications for transgender youth and transgender girls from playing girls’ sports. The House later approved the Senate amendments to House Bill (HB) 68, sending the bill to Governor Mike DeWine for his signature. The governor was noncommittal on what he would do with the bill, telling the Statehouse News Bureau, “I’m going to reserve that comment until I see the final bill.” The bill passed 24-8, with Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville, OH) joining all Senate Democrats in opposition to the bill. Later, the House voted 61-27 to concur with Senate amendments to HB 68.
The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians strongly opposes this bill and has signed a veto request letter with other medical professional organizations.
Emerging Leader Application to FMAS Open
A strategic initiative of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) is to provide varied leadership opportunities and support to members who are ready to lead.
In effort to provide ongoing leadership development and continuity for understanding Ohio’s role in national level priorities, the OAFP has created a program to support two emerging leaders to attend the American Academy of Family Physicians’ (AAFP) Family Medicine Advocacy Summit (FMAS).
In keeping with the mission of the Emerging Leader program, this is opportunity to support OAFP members attending the FMAS taking place in Washington, DC, Sunday-Tuesday, May 19-21, 2024. Eligibility requirements include holding active membership in the OAFP and participation in the OAFP’s Public Policy Workgroup (over the past three years).
To apply for this leadership opportunity, please complete the application and submit it to Micah by Monday, January 22, 2024.
Two members will be selected by the OAFP Executive Committee. Notification of selection will be sent no later than Friday, February 9, 2024.
This initiative is tied not only to our Leadership strategic pillar, but also to our strategic goal to “ensure all members receive value for membership through meaningful engagement experiences and the OAFP’s unwavering commitment to cultivate professional satisfaction.”
Senate Bill 60 Certified Mental Health Assistants Licensure Update
Thank you to all members who contacted their state senators and urged them to oppose Senate Bill 60, which would establish a Certified Mental Health Assistants (CMHA) licensure that does not exist in any other state and lacks any national organizations or credentialing bodies to ensure sufficient education and training. Thanks to your engagement, many legislators expressed concern with the legislation and a scheduled Committee vote on the bill was not held, preventing any legislative action on the bill before the end of the year.
Code G2211 Update and Speak Out
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on November 2. While the fee schedule finalizes implementation of the Medicare G2211 add-on code, it also includes a 3.4% across-the-board cut to all services as a result of budget neutrality rules. The AAFP issued a statement upon the release of the final rule and has been advocating that Congress stop the forthcoming payment cut without delaying implementation of G2211 on Monday, January 1, 2024.
House and Senate Committees have been working to address the looming pay cuts. You can help support these efforts by sending a Speak Out to your lawmakers today!