The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is your go-to source for family medicine advocacy! Read on for this week’s updates and contact Government Relations Director Jeremy Blake with questions or ways to get involved.
November 8th Election Results
In an election year that was billed nationally as a “nail-biter,” the outcomes in Ohio’s races were largely unsurprising and won by comfortable leads. For insights on the November 8th election, read this article by Ohio Academy of Family Physicians lobbyist, Lauren Huddleston, JD.
Take Action
The OAFP Encourages You to Directly Contact Your Current State Legislators During Lame Duck
The time period after Election Day until the General Assembly adjourns sine die is known as lame duck. This is a very busy time when legislation will move quickly as the current General Assembly finishes their work before the end of the year. Learn how to contact your current state representative and state senator.
Dr. Mark McLoney Submits Testimony in Opposition to HB 454
Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) Board Member Mark McLoney, MD, submitted written testimony to the Ohio House committee holding hearings on House Bill 454 Banning Affirming Healthcare for Minors.
In his opposition testimony, Dr. McLoney shares that patients and their families and their licensed healthcare professional are in the best position to determine what is best for each patient.
The House Families, Aging, and Human Services Committee is holding a hearing on Wednesday, November 16 at 10 a.m.
Need to Know
OAFP Joins Ohio HB 135 Coalition
A number of patient focused organizations joined in unity to send a letter to Senate President Matt Huffman to urge support of House Bill 135, which would require insurers and pharmacy benefit managers to count all payments made on behalf of a beneficiary to their deductible and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription medications. The Senate Health Committee is holding a hearing on Wednesday, November 16, at 9 a.m.
OCPCP Partners Warn of Unintended Consequences of A Total Abortion Ban
The OAFP Board of Directors unanimously agreed to support the Ohio Coalition of Primary Care Physicians (OCPCP) partnership letter being sent to Speaker Robert Cupp and Senate President Huffman strongly urging their consideration of unintended consequences of a total abortion ban.
Points highlighted include, protecting the patient-physician trusted relationship, criminalizing physicians for providing essential health care, the influence on medical school attendance, the impact on physician workforce, and the legislature using endorsed medical definitions. The OAFP advocacy team will be monitoring this issue for lame duck activity.
Summary of the CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
On November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the current year (CY) 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule. This regulation also impacts the Quality Payment Program (QPP). CMS released accompanying fact sheets on the MPFS, Medicare Shared Savings Program, and QPP changes. The provisions in the final rule will take effect on Sunday, January 1, 2023, except where otherwise specified in the rule.
For more information, read a summary by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Weekly Ohio News Shows
The State of Ohio, PBS | November 11, 2022
The State of Ohio is a weekly program focused on state politics and government. Millions of people made it out to the polls on Election Day to cast their vote for several statewide and local races that can play a pivotal role in policymaking at Congress and the Statehouse. Watch The State of Ohio.
Face the State, WBNS 10TV | November 13, 2022
Face the State is a weekly program focused on politics and government. On this week’s Face the State, we look back at last week’s election and hear from the newly elected and re-elected leaders of Ohio. Watch Face the State.
The Spectrum, NBC 4 | November 13, 2022
The Spectrum is a weekly program focused on state politics and government. Midterm election wrap up as Republicans sweep Ohio; is Ohio still a swing state? Watch The Spectrum.