Alarming Trend in COVID Cases

What a difference a week makes. Last week’s OSTEOFACTS touted statewide statistics which showed coronavirus cases remaining steady for the last week despite ‘reopening.’ This week, stats show a massive jump in cases, 987. It is the sharpest day-to-day increase since April and the fourth highest since the height of the pandemic. Gov. Mike DeWine said the latest data includes a new and worrisome trend: almost 60 percent of cases are in the 20- to 49-year-old range.

During his briefing yesterday, DeWine singled out Hamilton County, which recorded its highest one day total of new cases (132) on June 18. Between June 16-19, the county had more than 100 new cases daily. Compare that to the past four months when Hamilton County had only one day with 100 new cases.

DeWine said the spike in cases overall is not attributed solely to the increase in testing as hospitalizations are also up. He continued to encourage Ohioans to wear masks and maintain social distancing.

Senate Health Committee Meets

The Ohio Senate Health, Human Services & Medicaid Committee met Wednesday for several hours with SCR 14, which would declare racism a public health crisis in Ohio, occupying much of the agenda.

The OOA submitted written testimony in support of the resolution, noting OOA policy encourages osteopathic medical institutions to engage in expert facilitated, evidence-based dialogue in cultural competency and the physician’s role in eliminating racial health care disparities in medical treatment. The letter reads, in part:

Comprehensive wellness—in body, mind, and spirit—can only be fully achieved if personal safety is guaranteed for all people. Entirely too often this safety is not ensured. Discriminatory surveillance and policing are often exacerbated by excessive force. This must stop. Every single person deserves respect, equality, and justice. As a country, we are falling short.

The committee also heard testimony on SB 311 which limits the authority of the Ohio Department of Health director, and a trio of bills related to maternal health and mortality:

• SB 326 would modify the Department of Health’s Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Board to identify and review pregnancy-related deaths.
• SB 327 would require that hospitals and birthing facilities offer employees training on maternal health and pregnancy-related complications.
• SB 328 would expand Medicaid coverage to include doulas.

See a list of all of the health care-related bills introduced this session.

Osteopathic Profession Advocates for Physicians

Osteopathic organizations throughout the country—including the OOA—continue to join forces to advocate for physicians at the federal level. A letter to Robert Wilkie, secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, urges the VA to rescind recent rule changes that expand practice rights for certified registered nurse anesthetists and 32 other health care professions. The letter notes:

While we fully support the VA’s goal of increasing access to health care, we are concerned that granting other health care professionals similar practice rights to physicians, without requiring them to complete similar education, training and testing, could create a two-tier health care system and dilute the safety standards that our profession is constantly trying to advance. 

By eliminating physician oversight of CRNAs in VA facilities and expanding the scope of practice for 32 types of health care professionals in VA facilities, even in states that have laws to the contrary, the VA’s new policies disregard the decades of evidence and experience behind established medical school and graduate medical education programs and circumvent current, standardized requirements for medical licensure across the United States.

Separately, the AOA sent a letter this week to Congressional leaders calling on them to preserve patient access to care both during the COVID-19 pandemic and after, and provide additional financial support to physicians so they will be able to continue providing quality patient care. A number of provisions to include in legislation were outlined, including:

• Health and Human Services Provider Relief Funding and Guidance
• Improvements to Medicare Advance and Accelerated Payment Program
• Improvements to the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program
• Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program
• Liability protection
• Medicare and Medicaid payment parity
• Surprise medical billing
• Paycheck Protection Program eligibility
• Funding for PPE and national rapid COVID-19 testing.

Share Your Knowledge

The OOA continues to develop its roster of CME presenters. If you’re willing to share your knowledge and expertise with your peers, let us know by completing the online form.

In general, lecturers complete a simple disclosure form, provide objectives, a CV, headshot photo, and present their expertise with the help of slides. In the case of virtual programs, your presentation could be pre-recorded.

Having a list of physician speakers helps the OOA develop quality education programs. Whether your expertise is in billing/coding, a chronic condition, wellness, pain management, physician wellness, among many other topics, you can help your DO colleagues enhance their own skills and maintain the requisite education for licensure and certification.

Register your interest today!

Welcome a New Medical Student into the Profession

All first-year medical students at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine receive their first white coat compliments of the OOA and Ohio Osteopathic Foundation. The coat, complete with OOA armpatch, is a gift from their professional family. OOA members and other friends of the profession are invited to connect with the Class of 2024 by sponsoring the purchase of a white coat.

Make your $45 donation (or any increment thereof) to the “Student White Coat Fund” and write a message to the incoming student in the ‘comment’ field. Make your tax-deductible donation by July 31.

Seeking Pediatric Surgeon for Committee

The Trauma Committee of the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services (EMFTS)  is seeking nominations for a board-certified surgeon who actively practices pediatric trauma surgery.

The Trauma Committee was created to advise and assist the EMFTS in all matters regarding trauma care and the Ohio Trauma System. Its membership is spelled out in Revised Code. The Committee generally meets every other month.

Candidates should submit a CV by July 16 to OOA Executive Director Matt Harney at mattharney@OhioDO.org.