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Please take the OOA COVID-19 member survey. Your participation helps the OOA develop programs and benefits to serve you. These are unprecedented times and your input is vital to informing our efforts moving forward.

The short survey assesses the impact of COVID-19 on member practices and takes less than four minutes to complete.

Legislative Committee Focuses on Pharmacy Benefits

The Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee (JMOC) met this week to question Ohio Department of Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran amid reports of her department’s inaction on legislative directives issued last year regarding pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

The state biennial budget bill included provisions for ODM to procure a single PBM by July 1, but Corcoran said the date was a benchmark. She said the process is on track, as ODM issued a request for proposals in late July. Lawmakers said they expected the process to be completed and in place by July 1.

The legislature moved to reform Medicaid’s $3 billion-a-year prescription drug program after a study in 2019 found pharmacy middlemen billed Ohio taxpayers $224 million more in a single year than they paid pharmacies.

Medicaid provides health insurance to nearly 3 million Ohioans. Enrollment in the program has risen by about 225,000 since February.

JMOC is a bipartisan panel consisting of five state representatives and five state senators. Sen. Dave Burke, a pharmacist, is chair.

In other legislative news, a new proposal, HB 747, was introduced this week regarding prescribing and dispensing of drugs for off-label uses. It specifically “prohibits the Ohio Pharmacy Board from preventing the prescription and use of approved medications or pharmaceuticals, including hydroxychloroquine, for off-label treatment purposes and use when prescribed by a licensed physician or other medical personnel authorized by law to prescribe for such off label purposes and use.” The bill sponsors said that while the Board has rescinded its decision, it’s still important to move forward with the legislation to prevent future overreach. No immediate action is expected as the Ohio General Assembly is recessed until fall.

Ohio Sees Increase in COVID Cases in Younger Populations

At his briefing on Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine continued to stress the importance of masks, social distancing, and proper hygiene as students approach the start school. Currently, Ohio has left the decision to individual school districts on how to approach the new academic year. 

He shared updated data on the percentage of cases in Ohio by age group. The data shows a significant increase in positive cases among younger adults, over the summer, particularly in the 20-29 age range. In June, 24.9% of cases were in this age bracket; 24.5% in July; and 19.4% so far in August. That compares to 12.2% of the caseload in March. At Nationwide Childrens Hospital, 17-year-olds seem to be contracting coronavirus at higher rates than their younger peers. This could be because they are more likely to socialize with more people.

Twelve counties are now at Red Alert Level 3 as defined by the Ohio Public Health Advisory System. They include three elevated to red since last week: Brown, Clermont, and Muskingum.

The Minority Health Strike Force Blueprint was released yesterday.

Formed in April, the Minority Health Strike Force was charged with examining the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on minority communities, as well as broader health disparities and racial injustices. Currently, Black Ohioans represent 14 percent of the state population but are 24% of positive COVID-19 cases, 32% of COVID-19 hospitalizations, and 19% of COVID-19 deaths in Ohio. Similarly, at least 6% of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Ohio are Latino, despite representing 3.9% of Ohio’s population.

Medical Board Approves New CME Requirement

The State Medical Board of Ohio approved the proposed CME rules OAC 4731-10-02 at its meeting this week. The changes will continue the transition to 50 total hours of requisite CME for licensure, as a result of last year’s budget bill. The language also includes the recommendation from the Strauss Working Group to add a “duty to report misconduct” as a CME requirement. The OOA was one of five organizations expressing opposition to this additional requirement.

View a recording of the August 12 meeting here and read the meeting materials here.

Attention Medical Students! Meet OOA Leaders Next Week

The OOA Board of Trustees meets next Saturday and following the meeting they invite students to log on and Zoom in! Normally, the Board hosts a reception for OU-HCOM students. But 2020 is different. So instead of an in-person receptions in Athens, Cleveland, and Dublin, we’re using Zoom rooms to chat and network.

Join us on Saturday, August 22 from 11:15 am to 12 noon.

Students can register here. Questions? Contact Carol Tatman at ctatman@OhioDO.org.

Seeking Nomination for State EMS Board

The State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services (EMFTS) is seeking nominations for an emergency room pediatrician. Expertise or background in EMS or trauma care is required.

The timeline calls for Gov. Mike DeWine to make the appointment so the selected candidate may attend the December 16 EMFTS Board meeting. Candidates will need to submit a current CV along with a State of Ohio Boards and Commissions application. Nominations are due by September 25.

Contact Executive Director Matt Harney, mattharney@OhioDO.org, to get the application form and other instructions.

OOA Members Get Discount for On-Demand CME

Earn CME credit from your home or office—or wherever (and whenever) it’s convenient for you. The OOA has added 13 on-demand programs to the catalog at www.DOcme.org, a collaboration of state osteopathic societies to provide quality online CME. The OOA-produced lectures are 35% off the list price when you use the discount code OOAFamily. Topics include:

• ACGME Osteopathic Recognition in a Subspecialty Program
• Emerging Topics in Risk Management
• Coronavirus and its Impact on Travel Medicine
• Mental Wellness for the Attending Physician
• Why Sleep is Important and Natural Ways to Improve Sleep.

As a reminder, the CME requirement for licensure has not been waived. The State Medical Board of Ohio has delayed enforcement due to the pandemic. So you’ll still need to stay current on your CME.