Happy New (Fiscal) Year!

Your new membership year started this week. The membership cycle coincides with the OOA fiscal year, May 1-April 30.

Your membership makes our work possible. Since the OOA’s founding in 1898, the top priority has remained constant: advocate for Ohio DOs and promote the distinctive practice of osteopathic medicine. The OOA is strong because of your commitment and support. Together, we will continue to advance the osteopathic profession and the role of physicians as the leader of the health care team for another 125 years!

For those who have renewed, thank you! If you haven’t yet, you can renew your membership safely and conveniently online here. If you’d like us to contact someone in your office directly to help with dues processing, send an email to jbarnhart@OhioDO.org.

Allowable Charges for Medical Records, ODH News

The Medical Records Price Index is published annually by the Ohio Department of Health and establishes the maximum amount health care providers may charge for copying a patient’s medical record. The 2024 document is here.

This amount is increased or decreased by the average percentage of increase or decrease in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (United States city average, all items), prepared by the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In other ODH news, the department is set to launch a new vital records system on January 1, 2025. However, electronic submission and certification of death records by all physicians will not be fully implemented at the outset due to ongoing development work.

Additionally, there is an update for those who may use ODH public health data. The department has transitioned its Ohio Public Health Information Warehouse (OPHIW) data from the agency’s website to the State of Ohio portal. This new platform is a statewide data management and analytics solution, offering new tools, streamlining data access requests, and an improved user experience.

To learn more, visit the DataOhio Portal here.

If You Receive the PPI Survey, Please Complete It!

A national survey of physician practices led by the American Medical Association and Mathematica is underway and we urge your cooperation with this effort. The objective of the Physician Practice Information (PPI) survey is to gather accurate data on practice costs and the hours of patient care that physicians provide to support fair and accurate physician payment.

Participation in the survey is voluntary but important. We urge you to complete the questionnaire. The information you share will be kept private, reported in aggregate, and used only for the purpose of informing the national estimates of practice expense per patient care hour.

OOA Past President Paul A. Martin, DO, is the American Osteopathic Association advisor to the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), an expert panel of physicians which makes recommendations to the federal government on the resources required to provide medical services. Information from the PPI survey assists the RUC.

The survey closes June 30. If you have questions, contact Mathematica at PPISurvey@Mathematica-MPR.com or 833-770-1032.

FTC Bans Noncompete Agreements for For-Profit Companies

On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a final rule that prohibits for-profit companies from utilizing noncompete agreements for most employees. Upon the rule’s implementation, for-profit employers will no longer be able to enter into new noncompete agreements or enforce existing noncompete agreements for most of their workforce.

Non-profit entities, including non-profit hospitals, are beyond FTC’s jurisdiction and generally are not subject to this rule. FTC stated that the rule is “expected to lower health care costs by up to $194 billion over the next decade.”

The US Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit, April 24, to block the rule, stating that FTC is exceeding its authority in implementing this broad rule. Other legal challenges, including from hospitals and health care entities, are expected to follow.

Appalachian Health Care to Get $64M from State

More than $64 million will be awarded to the Appalachian Children Coalition to fund dozens of projects that are expected to significantly improve health care access across the region, according to Gov. Mike DeWine.

The funding — which was provided as part of the new Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative — will support the creation or expansion of community- and school-based health clinics and the launch of health care-focused workforce development programs, among other items.

The grant will be divided among 28 projects that are expected to affect 61,000 students and 375,000 residents across 20 Appalachian counties. Partners include 34 school districts, a career technical school, an educational service center, and 16 health care organizations. Expanded services will include comprehensive primary care, dental, vision, and mental health services for children, families, and communities.

Read more here.

Attention Residents!

The AOA Bureau of Emerging Leaders invites residents, fellows, and new physicians in practice to apply for a scholarship to attend OMED, September 20-22, in San Antonio. The scholarship includes a $1,500 travel stipend, complimentary OMED registration, and opportunities to engage with AOA leadership.

Applications are due by May 31. For criteria and other details, see the BEL page here.

Applications for the AOA Training in Policy Studies (TIPS) program are now being accepted. The program provides residents with leadership development opportunities and an understanding of current health care policy issues. The program is comprised of eight meetings, with the first held at OMED.

The deadline is June 5. Get the application here.

New Health Dashboard Released

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) released the sixth edition of the Health Value Dashboard, which found that Ohio ranks 44th on health value compared to other states and DC. According to HPIO, Ohioans live less healthy lives and spend more on health care than people in most other states.

The Dashboard includes more than 100 data metrics on population health, health care spending, and five additional areas that contribute to health value, plus profiles of groups of Ohioans who face discrimination and obstacles to health and well-being. It is designed for policymakers and other leaders to examine Ohio’s performance relative to other states, track change over time, and identify and explore health disparities and inequities in Ohio.

HPIO identified four policy priorities to improve health value: mental well-being; tobacco and cannabis prevention; health care affordability; and creating opportunities to thrive.

Read more on the HPIO website here.