OSTEOFACTS | The Gavel Has Passed

May 1, 2020

	The Gavel Has Passed On Saturday during the OOA House of Delegates virtual meeting, OOA President Sandra L. Cook, DO, was officially sworn-in as OOA president. Dr. Cook, who resides in Geneva, is currently assistant medical director at Medical Mutual of Ohio where she has been a physician consultant since 1999. A graduate of Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, she served her family medicine residency at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital. Watch her inaugural address here. Thank you to Charles D. Milligan, DO, for his service this past year as president.
	Congratulations OOA Award Recipients! The OOA is proud to announce the 2020 award recipients. These outstanding leaders would normally be honored at the Awards Reception at the Symposium. Instead, you can read about them and all they do for their patients, their communities, and the profession on the OOA Facebook and Twitter accounts and watch the announcement video. Distinguished Service Award Charles D. Milligan, DO Trustees Award Charles G. Vonder Embse, DO OOA/Osteopathic Heritage Foundations George L. Eckert, Jr., DO, Mentor of the Year Francis X. Blais, DO M. Bridget Wagner, DO, Humanitarian Award Nancy Henceroth-Gatto, DO Meritorious Service Award Jon F. Wills In addition, 11 physicians achieved life member status in the OOA. Congratulations to Michael M. Alexander, DO; George M. Bescak, DO; Poncet C. Bills, DO; David L. Bowman, DO; Richard M. Cole, DO; Charles D. Hanshaw, DO; Marc N. Loundy, DO; Thomas J. Mucci, DO; Michael L. Nowak, DO; M. Terrance Simon, DO; and Geraldine N. Urse, DO.
	COVID-19 Ohio Update As part of Responsible RestartOhio, Gov. Mike DeWine’s plan to open Ohio’s economy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all medically necessary procedures that do not require an overnight stay in a health care facility or do not require inpatient hospital admission and minimizes use of personal protective equipment may move forward as of today (May 1). This includes regular doctor visits, well-care checks, well-baby visits, out-patient surgeries, imaging procedures, and diagnostic tests. Dental services and veterinary services may also proceed if a safe environment can be established. Health care providers and facilities that plan to resume providing these services must adhere to infection control practices, have sufficient PPE, and talk with patients about the risk of contracting COVID-19. Surgeries and procedures that, if not performed, would cause a threat to a patient’s life, a threat of the spread of cancer or the permanent dysfunction of a limb or organ, the presence of severe symptoms causing an inability to perform activities of daily living, and/or the risk of rapidly worsening symptoms have always been permitted even if an overnight stay is necessary. DeWine issued Responsible RestartOhio - a Guide for Health Care to provide insight and best practices to resume non-urgent health care services across the state through a stepwise approach. The guide is intended to be a resource for patients, providers, health systems and Ohio’s COVID-19 Three Zone response infrastructure as the state begins to resume typical standards of health care. During a daily briefing this week, DeWine announced the state of Ohio has shipped 4.1 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to local emergency management agencies (EMA) across Ohio. Although not the first shipment of PPE, it is the largest one-time distribution of PPE from the state to the local EMAs in Ohio history.
	OOPAC Challenge Update Each year the Ohio Osteopathic Political Action Committee (OOPAC) challenges physicians to make a contribution to the PAC to further enhance efforts at the Ohio Statehouse. OOPAC’s purpose is to support candidates who have demonstrated their beliefs in and the principles to which osteopathic medicine is dedicated. A strong PAC helps to open doors and strengthen the osteopathic voice at the Ohio Statehouse. Thank you to contributors to date. Make your contribution today!
	CMS Issues Changes to Provide Flexibility The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued another round of sweeping regulatory waivers and rule changes yesterday to deliver expanded care to the nation’s seniors and provide flexibility to the health care system. Medicare will no longer require an order from the treating physician or other practitioner for beneficiaries to get COVID-19 tests and certain laboratory tests required as part of a COVID-19 diagnosis. During the Public Health Emergency, COVID-19 tests may be covered when ordered by any healthcare professional authorized to do so under state law. To help ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have broad access to testing related to COVID-19, a written practitioner’s order is no longer required for the COVID-19 test for Medicare payment purposes. CMS will pay hospitals and practitioners to assess beneficiaries and collect laboratory samples for COVID-19 testing, and make separate payment when that is the only service the patient receives. This builds on previous action to pay laboratories for technicians to collect samples for COVID-19 testing from homebound beneficiaries and those in certain non-hospital settings, and encourages broader testing by hospitals and physician practices. CMS previously announced that Medicare would pay for certain services conducted by audio-only telephone between beneficiaries and their doctors and other clinicians. Now, CMS is broadening that list to include many behavioral health and patient education services. CMS is also increasing payments for these telephone visits to match payments for similar office and outpatient visits. This would increase payments for these services from a range of about $14-$41 to about $46-$110. The payments are retroactive to March 1, 2020. Since some Medicare beneficiaries don’t have access to interactive audio-video technology that is required for Medicare telehealth services, or choose not to use it even if offered by their practitioner, CMS is waiving the video requirement for certain telephone evaluation and management services, and adding them to the list of Medicare telehealth services. As a result, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to use an audio-only telephone to get these services. Read more about these latest changes. Get information on the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund and how to apply. See the updated fact sheet about the Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs.
	Renew Your Membership Online Today is the first day of the 2020-2021 membership year! OOA membership is an investment in your profession. Thank you to those who have already paid their dues; we appreciate it. For those who haven’t, you can conveniently and securely renew your membership online. The OOA works for you in many ways! Advocacy efforts protect the value of your osteopathic medical degree and your ability to serve as the leader of the health care team. Ensuring your medical education and years of training are not placed on par with that of other health care providers is our mission. Other membership benefits include professional liability insurance credits, free financial planning, legal services discounts, and more. Renew your membership today!