Advocacy Update - November 2019 — Columbus Medical Association Blog

Following passage of the biennial budget, the Ohio Legislature took its customary extended period of recess and this fall is holding periodic committee hearings and legislative sessions. This is the time in the legislative calendar when unresolved issues that did not get attention during the budget push are considered. Also new issues emerge all the time and those receive consideration as well.

It is important to understand that in the real world of Ohio politics, the 2020 election season is seen as ‘not far away’ and everything that is considered has to been seen through a calculation of the what will be the political impact on the 2020 election?

In the category of new issues, there is no better example that the increased attention that gun regulation legislation is receiving in the aftermath of the tragic shootings in Dayton. Governor DeWine has made a proposal for new Ohio regulations, resulting in the predictable and classic political split by those who think his ideas go too far and those who believe they do not go far enough.

Gun regulation has a strong public health component to it for some CMA physicians. This issue is a good reminder that the CMA works to not only take organizational positions on legislation, but to also support doctors who want to be involved in the legislative process with their individual perspectives on issues.

An example is the issue of gun regulation and Dr. Mehran Mostafavifar, a CMA Board member and physician at OSU. As a gun owner himself, Dr. Mostafavifar has strong views on the issue of gun regulation. At the time of doing this blog, the CMA does not have an organizational position the various gun proposals. Dr. Mostafavifar wanted to communicate his perspectives to the legislature and share the research results from studies he thought would be a good evidence base for policy decision-making. The CMA helped Dr. Mostafavifar with submittal of his comments to all 132 members of the Ohio General Assembly.

In terms of other bills that of a more specific healthcare nature, there are several topics that have been proposed for consideration. In the coming months the legislative process will determine the outcome of proposals on issues like:

Women’s Reproductive Health/Abortion
Restricting Vaccination Employment Requirements
Prohibit Commercial Tanning Bed Use Under 18
Fireworks regulations

Price Transparency
Surprise Billing
CRNA's and APRN’s scope of practice
Health Education Standards
Psychologist Prescription Authority

The CMA’s Public Policy Committee is the place where these issues are monitored, and CMA positions are considered. Contact the CMA’s policy consultant Malcolm Porter malcolmjporter@aol.com for more information.

Separately, but related, the CMA’s Board of Trustees is engaged on a strategic review process on potential future organizational areas of focus. The Public Policy Committee is looking at these issues and any likely policy implications. CMA members can share perspectives directly with Board members or through the Public Policy Committee on issues like; vaping, mental health access, women’s health, addiction, and the role of science.

In September the CMA held is annual PAC fundraiser, with this year’s guest speaker Representative Allison Russo.

This event provides an opportunity for direct and extended engagement with the guest speaker. It is an opportunity to talk in detail about not only health care policy, but also any legislative issues, political topics, or even personal aspects of what it is like to be a legislator. We alternate every year between Republican and Democratic guest speakers, and we have frank discussions regardless of political party affiliation of the guest (or the physicians!).

Those who attend the event really enjoy it. However, its main purpose remains as a fundraiser for our PAC, so any physician who missed the event can still contribute to the PAC by going online here.

And as we approach the 2020 election season, the Public Policy Committee recommended to the CMA that we host an informational session on the topic of “Medicare for All”. The committee felt that this issue is receiving so much attention in the Presidential campaign that it would be beneficial to physicians to have an opportunity and learn more about the topic.

As a result, the CMA is hosting an Emerging Trends program at the CMA. The purpose of this session is NOT to take a political position in support or opposition to the concept; but rather share information to help physicians become more knowledgeable and form their own opinions. This program will be on Nov 7, 2019 at 6:00 PM at the CMA. Any physician is welcome to attend and can just click here to RSVP.

As 2020 approaches, it is certainly expected to be a very turbulent election time in our country and in our community. Physicians will not be immune to this political reality. Please do not hesitate to share your perspectives on how the CMA could help you and other Central Ohio physicians to best navigate these choppy political waters.

Learn more about the Columbus Medical Association’s Political Action Committee and how you can participate by visiting: columbusmedicalassociation.org/advocacy