Advocacy Update - June 2020
3 major initiatives received favorable votes in the Ohio Legislature in June & moved on to next steps in legislative process:
1. Surprise Billings…
A long-sought solution was reached in Ohio House to remove patients from the middle of situations where a surprise bill results for care from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. This issue has been a source of contention for years. Most recently, physician organizations have favored an arbitration approach, and insurance companies preferred benchmark pricing, as the method for resolving differences.
Ohio House (HB 388) was a compromise that has elements of both arbitration and benchmark pricing concepts, with arbitration available as a last resort if negotiations are not successful. Passed unanimously out of Ohio House and is in Senate for hearings later in year
2. Telehealth
The COVID-19 pandemic provided the impetus for House Bill 679 which would modify several requirements related to telehealth services, with the intention of making telehealth easier and more accessible to both physicians and their patients.
This legislation was fast tracked through the House, passing just two weeks after introduction.
Ohio House passed HB 679, by 90-3 and the Senate will now consider the bill.
3. Liability
Also related to COVID-19…House Bill 606, which would expand civil immunity for health care and service providers during the pandemic, began its hearings in the Senate after passing the House 84-9.
The bill is challenged by traditional perspectives that come up in every proposed change in liability law - primarily from the legal community that represents patients.
COVID-19: Dr. Amy Acton
The CMA’s Board of Directors did issue a statement of support and appreciation for the service of a Central Ohio physician, Dr. Amy Acton, as the State’s Director of Health. Read it here.
Racism & Public Health
Connected to the disparate health outcomes from COVID-19 and catalyzed by the cause of death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the issue of Racism and its impact as a Public Health Issue has received considerable attention in public debate and also the Ohio Legislature.
The Ohio Senate Health, Human Services, and Medicaid Committee held hearings regarding Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, which would declare racism a public health crisis in Ohio and establish a working group to promote racial equity in Ohio. Dozens of advocacy organizations, health entities (including the OSMA), public officials, and individuals across the state submitted testimony in support of SCR 14.
The Columbus Medical Association also issued a statement outlining its concerns and intentions. Read it here.
Long-term issue related to COVID-19 and Public Health and Racism is Mental Health Parity
Physicians have long supported and are participating in coalition efforts to bring mental health parity to insurance coverage in Ohio.
The Federal Parity Law, or Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), states that health insurers must cover mental illnesses or illnesses of the brain, such as addiction or depression, no more restrictively than physical illnesses of the body, such as cancers or diabetes. While Ohio passed a parity law in 2006, unfortunately it has a comparatively narrow scope and does not align with the federal parity law enacted two years later.
SB 254 and its companion bill, House Bill 443, will give Ohioans expanded access to mental health and addiction treatment by aligning state law with the Federal Parity Law. There are additional reporting requirements in the legislation, giving regulators powerful means by which to hold health plans and state officials accountable and enforce parity requirements. HB 443/SB 254 will also facilitate easier access to medically-necessary substance use disorder medications for Ohioans in need.
Physician organizations will continue to support both the House and Senate versions of this legislation in the coming months.
State Medical Board of Ohio
The State Medical Board of Ohio met in June and has formed a task force to look further into telemedicine issues:
whether patients should be able to utilize telehealth without first establishing a relationship with a treating physician
when it is appropriate to use phone or email communication instead of web-based/video communication
Reminder: The SMBO’s Continuing Medical Education requirements are not waived , but the Board suspended enforcement until March 1 of 2021
PAC Meeting
The CMA's Political Action Committee held a Zoom meeting this week and was appreciative of the opportunity to interview another Central Ohio physician who is running for the Ohio House of Representatives – Dr. Racheal Morocco who is running for the 67th District in Delaware County.
The PAC also considered additional information for recommendations of endorsement from other elected officials from Central Ohio. More information about candidate endorsements will be forthcoming soon.
Public Policy Committee
The Public Policy Committee held a discussion on expanding policy participation option. More on this initiative will be happening in the coming months. CMA’s new President Beth Liston and several Public Policy Committee members are leading this work.
Questions about these or any issues related to public policy or politics, feel free to contact Malcolm Porter (malcolmjporter@aol.com).