06/17/2021

Opponent Hearings on Anti-Vaccine Legislation Begin

June 17, 2021 - OSMA continues to participate in advocacy efforts in opposition to Ohio House Bill 248, a gravely concerning legislative proposal regarding vaccinations. Get the details to get involved in OSMA Efforts!

06/17/2021

State Budget Update: Ohio Senate Passes Budget Bill, Conference Committee Convenes

June 17, 2021 - Last week, the Ohio Senate voted 25-8, along party lines, to pass its version of House Bill 110, the $75 billion two-year state operating budget for FY 2022-2023.

06/16/2021

OSMA Advocacy Efforts on Insurance Coverage of Drugs Highlighted

June 16, 2021 - Earlier this week, the Columbus Dispatch published a series of articles highlighting the challenges many patients and physicians have with insurance coverage of drugs. The series featured several issues which OSMA is involved in advocacy on at the Statehouse.

06/15/2021

Medical Board's June Meeting Highlights

June 15, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on June 9, 2021. Here are the topic highlights from the meeting.

06/15/2021

OSMA Members Elected to AMA Positions

June 15, 2021 - Congratulations to our OSMA members elected to an AMA position this week!

06/10/2021

Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Falsehoods & Supporting Statewide Vaccination Efforts

June 10, 2021 - As Ohio continues efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible against COVID-19, OSMA is proud to support these efforts and ensure member physicians have the information and tools they need to encourage vaccines and be vaccine providers.

06/09/2021

Medical License Renewal Reminder

June 9, 2021 - According to the medical board, almost 4,000 physicians have not yet renewed! If you are one of those physicians, make sure that you renew by the July 1st deadline.

06/03/2021

Endorsing Dr. Lou Edje for AMA's Council on Medical Education

June 3, 2021 - Dr. Edje, an active OSMA member since 1998, has served our organization as an alternate and currently delegate representing the full spectrum of medical education issues with clarity, credibility and eloquence. Her perspective is informed from her robust leadership experience in undergraduate, graduate and post graduate education.

06/03/2021

Helpful Policies Implemented for Ohio Vaccine Providers

June 3, 2021 - The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has announced a number of policy changes that will make it much easier for primary care practices of all sizes to provide the COVID vaccine in their offices.

06/03/2021

White House Vaccine Conversation: Recording Available!

June 3, 2021 - If you missed the White House's vaccine conversation for Ohio primary care providers, a recording is now available. Hear from governor DeWine, surgeon general Murthy, other White House, the CDC and ODH, as well as OSMA President, Dr. Lisa Egbert—who hosted a panel discussion.

06/02/2021

Allowable Charges for Copying Medical Records

June 1, 2021 - 2021 Update: The Ohio Department of Health is required on an annual basis to use the Consumer Price Index to determine the amount of increase or decrease in costs for providing medical records. The increase for 2021 is a 1.23% increase from 2020.

06/02/2021

Medical Board—Important News!

June 2, 2021 - Effective May 31, 2021, MDs, DOs and DPMs will be required to complete one hour of Continuing Medical Education (CME) prior to renewal on the topic of a licensee’s duty to report misconduct under section 4731.224 of the Revised Code. The enforcement of this requirement will commence with renewal applications submitted on or after July 1, 2021.

06/01/2021

Artificial Intelligence, COVID-19, and the Future of Pandemics

June 1, 2021 - Artificial intelligence (AI) has proven of value in the COVID-19 pandemic and shows promise for mitigating future healthcare crises.

05/27/2021

National Women’s Health Month – Physicians Offer Tips for Female Health

May 27, 2021 - We asked a few OSMA female physicians to share their tips for women everywhere to protect their health and get the care they need to live their most fulfilling lives.

05/26/2021

Prior Authorization under Medicare Plans

May 25, 2021 - Bipartisan legislation has been reintroduced that would protect patients from unnecessary delays in care by streamlining and standardizing prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans, providing much-needed oversight and transparency of health insurance for America’s seniors.

05/26/2021

National Health Care Expenditures, 2019

May 25, 2021 - A new report from the AMA provides a detailed look at the official U.S. health care spending estimates through 2019. We will continue to keep you informed as we get updated spending data for 2020 and into 2021.

05/20/2021

Advocacy Update: OSMA Testifies in Support of Tanning Ban for Minors

May 20, 2021 - This week, OSMA joined the Ohio Dermatological Association (ODA) testifying in support of House Bill 159, legislation that would prohibit use of indoor tanning services by those under the age of 18 in Ohio.

05/19/2021

Medical Board's May Meeting Highlights

May 19, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on May 12, 2021. Here are the topic highlights from the meeting.

05/18/2021

Addressing Prediabetes and Hypertension—Your Input Matters!

May 18, 2021 – ODH is conducting one-on-one interviews to discuss current processes, opportunities for improvement, and team-based approaches—with the goal being to create social marketing campaigns to drive awareness amongst healthcare providers regarding best practices for prediabetes and hypertension.

05/13/2021

OSMA Supports Governor’s Announcement to Rescind Health Orders

May 13, 2021 – Yesterday, Governor DeWine announced that all health orders (except those related to longterm care and assisted living facilities) will be rescinded on June 2. As we’ve learned more about the science of how this virus works and as more Ohioans have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, we’ve made outstanding progress in bringing down the rate of new COVID-19 cases.

05/12/2021

AMA Releases Plan to Embed Racial Justice & Advance Health Equity

May 12, 2021 – A new three-year roadmap released is dedicated to embedding racial justice and advancing health equity within the AMA and our health care system.

05/11/2021

Physician Wellness Coalition Releases New Video Resources

May 11, 2021 – The Coalition is offering a series of free, physician wellness videos certified by the OSMA for AMA PRA Category 1™ credit.

05/11/2021

Webinar: The New Ohio Medicaid Provider Network Management

May 11, 2021 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid invites you to an overview of the new Provider Network Management (PNM) module and Centralized Credentialing.

05/05/2021

Telehealth Immersion Program

May 5, 2021 – To help guide the future of how practices use telehealth, OSMA is excited to collaborate with the AMA on this program. By doing so, we hope to provide you access to all the latest resources for best implementing telehealth in your practice now and into the future. Join an introductory session on the program on May 11, 2021, 12–12:45 p.m. EST.

05/05/2021

Medicare Recoupment Reminder—Let Us Know How It's Going!

May 5, 2021 – CMS recently began automatic recoupment of COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments. OSMA and AMA are very interested in feedback about recoupment of the Medicare advance payments.

05/05/2021

Malpractice Claims from the COVID-19 Pandemic

May 5, 2021 - The pandemic has raised pressing questions around preventive measures, vaccines, and safe treatment, but it has also obscured one key lingering uncertainty for medical professionals: Where are all the medical malpractice claims?that can help mitigate risks.

04/29/2021

Discussing the COVID Vaccine with Patients: Campaigns Physicians Can Use

April 29, 2021 – This is a big moment in time for vaccines. As we honor World Immunization Week the last week of April, it seems appropriate to give a big thank-you to the many doctors, scientists, immunologists and healthcare professionals who make vaccines possible.

04/23/2021

Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Lisa Egbert, MD

April 23, 2021 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Egbert as our new President, and we thank Dr. Anthony Armstrong who skillfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Egbert, her medical career, and her vision for leading OSMA.

04/22/2021

State Budget Bill Update: House Approves HB 110, Sends to Senate

April 22, 2021 - OSMA has been monitoring the budget process over the last several months, keeping a close eye on provisions related to healthcare. This week, members of the Ohio House Finance Committee approved substitute House Bill 110, the House version of the state operating budget.

04/22/2021

Medical Board's April Meeting Highlights

April 21, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on April 14, 2021. Here are the topic highlights from the meeting.

04/15/2021

Ohio Medicaid Announces New Managed Care Contracts

April 15, 2021 - The Ohio Department of Medicaid has selected six companies as recipients of the next managed care organizations (MCOs) contracts. The contracts are scheduled to start in January 2022.

04/15/2021

Ohio to Increase Vaccine Distribution to Physician Practices

April 15, 2021 - OSMA was informed that the Ohio Department of Health is planning to increase distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to physician practices in the next two weeks.

04/15/2021

OSMA's 2021 Annual Meeting Summary

April 15, 2021 - Get the details and results from our 2021 event. The virtual meeting kicked off with a keynote speech from Governor Mike DeWine, who took the opportunity to thank OSMA physician members for their service to patients as well as their counsel and leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

04/06/2021

Temporary Medicare Claims Hold Pending Congressional Action

April 6, 2021 - CMS issued the following statement on March 30, in anticipation of possible Congressional action to extend the 2% sequester reduction suspension...

04/06/2021

Telehealth from the Field: Case Study Involving Remote Monitoring Problems

April 6, 2021 - Brought to you by OSMA Preferred Partner, The Doctors Company: Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of remote patient monitoring was expanding. The technologies offer many benefits, but they may also create potential malpractice risks. Consider the following case example and strategies that can help mitigate risks.

04/05/2021

Free Webinar: Key Provisions of Information Blocking Compliance

April 5, 2021 - Are you prepared? The compliance date for the information blocking provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act final rule was set for April 5, 2021.

04/05/2021

REMINDER: Repayment of Medicare Accelerated & Advance Payments Started March 30

April 5, 2021 - CMS recently issued a clarification on payback terms for those practices that received accelerated and advanced payments from Medicare last year.

03/24/2021

CMS Seeking Applications for Next Round of Primary Care First (PCF) Model

March 24, 2021 - Primary care practices in eligible regions are encouraged to apply. Practices that participate in PCF will have flexibility in terms of care delivery and the opportunity to increase practice revenue through performance-based model payments. The deadline for practice applications is April 30, 2021; the deadline for payer applications is May 28, 2021.

03/17/2021

March Advocacy Update—The Issues on OSMA’s Agenda

March 17, 2021 - OSMA’s Government Relations team serves as the voice of Ohio’s physicians—advising state departments and influencing state policy on health issues. We are currently working on a variety of familiar issues, as well as laying the groundwork and progressing with several reform initiatives.

03/17/2021

Senate Bill 22 Passes in the Ohio Legislature, DeWine Indicates He Will Veto

March 17, 2021 - As you may recall, SB 22 is the legislature’s reaction to the state’s pandemic response, and would limit the ability of the governor and the health department to issue orders related to the pandemic.

03/16/2021

Federal Advocacy Update

March 16, 2021 - Revisions to Policy that Would Have Raised Fees on Practices, and Biden Administration Announces Increase to Vaccine Administration Payment

03/15/2021

Annual PAC Campaign – Help Us Build Back Stronger!

March 15, 2021 - We wanted to let you know that we are gearing up efforts at a strong comeback after a challenging 2020 year. Because the OSMAPAC suspended a lot of its typical fundraising activities last year due to the impact of COVID-19 on the health care environment, it is even more important that we do everything we can this year to build back the strength of the PAC in 2021.

03/14/2021

Medical Board's March Meeting Highlights

March 14, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on March 10, 2021. Here are the highlights from the meeting.

03/11/2021

Physician Experts Address Top Questions about COVID-19

March 11, 2021 - Leading pandemic voices, Dr. Bob Wachter and Dr. Ashish Jha, share views at virtual TDC board meeting.

03/10/2021

Medicare Revenue Down 19% over First Half of 2020

March 10, 2021 - The economic impact of COVID-19 on health care continues to reveal itself through reductions in patient volume and revenue and in higher practice costs. As the pandemic stretches on, physician practice viability remains under threat.

03/10/2021

Behavioral Heath Integration Research Study

March 10, 2021 - a research study is launching to gather feedback from primary care and physician practices that are interested in integrating behavioral health care for their patients.

03/03/2021

Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation (BWC) announces a 7% decrease in premiums for 2021

March 3, 2021 - Last week the BWC Board announced an average premium reduction of 7.1% for the 2021 policy year that begins in July.

03/03/2021

White House Modifies Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

March 3, 2021 - On Monday, February 22, 2021, the Biden-Harris administration announced changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to “provide equitable relief” and increase the availability of the PPP funds to the smallest employers and sole proprietors.

03/03/2021

Before COVID-19, Outlier Medical Malpractice Verdicts Were Rising—What’s Next?

March 3, 2021 - Brought to you by OSMA Preferred Partner, The Doctors Company: Severity, the average cost of a medical malpractice claim, continues its relentless increase. Though severity has been rising since at least the 1970s, in recent years we have seen a sharp increase in outlier verdicts, which exceed common policy limits and often set records for their venues.

02/25/2021

What Consumers Want from Healthcare—Q&A with Expert, Linda MacCracken

February 25, 2021 - In advance of our 2021 Education Symposium, Navigating the Future of Healthcare, we’re highlighting one of our expert speakers, Linda MacCracken from Accenture, who shares her thoughts on what consumers—especially seniors—want from healthcare providers. More about this topic will be shared in a webinar at OSMA’s Education Symposium.

02/23/2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Answers from Virtual Panel of Healthcare Experts

February 23, 2021 - Leading pandemic voices, Dr. Bob Wachter and Dr. Ashish Jha, share perspectives at a virtual meeting hosted by the TDC Group of companies.

02/23/2021

Addressing Physical & Behavioral Health During COVID-19

February 22, 2021 - Brought to you by OSMA Symposium Sponsor, Medical Mutual: ...With increased incidents of mental health concerns due to COVID-19, the mental, as well as physical, health of our Medical Mutual members—your patients—is more important than ever. Here are four focus areas to improve care coordination and reduce hospital readmissions for members with behavioral health concerns.

02/21/2021

Workers' Comp Insurance Program Update

February 21, 2021 - We’re excited to announce that CompManagement will become Sedgwick as of March 1, 2021. Sedgwick’s commitment to Ohio employers remains as strong as ever. With more than 3,000 colleagues in Ohio, they will continue to offer the best workers’ compensation program solutions to help you mitigate risk and reduce costs.

02/18/2021

2021 Legislative Sessions Kick Off – What is OSMA Working on So Far?

February 18, 2021 - The 134th General Assembly is underway, and hearings in the Ohio House and Senate have begun. As always, OSMA is on hand to monitor all legislation as it is introduced, identify proposals that would affect Ohio physicians and patient care, and make your voice heard on emerging issues.

02/17/2021

OSMA Joins AMA in Urging Congress to Extend the Moratorium on the Medicare Sequester

February 17, 2021 - OSMA recently signed on to a letter from the American Medical Association (AMA) encouraging congressional leadership to take action and pass legislation that would extend the current moratorium on the 2% Medicare payment sequester beyond the expiration date of March 31, 2021.

02/16/2021

Being an Advocate Q&A with OSMA Thought Leader, Alan Levy, MD

February 16, 2021 - What are some of the biggest policy issues facing healthcare at both the state and federal level? What does it mean to be a healthcare advocate? Learn from OSMA's Chair of the Focused Task Force on Legislation.

02/16/2021

Governor DeWine’s Proposed Budget – Items Impacting Health Care

February 16, 2021 - Many details within the budget are subject to change as the bill progresses through the two chambers, so OSMA will keep Ohio physicians informed in the coming weeks as budget proceedings continue.

02/16/2021

Join Our Advocacy Updates at 2021's Education Symposium

February 16, 2021 - Stay current with what’s going on at the Statehouse at the opening session of this year’s OSMA Education Symposium.

02/15/2021

Nominations Open for the 2020 Physician Advocate of the Year

February 15, 2021 - This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated the ability to effectively advocate at the local, state or federal level on behalf of their profession and patients throughout 2020.

02/15/2021

Medical Board Meeting Highlights

February 15, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on February 10, 2021. Here are the highlights from the meeting.

02/11/2021

Health Equity Q&A with OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD

February 11, 2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic and elevated conversations about racial justice have brought the issue of healthcare equity to the forefront for healthcare professionals everywhere. As we support members in 2021, we’re pleased to share thoughts from OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD on health equity and what this means for Ohio physicians.

02/10/2021

OSMA's 2021 Education Symposium Registration Now Open!

February 10, 2021 - More session choices, more education credits and more convenience. At the lower registration price of $100 for member physicians and staff, attendees can earn up to 14 AMA PRA Category 1™ credits.

02/10/2021

What Resident Physicians Must Know about Privacy & Confidentiality

February 10, 2021 - Successful physician-patient relationships are built on the foundation of privacy. The promise of confidentiality is essential in order for patients to feel as though they can be candid about their health.

02/10/2021

CGS Offering Assistance in Preventive Care 

February 10, 2021 - Three programs have been implemented to improve utilization rates of the Medicare Preventive services, Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP), and Chronic Care Management (CCM) services.

02/02/2021

Interstate Licensure for Telehealth Can Fuel Medical Practice Growth

February 2, 2021 - Licensing restrictions have been eased to facilitate care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the new normal of greater state-to-state cooperation for access to care may persist after the pandemic. Still, the savvy physician knows that many restrictions apply, and that understanding them reduces risk.

02/02/2021

Helping Your Patients Understand Medicare Coverage

February 2, 2021 - In Ohio, more than two million people rely on Medicare, and it is essential they have all the information they need to make an informed decision about their Medicare plan selection.

02/02/2021

Is Your Office Prepared for the New Interoperability Rules?

February 2, 2021 - OSMA's free, live webinar on Feb. 10 (at 1pm) can help... "Meeting Interoperability and Avoiding Information Blocking"

02/01/2021

Be Aware: Recent Ransomware Attacks in Ohio

February 1, 2021 - Cybercriminals recently began launching ransomware attacks on local businesses, right here in Ohio. Victims include hospitals and medical associations, government organizations, and private sector companies.

01/27/2021

Join Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Fauci, for a Q&A

January 27, 2021 - You're encouraged to attend a Fireside Chat with Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci. Questions will be answered about how the new administration is approaching the COVID-19 crisis. There will also be a moderated Q&A during which time you can ask Dr. Fauci questions through the chat function.

01/26/2021

Tips for Communicating with COVID-19 Vaccine-Hesitant Patients

January 26, 2021 - Physicians should be proactively preparing for the upcoming administration of vaccines to the general population. This includes implementing a plan to initiate effective, informed consent conversations with patients to guide them to an informed decision about the vaccine.

01/25/2021

Medical Students: Remember Your Annual Meeting is Feb. 7

January 25, 2021 - Please RSVP to attend virtually on Sunday, Feb. 7 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.

01/23/2021

President Biden's Executive Orders for Handling COVID-19

January 23, 2021 - President Biden has unveiled a significant national strategy for handling COVID-19 and addressing pandemic preparedness generally. The President also took initial steps to immediately implement portions of this strategy, issuing several executive orders and memoranda.

01/19/2021

Ohio’s New Legislative Session – The 134th General Assembly

January 19, 2021 - OSMA is proud to continue to represent you and advocate on your behalf. We believe that in 2020, our advocacy team laid the groundwork that will help us achieve more in 2021. We expect to see familiar issues resurface in the coming months, and we also hope to advance several new advocacy priorities this year.

01/19/2021

Help OSMA Set Our Advocacy Agenda

January 19, 2021 - As the Ohio Legislature begins a new general assembly, OSMA is working to formulate our advocacy agenda for the year, and we need to hear from you!

01/18/2021

Medical Board Update

January 18, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on January 13, 2021. We've highlighted the topics discussed at the meeting that OSMA is closely following.

01/14/2021

Vaccination Update

January 14, 2021 - Governor DeWine and the ODH announced that Ohio will expand its vaccination efforts starting the week of January 18. New "1B" groups will be eligible for vaccination, and the state has also implemented a search tool for vaccine provider locations where the vaccine shipments have become available.

01/13/2021

2021 Medicaid Managed Care Survey

January 13, 2021 - ODM is gathering feedback about physicians’ satisfaction with Medicaid managed care plans. The information will be used to evaluate health plan performance and identify opportunities for health plan improvement.

01/12/2021

Temporary Relaxation of Physician Assistant Supervision

January 12, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio issued the following update on January 6 to providers.

01/08/2021

OSMA's 2021 Annual Meeting Update

January 8, 2021 - Save the Dates! Our Annual Meeting will be fully virtual this year and will take place April 9–11. Details are still in the planning phase, but we want to share important dates for your calendar, along with the information that we do have.

01/07/2021

Ohio’s Vaccine Distribution Update

January 7, 2021 - As we continue to hear from practices with questions about vaccination, we have notified ODH of specific local level challenges. More vaccine allocations are being sent to local health departments weekly, so we are hopeful this will help with access.

01/06/2021

Federal Budget/COVID Relief Overview for Physician Practices

January 6, 2021 - The AMA has provided a comprehensive update on the impact of the latest legislation passed by Congress and signed by the president. Major items include updates to the Medicare fee schedule and billing, money for provider relief and small business support.

01/05/2021

COVID-19: A Call for Innovation and Leadership in Healthcare

January 5, 2021 - For the next decade, we will all be carried along on a jet stream of change. Ask yourself a simple question: will the practice of good medicine in 2030 look the same as good medicine in 2020? Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO of OSMA’s liability insurance partner—The Doctors Company—provides his insight.

12/23/2020

Ohio’s Lame Duck Legislative Session – What You Should Know

December 23, 2020 - After weeks of significant legislative activity and some unexpected additional session dates for both the House and the Senate, the 133rd General Assembly inched closer to finishing work for the year this week. Dozens of key OSMA issues progressed across the finish line this week.

12/22/2020

Federal Legislation Passes Impacting COVID Relief, Medicare Physician Payment & Surprise Billing

December 22, 2020 - After several weeks of intense negotiation, Congress passed a comprehensive omnibus spending package that funds the federal government through fiscal year 2021. President Trump is expected to sign the bill. Here is what the major provisions in the legislation include.

12/21/2020

Update from the Ohio Vaccine Preparedness Office

December 21, 2020 - We want to share the Ohio Department of Health's "Weekly Update" from the Ohio Vaccine Preparedness Office. Get the latest on the pandemic vaccine news, resources and talking points.

12/20/2020

New Telehealth Policies in Medicare 2021 Physician Fee Schedule

December 20, 2020 - The changes for 2021 are designed to expand the use of telehealth technologies among Medicare beneficiaries. The changes in the Final Rule include the following.

12/17/2020

Latest Vaccine Rollout Guidance

December 17, 2020 - OSMA continues to communicate with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the governor’s office about the vaccine rollout. This week, we received more specific guidance for physicians not affiliated with a hospital or healthcare system.

12/16/2020

Medical Board of Ohio Meeting Highlights

December 16, 2020 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on December 9. Here is a recap of the meeting's highlights, including: light-based medical devices, weight loss prescribing rules, medical licensure renewal extension, and introduction of new board member, Yeshwant P. Reddy, MD, FRCS, FAAPMR, ABIPP.

12/15/2020

Be Aware: New Email Phishing Scam

December 15, 2020 - The State Medical Board of Ohio has been made aware of an email phishing scam that is being sent to licensees. The sender claims to represent the Ohio Secretary of State and is attempting to gain access to your personal information through a fraudulent request to validate your profile.

12/10/2020

Vaccine Distribution Update

December 10, 2020 - Get the latest updates from the Ohio Department of Health specific to physicians and other healthcare personnel. We are still waiting for information on specifically which physicians and healthcare staff will be included in the first phase of vaccine availability.

12/08/2020

OSMA Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates for At-Large Council Seats

December 8, 2020 - Are you interested in more actively participating in the work of OSMA? The OSMA Committee on Nominations is seeking candidates to serve as At-Large members of the OSMA Council. The Committee will nominate at least 4 candidates to fill 3 At-Large Council seats. The term of office is 2 years.

12/08/2020

Tell Congress now is not the time to cut Medicare payments

December 8, 2020 – As physicians continue to battle the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing they should have to worry about is cuts to their Medicare payments. Unfortunately, without Congressional action before January 1, 2021, that nightmare scenario will become reality.

12/03/2020

Medical Licensure Renewal Extended to July 1, 2021

December 3, 2020 – The State Medical Board of Ohio has released the following statement regarding the medical licensure renewal extension. All affected licensees are, however, still able to renew at their regularly scheduled deadline with a couple benefits to doing so.

12/03/2020

CMS Releases Policy, Payment, & Quality Provision Changes to the Medicare Fee Schedule

December 3, 2020 – On December 1, CMS released the final 2021 Medicare fee schedule rule. While there are some positive changes related to telemedicine coverage, OSMA joins the AMA and other states with concerns regarding proposed cuts to certain aspects of physician reimbursement.

12/02/2020

ODM Announces New Telehealth Rule & Other Billing/Coding Updates

December 2, 2020 – From new telehealth billing guidelines to an updated clinical lab fee schedule, new COVID vaccine codes, and the adoption of different codes for reporting urine drug tests—here are the details on the recent Ohio Department of Medicaid's announcements.

12/02/2020

Year-End Practice Planning Tips & Document Retention

December 2, 2020 – As the year comes to a close, many practices have questions about their files and record retention. As a reminder, you can access the OSMA’s medical records toolkit for tips on record retention, storage and what to do with records if you are thinking about retiring or closing your office.

12/01/2020

OSMA Joins the "Coalition to Stop the Spread"

December 1, 2020 – As OSMA continues to work to be ever responsive to the needs of Ohio physicians throughout this pandemic, we have recently stepped forward as a founding member of the Coalition to Stop the Spread.

12/01/2020

COVID-19 & Patient Safety in the Medical Office

December 1, 2020 – Medical offices must remain very attentive to the widespread outbreak of COVID-19, continuing to proactively take steps to safely manage patients while protecting clinical staff. Here are tips and resources for this season of the pandemic.

12/01/2020

Health Insurance for Physicians—by Physicians.

December 1, 2020 – When it comes to running and managing a self-funded health care insurance program, we think physicians can do it better! It’s time to select a plan managed by those who truly understand medical practice needs.

11/19/2020

More than 450 physicians take action to help remove controversial APRN bill from this week’s voting

November 19, 2020 – OSMA’s government relations team sent out a call to action last Friday which resulted in an extraordinary response—over 450 physicians, residents, and medical students all over Ohio reached out to their legislators to express their concerns and to urge them not to support HB 177.

11/18/2020

Free Training on Death Certificates for Disaster Situations

November 18, 2020 – The Montgomery County Coroner's Office in Dayton Ohio is providing free grant-funded death certificate training to death certifiers, in order to have death certificates filled out as they relate to disaster situations.

11/10/2020

Lower Your Health Insurance Costs for your Practice—Preparing for 2021!

November 10, 2020 – One of the biggest costs facing medical practices continues to be health insurance coverage for employees. Costs are rising and coverage continues to change year to year. Learn more about the options available through OSMA's HBP.

11/09/2020

Keep a COVID-19 Diary: Document Now in Case of Future Lawsuits

November 9, 2020 – What the future holds relative to the evolution of COVID-19 remains unknown, but it is certain that litigation for COVID-related claims is on the horizon and will impact physicians in all medical specialties and practice models.

11/09/2020

ONC Extends Deadline for Implementing Info Blocking Rule

November 9, 2020 – Responding to the AMA’s and OSMA’s advocacy efforts requesting additional time and flexibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ONC’s interim final rule now pushes the information blocking compliance date to April 5, 2021.

11/05/2020

OSMA's Election Recap – 2020 Results

November 5, 2020 – Get our overview of the election outcomes and how the OSMAPAC’s endorsed candidates fared at the polls this week.

10/29/2020

Alert: Ransomware Activity Targeting Healthcare Providers

October 29, 2020 – There are reports of a pending cyber attack targeting hospitals and healthcare providers. OSMA encourages physicians to contact their IT teams/advisors.

10/28/2020

Take Action on Proposed Medicare Cuts

October 28, 2020 – OSMA is joining the American Medical Association (AMA) and various physician specialty associations in advocating against proposed rate cuts as part of the proposed Medicare physician payment schedule.

10/28/2020

Medical Board Investigator Scam Warning

October 28, 2020 – OSMA President, Dr. Anthony Armstrong, urges the Medical Board to help physicians verify the Identity of Medical Board investigators.

10/27/2020

Competition in Health Insurance Study Released

October 27, 2020 – Earlier this month the American Medical Association (AMA) released the 2020 update to its comprehensive study of U.S. health insurance markets based on enrollment data as of January 1, 2019.

10/26/2020

Check Your Eligibility for the Latest COVID-19 Ohio Small Business Grant

October 26, 2020 – We are pleased to report that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced a $125 million grant program to help small businesses that have been harmed by the effects of COVID-19.The grants will provide $10,000 to small businesses in Ohio with no more than 25 employees.

10/20/2020

Ensure Your Voice is Heard—Make a Plan to Vote!

October 20, 2020 – Early voting and absentee voting are both underway. Whether you plan to do early in-person voting, voting by mail, or you attend a poll to vote on election day, we've summarized the details on all voting options to help with your planning.

10/15/2020

OSMA Partners with Buckeye Coaches to Remind Ohioans to Stop the Spread

October 15, 2020 – On Tuesday, October 13, Governor DeWine previewed a commercial that will run on broadcast and cable television over the next three weeks to remind Ohioans that we must stay diligent at wearing masks and social distancing to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

10/14/2020

CMS Offering COVID-19 Guidance & Education

October 14, 2020 – Stakeholder Engagement Calls are being held to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19, and a new webinar is available on optimizing healthcare PPE, supplies, and future trends.

10/06/2020

New Round of Physician Relief Payments Now Available

October 6, 2020 – The application process is open! On October 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $20 billion in new funding for physicians and other healthcare providers.

10/06/2020

Medicare Accelerated/Advanced Payment Revisions

October 6, 2020 – Last week, as part of the short-term spending bill passed by Congress, several changes were made to the Accelerated and Advanced Payment program. The changes relax many of the terms of repayment for physicians that took advantage of the program in March.

10/05/2020

HHS Releases Updated Version of its Security Risk Assessment (SRA) Tool

October 5, 2020 – The tool is designed to help healthcare providers conduct a security risk assessment as required by the HIPAA Security Rule and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program.

10/05/2020

COVID-19 Is Changing Liability Risks and Litigation in Healthcare

October 5, 2020 – Across the spectrum of care, healthcare delivery is changing as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, creating additional pressures to maintain patient safety and shaping new liability risks for hospitals, group practices, and solo physicians. The Doctors Company offers expert insights on how COVID-19 has changed liability risks and litigation.

09/25/2020

OSMA Launches Campaign to Encourage Immunizations

September 24, 2020 – Recent data suggests immunization rates are down significantly for children across the country. Join us in raising awareness to help remind parents that it is more essential than ever to keep children current with their immunizations.

09/23/2020

Telehealth Coverage—The Latest Changes

September 23, 2020 – There is pending legislation—draft rules and other discussions—to make permanent some aspects of the telemedicine coverage flexibility altered for the pandemic.

09/22/2020

OSMA President Meets Virtually with Medical Students

September 22, 2020 – The pandemic isn’t stopping OSMA president, Anthony Armstrong, MD, from virtually reaching out to the next generation of doctors to discuss the importance of organized medicine in advocating and supporting the profession.

09/16/2020

Governor Signs COVID-19 Immunity Legislation into Law

September 16, 2020 – On Monday, September 14, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation into law which will expand civil immunity for health care and service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

09/15/2020

Highlights from State Medical Board's September 9th Meeting

September 15, 2020 – From telehealth legislation and regulatory discussions to sexual misconduct education efforts and physician mental health concerns, here's a recap of the recent State Medical Board of Ohio's meeting.

09/10/2020

Sharing Concerns about the Pandemic's Impact on Physician Well-Being in Ohio

September 10, 2020 – Physician well-being has been a significant concern over the past several years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has now created many additional challenges. In response, several medical associations in Ohio came together to ask the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) to take action to support its licensees.

09/09/2020

Provide Your Comments on How Medicare Measures Quality of Care

September 9, 2020 – CMS is seeking comments from physician practices on these proposed rules. Comments are due no later than 5 p.m. EDT, on Monday, October 5. This is your chance to provide feedback on how quality will be measured in the future.

09/09/2020

Updates Released on the 10 Essential Public Health Services (EPHS)

September 10, 2020 – The American Medical Association provided the following information to all states this week.

09/03/2020

COVID-19 Liability Protection Reform Bill Passes Ohio Legislature

September 3, 2020 – OSMA is thrilled to report that legislation to expand civil immunity for health care and service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic is now just one step away from becoming Ohio law. This is a victory in the face of considerable uncertainty in the medical community for months.

09/01/2020

Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic

September 1, 2020 – Each year, OSMA’s malpractice insurance partner, The Doctors Company, assembles healthcare leaders to discuss the most pressing issues affecting physicians, practices, and systems across the spectrum of care. The 2020 virtual discussion focused on pandemic experiences and what can help healthcare organizations navigate through COVID-19 and beyond.

09/01/2020

Medicare/Medicaid On-Demand Webinars Now Available

September 1, 2020 – If you missed the live Medicare & Medicaid webinars, you can still benefit from the recorded payer presentations and earn AAPC credit.

08/31/2020

CGS to Provide Medical Review Process Update on September 29th

August 31, 2020 – Ohio’s Medicare contractor, CGS, is offering a teleconference for practices on the Medical Review Process. The call has been scheduled for all Medicare providers/suppliers under the CGS J15 jurisdiction on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., EST.

08/31/2020

Upcoming CMS Webinar: Understanding Clinical Quality Measures

August 31, 2020 – On Sept. 15 or 17, learn how CMS is modernizing its approach to digital measurement with an engaging and informative overview of quality measurement, the unique features of electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) and future plans for digitization.

08/31/2020

CMS Announces QPP eCQM Scoring Issue – Check Your Data

August 31, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is alerting physicians to an issue that impacts electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) scoring during the 2020 performance year.

08/26/2020

Addressing Minority Health Challenges in Ohio

August 26, 2020 - State task force releases Blueprint of priorities to begin to further address these challenges. Governor DeWine appointed a COVID-19 Ohio Minority Health Strike Force—where OSMA President, Anthony Armstrong, M.D., was appointed as a member.

08/26/2020

Women’s Health Professional Development Opportunities from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Ohio Department of Health

August 26, 2020 - Two virtual training opportunities are now available: Telehealth Delivery Training for Women’s Health Providers, and Obstetric Emergency Simulation Training for Emergency Medicine Providers

08/20/2020

Federal Advocacy Update

August 20, 2020 - OSMA is your ally in Ohio advocacy—making your voice heard on key issues impacting the physician community. Here are the major state advocacy updates for August.

08/20/2020

Ohio Advocacy Update

August 20, 2020 - OSMA is your ally in Ohio advocacy—making your voice heard on key issues impacting the physician community. Here are the major state advocacy updates for August.

08/11/2020

Focusing on Physician Well-Being

August 11, 2020 - At OSMA, it is our goal to support physicians in a holistic way—professionally and personally. We know stress and burnout are serious issues facing the physician profession, and these concerns have become even more prevalent in the COVID-19 climate.

08/10/2020

Virtual Summit for Diabetes Healthcare Providers

August 10, 2020 - Ohio ranks in the bottom quarter of states with 12.2% of its adult population having diabetes. On October 3, the Diabetes Institute at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine will be holding a virtual summit on diabetes care.

08/10/2020

Protect Your Practice & Patients—Beware of HIPAA Postcard Scam

August 11, 2020 - The Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has been made aware of postcards being sent to health care organizations disguised as official OCR communications, claiming to be notices of a mandatory HIPAA compliance risk assessment.

08/04/2020

Ohio Medicaid Suspends Episode of Care Program

August 4, 2020 - The Ohio Department of Medicaid will not conduct reporting or assess positive and negative incentive payments for the performance periods of calendar year 2020 and 2021. OSMA applauds this decision and will work with practices and ODM next year as it develops plans for 2022.

08/04/2020

Continued Flexibility for Medicare Regulations, Telehealth, and HIPAA

August 4, 2020 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended the public health emergency for another 90 days through October 23, 2020.

08/04/2020

Health Insurance Coverage for your Practice—Preparing for 2021

August 4, 2020 - One of the biggest costs facing practices today continues to be health insurance coverage for employees. Costs are rising and coverage continues to change year to year. OSMA addresses this challenge by creating the OSMA Health Benefits Plan (HBP).

08/04/2020

Informed Consent: Substance and Signature

August 4, 2020 - OSMA’s preferred partner, The Doctors Company, outlines how an established physician-patient dialogue can prevent patient disappointment from ripening into a claim.

07/30/2020

OSMA Supports Withdrawal of Rule Prohibiting Prescribing of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine in Ohio for Treatment of COVID-19

July 30, 2020 - This rule would have prohibited the dispensing or selling of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in Ohio for treatment of COVID-19 thus removing a physician’s ability to decide if the drug was an appropriate treatment for his or her patient.

07/23/2020

Monitoring Medical Board Activity

July 23, 2020 - Even with the disruption in the healthcare system and governing process caused by the pandemic, the State Medical Board of Ohio continues to meet on a monthly basis and debates issues important to all licensed physicians in the state. OSMA continues to monitor these discussions and advocate for our members—here is our July recap.

07/23/2020

Supporting Ohio's Statewide Mask Mandate

July 22, 2020 - OSMA supports the announcement by Governor Mike DeWine of a mandatory mask/facial covering requirement throughout the state of Ohio in order to slow the ongoing community spread of COVID-19.

07/23/2020

Ohio Medicaid Making Relief Payments Available to Healthcare Providers

July 23, 2020 - The Ohio Office of Budget and Management (OBM) announced a program to give direct relief payments to certain Medicaid healthcare providers.

07/23/2020

Telehealth: Making Reimbursement & Regulatory Changes Permanent

July 23, 2020 - The following provides information on a survey developed by AMA and recently sent to every state. Help support OSMA's efforts by completing this Telehealth Impact Study Provider Survey.

07/23/2020

New COVID-19 Testing Guidance for Physicians

July 23, 2020 - OSMA has worked with the governor’s office and the Ohio Department of Health to provide guidance for physicians that can be used to inform your patients regarding how and where to get tested.

07/23/2020

Medicaid Extends Telehealth Coverage Emergency Rules

July 23, 2020 - With the initial emergency rule set to expire, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announced the expansion and continuation of telehealth use flexibility.

07/16/2020

Mid-Year Advocacy Update

July 17, 2020 – It is an understatement to say that 2020 has brought us all many unexpected challenges. Together, we continue to be a strong collective force, and OSMA is pleased to have made progress with many of the year’s advocacy goals despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

07/14/2020

OSMAPAC Announces 2020 Election Endorsements

July 14, 2020 – As the political voice for the OSMA’s physician, resident and student members, the Ohio State Medical Association Political Action Committee (OSMAPAC) advocates for Ohio physicians by helping to elect state and federal candidates who support the OSMA’s policy agenda.

07/08/2020

"MaskPlus6" Campaign Resources for Physicians & Practices

July 8, 2020 - To highlight the importance of mask wearing and physical distancing, OSMA is proud to partner with Ohio physician organizations to launch a new campaign: Doctor’s Orders: MaskPlus6.

07/02/2020

Options for Opting-out of MIPS Reporting for 2020

July 2, 2020 - The American Medical Association recently provided the following update on MIPS reporting...

07/02/2020

Healthcare Coalition Advocates to Fix Taxation Penalty Embedded in CARES Act

July 2, 2020 - Nearly 20 health care provider organizations representing doctors, nurses, hospitals, dentists and more recently sent a letter to congressional leaders.

06/30/2020

Top 7 Insurance & Legal Questions for Resuming Medical Practice During COVID-19

June 30, 2020 - In response to concerns about the risks involved with reopening practices and resuming procedures, the following from our partner, TDC, answers the top questions from our members and doctors across the country.

06/23/2020

Governor Expands “Good Cause” For Refusing Suitable Work During COVID

June 23, 2020 - Last week, Governor DeWine signed a new executive order expanding the definition of “Good Cause” for refusing suitable work during COVID and allowing individuals to extend unemployment benefits.

06/22/2020

Helping to Fulfill Your Practice's PPE Needs

June 22, 2020 - OSMA is proud to partner with ActionPPE. This program is available to OSMA member physicians and practices as part of a variety of group purchasing vendor discounts and business supports offered to our members.

03/31/2020

State Issues Order for Weekly Ventilator Equipment Inventory Reporting

March 31, 2020 - Ohio Department of Health Director, Amy Acton, MD, issued an order requiring all entities with ventilators to report their inventory by no later than 5:00 p.m. each Wednesday beginning April 1, 2020 until further notice.

08/01/2019

Ohio Physicians Give Feedback on Medicaid Managed Care Program

Many of our members provide daily patient care to Ohio’s Medicaid population and thus are uniquely qualified to provide meaningful information to assist the Ohio Department of Medicaid in its upcoming competitive Medicaid managed care procurement process. The comments we received from our members generally centered on areas where improvement is most desired, including plan accountability, grievances and appeals, provider support, benefits and delivery, and care coordination and management.

07/23/2019

Wrap Up: Ohio Delegation to the American Medical Association

Your OSMA Delegation to the AMA worked diligently on behalf of Ohio physicians during the recent 2019 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Ohio resolutions were carried forward and either adopted as new policy or committed the AMA to continue existing policy for another ten years.

07/18/2019

Ohio Budget Process Complete

The OSMA Government Relations team has been engaging with legislators on health care-related budget items since the governor’s initial proposal was released, and has been following and participating in the ongoing debates about a number of health policy decisions.

07/18/2019

Terminating Patient Relationships

Just as it is an acceptable and reasonable practice to screen incoming patients, it is acceptable and reasonable to know when to end patient relationships that are no longer therapeutic. It is critical, however, to end the patient relationship in a manner that will not lead to claims of discrimination or abandonment.

07/18/2019

Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition Offers Online CME Courses

The Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition (OPWC), which represents Ohio physicians and hospitals and focuses on addressing physician burnout, launched six videos in its continuing medical education (CME) wellness video series.

07/18/2019

Training Managers Who Walk the Walk

Identifying and training role models in your business or practice is key to creating a positive, productive work environment. Which managers should you cultivate as role models to lead your organization?

06/06/2019

New Pain Management Toolkit Available

A new state toolkit designed to assist primary care doctors who prescribe opioids will be released this month by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

06/06/2019

The $4.6 Billion Price Tag of Physician Burnout

To put a price on burnout, the study authors culled data from recent research findings and reports — including direct or inferred findings on doctors cutting back on hours or quitting as a result of burnout.

05/16/2019

Ohio’s Health Value Needs to be Better Now

Ohio is ranked 46 out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia according to the 2019 Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) Health Value Dashboard—landing the Buckeye state in the bottom quartile.

04/25/2019

Concerns about U.S. Measles Outbreak

A recent poll by The Doctors Company received 9,459 responses to the question: How concerned are you as a healthcare provider about the recent U.S. measles outbreak?

04/25/2019

Hiring Friends and Family at the Office Is a Bad Idea

If your sister is pressuring you to hire your nephew for that much-coveted summer internship position so he can get his “foot in the door,” don’t give in to temptation.

03/28/2019

The 3-Minute Guide to Creating a Modern Website

How to Go Beyond an Online Business Card and Build an Effective Online Presence...

03/28/2019

Dollars & Sense: The State Budget

Earlier this week, the state budget became a bill on Capitol Hill—or at least on Capitol Square in Columbus, Ohio. The OSMA has completed an initial review of the bill language...

03/28/2019

On-Demand Care for YOU

As part of its commitment to the well-being of all physicians in the state of Ohio, the OSMA Physician Well-Being Committee recently launched an online hub...

03/14/2019

Oxycon"tained" Again in 2018

Pharmacy Board Releases Compelling OARRS Data... This week, the State of Ohio Pharmacy Board reported that the number of opioids dispensed to Ohioans dropped by 325 million from 2012 or 2018.

02/28/2019

OSMA Goes to Washington

Earlier this month, several OSMA members along with the OSMA Government Relations staff traveled to Washington DC to meet with members of Congress to discuss how existing laws are affecting patients and practices.

02/28/2019

Lions, and Tigers and Boards, Oh My!

Vision for the Future Commission released its final report to the American Board of Medical Specialties Board of Directors early this month.

02/28/2019

This Bud’s for You (or Your Patients)

Within the first month that the medical marijuana program was running in the state of Ohio, nearly $1M in sales were recorded, but questions remain.

02/27/2019

Take Control of Rising Healthcare Costs

The OSMA understands the struggles to maintain an independent practice. This is one reason why the OSMA decided to offer an OSMA managed, self-funded health care plan.

02/15/2019

2019 OSMA Annual Meeting—Resolutions Posted

All resolutions received by the Wednesday, February 6th deadline have been posted to the website so you can start to review them. We will post background information as we receive it.

02/14/2019

Despite 21% Decrease in Overdose Deaths, Ohio Still Has Work to Do

According to a recent CDC report, Ohio saw a significant decrease – 21.4% - in overdose fatalities in July 2017 through June 2018; second in the nation only to Washington DC, which saw a 24.2% decrease.

02/14/2019

What is the OSMA Doing for You?

With a new governor in office and Ohio legislators back at the Statehouse, the OSMA is putting our advocacy agenda—based on the priorities of our members—in motion.

01/10/2019

Make Sure to Do your Annual HR Check Up

Now that 2019 is underway, it is essential that you make sure your company is in compliance with state and federal regulatory updates.

01/10/2019

OSMA Insurance Agency Announces 2019 Average Rate Renewal of only 2.9 Percent

Physician practices participating in the OSMA’s Health Benefits Plan (HBP) will see another year of rate increases averaging single digits. Renewal increases for 2019 will average 2.9%. This increase, along with plan increases over the past three years, show a four-year average of 4.5%. Significantly below the national averages.

01/08/2019

Ohio’s Lame Duck Legislative Session 2018 – What Happened & What You Should Know

The final months of 2018 were a whirlwind beyond the usual frenzied legislative activity of “lame duck” – with Ohio’s legislators staying in session until just days before the Christmas holiday, and returning for more action just days after. This scenario is extremely rare and hasn’t happened in Ohio’s legislature to this extent in decades.

01/03/2019

Physician Well-Being: The Real 5th Vital Sign

"The reason we should care about burnout is because it has the potential for serious consequences on the quality of patient care and safety, patient satisfaction, professionalism, physicians’ own care and safety, and the viability of the health care system..."

12/06/2018

Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient Registry Opens: What it Means for Doctors

The amount of product will be extremely limited, as growers and dispensaries come online throughout 2019.

06/15/2021

OSMA Members Elected to AMA Positions

June 15, 2021 - Congratulations to our OSMA members elected to an AMA position this week!

06/10/2021

Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Falsehoods & Supporting Statewide Vaccination Efforts

June 10, 2021 - As Ohio continues efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible against COVID-19, OSMA is proud to support these efforts and ensure member physicians have the information and tools they need to encourage vaccines and be vaccine providers.

06/03/2021

Endorsing Dr. Lou Edje for AMA's Council on Medical Education

June 3, 2021 - Dr. Edje, an active OSMA member since 1998, has served our organization as an alternate and currently delegate representing the full spectrum of medical education issues with clarity, credibility and eloquence. Her perspective is informed from her robust leadership experience in undergraduate, graduate and post graduate education.

06/02/2021

Medical Board—Important News!

June 2, 2021 - Effective May 31, 2021, MDs, DOs and DPMs will be required to complete one hour of Continuing Medical Education (CME) prior to renewal on the topic of a licensee’s duty to report misconduct under section 4731.224 of the Revised Code. The enforcement of this requirement will commence with renewal applications submitted on or after July 1, 2021.

05/11/2021

Physician Wellness Coalition Releases New Video Resources

May 11, 2021 – The Coalition is offering a series of free, physician wellness videos certified by the OSMA for AMA PRA Category 1™ credit.

05/11/2021

Webinar: The New Ohio Medicaid Provider Network Management

May 11, 2021 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid invites you to an overview of the new Provider Network Management (PNM) module and Centralized Credentialing.

05/05/2021

Telehealth Immersion Program

May 5, 2021 – To help guide the future of how practices use telehealth, OSMA is excited to collaborate with the AMA on this program. By doing so, we hope to provide you access to all the latest resources for best implementing telehealth in your practice now and into the future. Join an introductory session on the program on May 11, 2021, 12–12:45 p.m. EST.

04/29/2021

Discussing the COVID Vaccine with Patients: Campaigns Physicians Can Use

April 29, 2021 – This is a big moment in time for vaccines. As we honor World Immunization Week the last week of April, it seems appropriate to give a big thank-you to the many doctors, scientists, immunologists and healthcare professionals who make vaccines possible.

04/23/2021

Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Lisa Egbert, MD

April 23, 2021 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Egbert as our new President, and we thank Dr. Anthony Armstrong who skillfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Egbert, her medical career, and her vision for leading OSMA.

04/15/2021

Ohio Medicaid Announces New Managed Care Contracts

April 15, 2021 - The Ohio Department of Medicaid has selected six companies as recipients of the next managed care organizations (MCOs) contracts. The contracts are scheduled to start in January 2022.

04/05/2021

Free Webinar: Key Provisions of Information Blocking Compliance

April 5, 2021 - Are you prepared? The compliance date for the information blocking provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act final rule was set for April 5, 2021.

03/10/2021

Behavioral Heath Integration Research Study

March 10, 2021 - a research study is launching to gather feedback from primary care and physician practices that are interested in integrating behavioral health care for their patients.

02/16/2021

Join Our Advocacy Updates at 2021's Education Symposium

February 16, 2021 - Stay current with what’s going on at the Statehouse at the opening session of this year’s OSMA Education Symposium.

02/10/2021

OSMA's 2021 Education Symposium Registration Now Open!

February 10, 2021 - More session choices, more education credits and more convenience. At the lower registration price of $100 for member physicians and staff, attendees can earn up to 14 AMA PRA Category 1™ credits.

02/02/2021

Helping Your Patients Understand Medicare Coverage

February 2, 2021 - In Ohio, more than two million people rely on Medicare, and it is essential they have all the information they need to make an informed decision about their Medicare plan selection.

02/02/2021

Is Your Office Prepared for the New Interoperability Rules?

February 2, 2021 - OSMA's free, live webinar on Feb. 10 (at 1pm) can help... "Meeting Interoperability and Avoiding Information Blocking"

01/07/2021

Ohio’s Vaccine Distribution Update

January 7, 2021 - As we continue to hear from practices with questions about vaccination, we have notified ODH of specific local level challenges. More vaccine allocations are being sent to local health departments weekly, so we are hopeful this will help with access.

01/06/2021

Federal Budget/COVID Relief Overview for Physician Practices

January 6, 2021 - The AMA has provided a comprehensive update on the impact of the latest legislation passed by Congress and signed by the president. Major items include updates to the Medicare fee schedule and billing, money for provider relief and small business support.

12/02/2020

Year-End Practice Planning Tips & Document Retention

December 2, 2020 – As the year comes to a close, many practices have questions about their files and record retention. As a reminder, you can access the OSMA’s medical records toolkit for tips on record retention, storage and what to do with records if you are thinking about retiring or closing your office.

11/18/2020

Free Training on Death Certificates for Disaster Situations

November 18, 2020 – The Montgomery County Coroner's Office in Dayton Ohio is providing free grant-funded death certificate training to death certifiers, in order to have death certificates filled out as they relate to disaster situations.

09/25/2020

OSMA Launches Campaign to Encourage Immunizations

September 24, 2020 – Recent data suggests immunization rates are down significantly for children across the country. Join us in raising awareness to help remind parents that it is more essential than ever to keep children current with their immunizations.

09/01/2020

Medicare/Medicaid On-Demand Webinars Now Available

September 1, 2020 – If you missed the live Medicare & Medicaid webinars, you can still benefit from the recorded payer presentations and earn AAPC credit.

08/31/2020

CGS to Provide Medical Review Process Update on September 29th

August 31, 2020 – Ohio’s Medicare contractor, CGS, is offering a teleconference for practices on the Medical Review Process. The call has been scheduled for all Medicare providers/suppliers under the CGS J15 jurisdiction on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., EST.

08/31/2020

Upcoming CMS Webinar: Understanding Clinical Quality Measures

August 31, 2020 – On Sept. 15 or 17, learn how CMS is modernizing its approach to digital measurement with an engaging and informative overview of quality measurement, the unique features of electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) and future plans for digitization.

08/26/2020

Women’s Health Professional Development Opportunities from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Ohio Department of Health

August 26, 2020 - Two virtual training opportunities are now available: Telehealth Delivery Training for Women’s Health Providers, and Obstetric Emergency Simulation Training for Emergency Medicine Providers

08/04/2020

Continued Flexibility for Medicare Regulations, Telehealth, and HIPAA

August 4, 2020 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended the public health emergency for another 90 days through October 23, 2020.

08/04/2020

Health Insurance Coverage for your Practice—Preparing for 2021

August 4, 2020 - One of the biggest costs facing practices today continues to be health insurance coverage for employees. Costs are rising and coverage continues to change year to year. OSMA addresses this challenge by creating the OSMA Health Benefits Plan (HBP).

08/04/2020

Informed Consent: Substance and Signature

August 4, 2020 - OSMA’s preferred partner, The Doctors Company, outlines how an established physician-patient dialogue can prevent patient disappointment from ripening into a claim.

07/18/2019

Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition Offers Online CME Courses

The Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition (OPWC), which represents Ohio physicians and hospitals and focuses on addressing physician burnout, launched six videos in its continuing medical education (CME) wellness video series.

06/06/2019

New Pain Management Toolkit Available

A new state toolkit designed to assist primary care doctors who prescribe opioids will be released this month by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

03/28/2019

The 3-Minute Guide to Creating a Modern Website

How to Go Beyond an Online Business Card and Build an Effective Online Presence...

03/28/2019

On-Demand Care for YOU

As part of its commitment to the well-being of all physicians in the state of Ohio, the OSMA Physician Well-Being Committee recently launched an online hub...

03/14/2019

Oxycon"tained" Again in 2018

Pharmacy Board Releases Compelling OARRS Data... This week, the State of Ohio Pharmacy Board reported that the number of opioids dispensed to Ohioans dropped by 325 million from 2012 or 2018.

02/28/2019

Lions, and Tigers and Boards, Oh My!

Vision for the Future Commission released its final report to the American Board of Medical Specialties Board of Directors early this month.

02/28/2019

This Bud’s for You (or Your Patients)

Within the first month that the medical marijuana program was running in the state of Ohio, nearly $1M in sales were recorded, but questions remain.

06/17/2021

Opponent Hearings on Anti-Vaccine Legislation Begin

June 17, 2021 - OSMA continues to participate in advocacy efforts in opposition to Ohio House Bill 248, a gravely concerning legislative proposal regarding vaccinations. Get the details to get involved in OSMA Efforts!

06/17/2021

State Budget Update: Ohio Senate Passes Budget Bill, Conference Committee Convenes

June 17, 2021 - Last week, the Ohio Senate voted 25-8, along party lines, to pass its version of House Bill 110, the $75 billion two-year state operating budget for FY 2022-2023.

06/16/2021

OSMA Advocacy Efforts on Insurance Coverage of Drugs Highlighted

June 16, 2021 - Earlier this week, the Columbus Dispatch published a series of articles highlighting the challenges many patients and physicians have with insurance coverage of drugs. The series featured several issues which OSMA is involved in advocacy on at the Statehouse.

06/15/2021

Medical Board's June Meeting Highlights

June 15, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on June 9, 2021. Here are the topic highlights from the meeting.

05/26/2021

Prior Authorization under Medicare Plans

May 25, 2021 - Bipartisan legislation has been reintroduced that would protect patients from unnecessary delays in care by streamlining and standardizing prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans, providing much-needed oversight and transparency of health insurance for America’s seniors.

05/20/2021

Advocacy Update: OSMA Testifies in Support of Tanning Ban for Minors

May 20, 2021 - This week, OSMA joined the Ohio Dermatological Association (ODA) testifying in support of House Bill 159, legislation that would prohibit use of indoor tanning services by those under the age of 18 in Ohio.

05/19/2021

Medical Board's May Meeting Highlights

May 19, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on May 12, 2021. Here are the topic highlights from the meeting.

05/18/2021

Addressing Prediabetes and Hypertension—Your Input Matters!

May 18, 2021 – ODH is conducting one-on-one interviews to discuss current processes, opportunities for improvement, and team-based approaches—with the goal being to create social marketing campaigns to drive awareness amongst healthcare providers regarding best practices for prediabetes and hypertension.

05/05/2021

Medicare Recoupment Reminder—Let Us Know How It's Going!

May 5, 2021 – CMS recently began automatic recoupment of COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments. OSMA and AMA are very interested in feedback about recoupment of the Medicare advance payments.

04/23/2021

Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Lisa Egbert, MD

April 23, 2021 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Egbert as our new President, and we thank Dr. Anthony Armstrong who skillfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Egbert, her medical career, and her vision for leading OSMA.

04/22/2021

State Budget Bill Update: House Approves HB 110, Sends to Senate

April 22, 2021 - OSMA has been monitoring the budget process over the last several months, keeping a close eye on provisions related to healthcare. This week, members of the Ohio House Finance Committee approved substitute House Bill 110, the House version of the state operating budget.

04/22/2021

Medical Board's April Meeting Highlights

April 21, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on April 14, 2021. Here are the topic highlights from the meeting.

04/15/2021

OSMA's 2021 Annual Meeting Summary

April 15, 2021 - Get the details and results from our 2021 event. The virtual meeting kicked off with a keynote speech from Governor Mike DeWine, who took the opportunity to thank OSMA physician members for their service to patients as well as their counsel and leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

04/06/2021

Temporary Medicare Claims Hold Pending Congressional Action

April 6, 2021 - CMS issued the following statement on March 30, in anticipation of possible Congressional action to extend the 2% sequester reduction suspension...

03/17/2021

March Advocacy Update—The Issues on OSMA’s Agenda

March 17, 2021 - OSMA’s Government Relations team serves as the voice of Ohio’s physicians—advising state departments and influencing state policy on health issues. We are currently working on a variety of familiar issues, as well as laying the groundwork and progressing with several reform initiatives.

03/17/2021

Senate Bill 22 Passes in the Ohio Legislature, DeWine Indicates He Will Veto

March 17, 2021 - As you may recall, SB 22 is the legislature’s reaction to the state’s pandemic response, and would limit the ability of the governor and the health department to issue orders related to the pandemic.

03/16/2021

Federal Advocacy Update

March 16, 2021 - Revisions to Policy that Would Have Raised Fees on Practices, and Biden Administration Announces Increase to Vaccine Administration Payment

03/15/2021

Annual PAC Campaign – Help Us Build Back Stronger!

March 15, 2021 - We wanted to let you know that we are gearing up efforts at a strong comeback after a challenging 2020 year. Because the OSMAPAC suspended a lot of its typical fundraising activities last year due to the impact of COVID-19 on the health care environment, it is even more important that we do everything we can this year to build back the strength of the PAC in 2021.

03/14/2021

Medical Board's March Meeting Highlights

March 14, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on March 10, 2021. Here are the highlights from the meeting.

02/25/2021

What Consumers Want from Healthcare—Q&A with Expert, Linda MacCracken

February 25, 2021 - In advance of our 2021 Education Symposium, Navigating the Future of Healthcare, we’re highlighting one of our expert speakers, Linda MacCracken from Accenture, who shares her thoughts on what consumers—especially seniors—want from healthcare providers. More about this topic will be shared in a webinar at OSMA’s Education Symposium.

02/18/2021

2021 Legislative Sessions Kick Off – What is OSMA Working on So Far?

February 18, 2021 - The 134th General Assembly is underway, and hearings in the Ohio House and Senate have begun. As always, OSMA is on hand to monitor all legislation as it is introduced, identify proposals that would affect Ohio physicians and patient care, and make your voice heard on emerging issues.

02/17/2021

OSMA Joins AMA in Urging Congress to Extend the Moratorium on the Medicare Sequester

February 17, 2021 - OSMA recently signed on to a letter from the American Medical Association (AMA) encouraging congressional leadership to take action and pass legislation that would extend the current moratorium on the 2% Medicare payment sequester beyond the expiration date of March 31, 2021.

02/16/2021

Being an Advocate Q&A with OSMA Thought Leader, Alan Levy, MD

February 16, 2021 - What are some of the biggest policy issues facing healthcare at both the state and federal level? What does it mean to be a healthcare advocate? Learn from OSMA's Chair of the Focused Task Force on Legislation.

02/16/2021

Governor DeWine’s Proposed Budget – Items Impacting Health Care

February 16, 2021 - Many details within the budget are subject to change as the bill progresses through the two chambers, so OSMA will keep Ohio physicians informed in the coming weeks as budget proceedings continue.

02/16/2021

Join Our Advocacy Updates at 2021's Education Symposium

February 16, 2021 - Stay current with what’s going on at the Statehouse at the opening session of this year’s OSMA Education Symposium.

02/15/2021

Nominations Open for the 2020 Physician Advocate of the Year

February 15, 2021 - This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated the ability to effectively advocate at the local, state or federal level on behalf of their profession and patients throughout 2020.

02/15/2021

Medical Board Meeting Highlights

February 15, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on February 10, 2021. Here are the highlights from the meeting.

02/11/2021

Health Equity Q&A with OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD

February 11, 2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic and elevated conversations about racial justice have brought the issue of healthcare equity to the forefront for healthcare professionals everywhere. As we support members in 2021, we’re pleased to share thoughts from OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD on health equity and what this means for Ohio physicians.

01/23/2021

President Biden's Executive Orders for Handling COVID-19

January 23, 2021 - President Biden has unveiled a significant national strategy for handling COVID-19 and addressing pandemic preparedness generally. The President also took initial steps to immediately implement portions of this strategy, issuing several executive orders and memoranda.

01/19/2021

Ohio’s New Legislative Session – The 134th General Assembly

January 19, 2021 - OSMA is proud to continue to represent you and advocate on your behalf. We believe that in 2020, our advocacy team laid the groundwork that will help us achieve more in 2021. We expect to see familiar issues resurface in the coming months, and we also hope to advance several new advocacy priorities this year.

01/19/2021

Help OSMA Set Our Advocacy Agenda

January 19, 2021 - As the Ohio Legislature begins a new general assembly, OSMA is working to formulate our advocacy agenda for the year, and we need to hear from you!

01/12/2021

Temporary Relaxation of Physician Assistant Supervision

January 12, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio issued the following update on January 6 to providers.

12/23/2020

Ohio’s Lame Duck Legislative Session – What You Should Know

December 23, 2020 - After weeks of significant legislative activity and some unexpected additional session dates for both the House and the Senate, the 133rd General Assembly inched closer to finishing work for the year this week. Dozens of key OSMA issues progressed across the finish line this week.

12/22/2020

Federal Legislation Passes Impacting COVID Relief, Medicare Physician Payment & Surprise Billing

December 22, 2020 - After several weeks of intense negotiation, Congress passed a comprehensive omnibus spending package that funds the federal government through fiscal year 2021. President Trump is expected to sign the bill. Here is what the major provisions in the legislation include.

12/21/2020

Update from the Ohio Vaccine Preparedness Office

December 21, 2020 - We want to share the Ohio Department of Health's "Weekly Update" from the Ohio Vaccine Preparedness Office. Get the latest on the pandemic vaccine news, resources and talking points.

12/20/2020

New Telehealth Policies in Medicare 2021 Physician Fee Schedule

December 20, 2020 - The changes for 2021 are designed to expand the use of telehealth technologies among Medicare beneficiaries. The changes in the Final Rule include the following.

12/08/2020

Tell Congress now is not the time to cut Medicare payments

December 8, 2020 – As physicians continue to battle the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing they should have to worry about is cuts to their Medicare payments. Unfortunately, without Congressional action before January 1, 2021, that nightmare scenario will become reality.

12/03/2020

Medical Licensure Renewal Extended to July 1, 2021

December 3, 2020 – The State Medical Board of Ohio has released the following statement regarding the medical licensure renewal extension. All affected licensees are, however, still able to renew at their regularly scheduled deadline with a couple benefits to doing so.

11/19/2020

More than 450 physicians take action to help remove controversial APRN bill from this week’s voting

November 19, 2020 – OSMA’s government relations team sent out a call to action last Friday which resulted in an extraordinary response—over 450 physicians, residents, and medical students all over Ohio reached out to their legislators to express their concerns and to urge them not to support HB 177.

11/05/2020

OSMA's Election Recap – 2020 Results

November 5, 2020 – Get our overview of the election outcomes and how the OSMAPAC’s endorsed candidates fared at the polls this week.

10/28/2020

Take Action on Proposed Medicare Cuts

October 28, 2020 – OSMA is joining the American Medical Association (AMA) and various physician specialty associations in advocating against proposed rate cuts as part of the proposed Medicare physician payment schedule.

10/20/2020

Ensure Your Voice is Heard—Make a Plan to Vote!

October 20, 2020 – Early voting and absentee voting are both underway. Whether you plan to do early in-person voting, voting by mail, or you attend a poll to vote on election day, we've summarized the details on all voting options to help with your planning.

09/23/2020

Telehealth Coverage—The Latest Changes

September 23, 2020 – There is pending legislation—draft rules and other discussions—to make permanent some aspects of the telemedicine coverage flexibility altered for the pandemic.

09/22/2020

OSMA President Meets Virtually with Medical Students

September 22, 2020 – The pandemic isn’t stopping OSMA president, Anthony Armstrong, MD, from virtually reaching out to the next generation of doctors to discuss the importance of organized medicine in advocating and supporting the profession.

09/16/2020

Governor Signs COVID-19 Immunity Legislation into Law

September 16, 2020 – On Monday, September 14, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation into law which will expand civil immunity for health care and service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

09/15/2020

Highlights from State Medical Board's September 9th Meeting

September 15, 2020 – From telehealth legislation and regulatory discussions to sexual misconduct education efforts and physician mental health concerns, here's a recap of the recent State Medical Board of Ohio's meeting.

09/10/2020

Sharing Concerns about the Pandemic's Impact on Physician Well-Being in Ohio

September 10, 2020 – Physician well-being has been a significant concern over the past several years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has now created many additional challenges. In response, several medical associations in Ohio came together to ask the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) to take action to support its licensees.

09/03/2020

COVID-19 Liability Protection Reform Bill Passes Ohio Legislature

September 3, 2020 – OSMA is thrilled to report that legislation to expand civil immunity for health care and service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic is now just one step away from becoming Ohio law. This is a victory in the face of considerable uncertainty in the medical community for months.

08/26/2020

Addressing Minority Health Challenges in Ohio

August 26, 2020 - State task force releases Blueprint of priorities to begin to further address these challenges. Governor DeWine appointed a COVID-19 Ohio Minority Health Strike Force—where OSMA President, Anthony Armstrong, M.D., was appointed as a member.

08/20/2020

Federal Advocacy Update

August 20, 2020 - OSMA is your ally in Ohio advocacy—making your voice heard on key issues impacting the physician community. Here are the major state advocacy updates for August.

08/20/2020

Ohio Advocacy Update

August 20, 2020 - OSMA is your ally in Ohio advocacy—making your voice heard on key issues impacting the physician community. Here are the major state advocacy updates for August.

07/30/2020

OSMA Supports Withdrawal of Rule Prohibiting Prescribing of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine in Ohio for Treatment of COVID-19

July 30, 2020 - This rule would have prohibited the dispensing or selling of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in Ohio for treatment of COVID-19 thus removing a physician’s ability to decide if the drug was an appropriate treatment for his or her patient.

07/16/2020

Mid-Year Advocacy Update

July 17, 2020 – It is an understatement to say that 2020 has brought us all many unexpected challenges. Together, we continue to be a strong collective force, and OSMA is pleased to have made progress with many of the year’s advocacy goals despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

07/14/2020

OSMAPAC Announces 2020 Election Endorsements

July 14, 2020 – As the political voice for the OSMA’s physician, resident and student members, the Ohio State Medical Association Political Action Committee (OSMAPAC) advocates for Ohio physicians by helping to elect state and federal candidates who support the OSMA’s policy agenda.

08/01/2019

Ohio Physicians Give Feedback on Medicaid Managed Care Program

Many of our members provide daily patient care to Ohio’s Medicaid population and thus are uniquely qualified to provide meaningful information to assist the Ohio Department of Medicaid in its upcoming competitive Medicaid managed care procurement process. The comments we received from our members generally centered on areas where improvement is most desired, including plan accountability, grievances and appeals, provider support, benefits and delivery, and care coordination and management.

07/23/2019

Wrap Up: Ohio Delegation to the American Medical Association

Your OSMA Delegation to the AMA worked diligently on behalf of Ohio physicians during the recent 2019 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Ohio resolutions were carried forward and either adopted as new policy or committed the AMA to continue existing policy for another ten years.

07/18/2019

Ohio Budget Process Complete

The OSMA Government Relations team has been engaging with legislators on health care-related budget items since the governor’s initial proposal was released, and has been following and participating in the ongoing debates about a number of health policy decisions.

03/28/2019

Dollars & Sense: The State Budget

Earlier this week, the state budget became a bill on Capitol Hill—or at least on Capitol Square in Columbus, Ohio. The OSMA has completed an initial review of the bill language...

02/28/2019

OSMA Goes to Washington

Earlier this month, several OSMA members along with the OSMA Government Relations staff traveled to Washington DC to meet with members of Congress to discuss how existing laws are affecting patients and practices.

02/14/2019

What is the OSMA Doing for You?

With a new governor in office and Ohio legislators back at the Statehouse, the OSMA is putting our advocacy agenda—based on the priorities of our members—in motion.

01/08/2019

Ohio’s Lame Duck Legislative Session 2018 – What Happened & What You Should Know

The final months of 2018 were a whirlwind beyond the usual frenzied legislative activity of “lame duck” – with Ohio’s legislators staying in session until just days before the Christmas holiday, and returning for more action just days after. This scenario is extremely rare and hasn’t happened in Ohio’s legislature to this extent in decades.

06/17/2021

Opponent Hearings on Anti-Vaccine Legislation Begin

June 17, 2021 - OSMA continues to participate in advocacy efforts in opposition to Ohio House Bill 248, a gravely concerning legislative proposal regarding vaccinations. Get the details to get involved in OSMA Efforts!

06/17/2021

State Budget Update: Ohio Senate Passes Budget Bill, Conference Committee Convenes

June 17, 2021 - Last week, the Ohio Senate voted 25-8, along party lines, to pass its version of House Bill 110, the $75 billion two-year state operating budget for FY 2022-2023.

06/16/2021

OSMA Advocacy Efforts on Insurance Coverage of Drugs Highlighted

June 16, 2021 - Earlier this week, the Columbus Dispatch published a series of articles highlighting the challenges many patients and physicians have with insurance coverage of drugs. The series featured several issues which OSMA is involved in advocacy on at the Statehouse.

06/15/2021

Medical Board's June Meeting Highlights

June 15, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on June 9, 2021. Here are the topic highlights from the meeting.

06/15/2021

OSMA Members Elected to AMA Positions

June 15, 2021 - Congratulations to our OSMA members elected to an AMA position this week!

06/10/2021

Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Falsehoods & Supporting Statewide Vaccination Efforts

June 10, 2021 - As Ohio continues efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible against COVID-19, OSMA is proud to support these efforts and ensure member physicians have the information and tools they need to encourage vaccines and be vaccine providers.

06/09/2021

Medical License Renewal Reminder

June 9, 2021 - According to the medical board, almost 4,000 physicians have not yet renewed! If you are one of those physicians, make sure that you renew by the July 1st deadline.

06/03/2021

Endorsing Dr. Lou Edje for AMA's Council on Medical Education

June 3, 2021 - Dr. Edje, an active OSMA member since 1998, has served our organization as an alternate and currently delegate representing the full spectrum of medical education issues with clarity, credibility and eloquence. Her perspective is informed from her robust leadership experience in undergraduate, graduate and post graduate education.

06/03/2021

Helpful Policies Implemented for Ohio Vaccine Providers

June 3, 2021 - The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has announced a number of policy changes that will make it much easier for primary care practices of all sizes to provide the COVID vaccine in their offices.

06/03/2021

White House Vaccine Conversation: Recording Available!

June 3, 2021 - If you missed the White House's vaccine conversation for Ohio primary care providers, a recording is now available. Hear from governor DeWine, surgeon general Murthy, other White House, the CDC and ODH, as well as OSMA President, Dr. Lisa Egbert—who hosted a panel discussion.

06/02/2021

Allowable Charges for Copying Medical Records

June 1, 2021 - 2021 Update: The Ohio Department of Health is required on an annual basis to use the Consumer Price Index to determine the amount of increase or decrease in costs for providing medical records. The increase for 2021 is a 1.23% increase from 2020.

06/02/2021

Medical Board—Important News!

June 2, 2021 - Effective May 31, 2021, MDs, DOs and DPMs will be required to complete one hour of Continuing Medical Education (CME) prior to renewal on the topic of a licensee’s duty to report misconduct under section 4731.224 of the Revised Code. The enforcement of this requirement will commence with renewal applications submitted on or after July 1, 2021.

06/01/2021

Artificial Intelligence, COVID-19, and the Future of Pandemics

June 1, 2021 - Artificial intelligence (AI) has proven of value in the COVID-19 pandemic and shows promise for mitigating future healthcare crises.

05/27/2021

National Women’s Health Month – Physicians Offer Tips for Female Health

May 27, 2021 - We asked a few OSMA female physicians to share their tips for women everywhere to protect their health and get the care they need to live their most fulfilling lives.

05/26/2021

Prior Authorization under Medicare Plans

May 25, 2021 - Bipartisan legislation has been reintroduced that would protect patients from unnecessary delays in care by streamlining and standardizing prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans, providing much-needed oversight and transparency of health insurance for America’s seniors.

05/26/2021

National Health Care Expenditures, 2019

May 25, 2021 - A new report from the AMA provides a detailed look at the official U.S. health care spending estimates through 2019. We will continue to keep you informed as we get updated spending data for 2020 and into 2021.

05/20/2021

Advocacy Update: OSMA Testifies in Support of Tanning Ban for Minors

May 20, 2021 - This week, OSMA joined the Ohio Dermatological Association (ODA) testifying in support of House Bill 159, legislation that would prohibit use of indoor tanning services by those under the age of 18 in Ohio.

05/19/2021

Medical Board's May Meeting Highlights

May 19, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on May 12, 2021. Here are the topic highlights from the meeting.

05/18/2021

Addressing Prediabetes and Hypertension—Your Input Matters!

May 18, 2021 – ODH is conducting one-on-one interviews to discuss current processes, opportunities for improvement, and team-based approaches—with the goal being to create social marketing campaigns to drive awareness amongst healthcare providers regarding best practices for prediabetes and hypertension.

05/13/2021

OSMA Supports Governor’s Announcement to Rescind Health Orders

May 13, 2021 – Yesterday, Governor DeWine announced that all health orders (except those related to longterm care and assisted living facilities) will be rescinded on June 2. As we’ve learned more about the science of how this virus works and as more Ohioans have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, we’ve made outstanding progress in bringing down the rate of new COVID-19 cases.

05/12/2021

AMA Releases Plan to Embed Racial Justice & Advance Health Equity

May 12, 2021 – A new three-year roadmap released is dedicated to embedding racial justice and advancing health equity within the AMA and our health care system.

05/11/2021

Physician Wellness Coalition Releases New Video Resources

May 11, 2021 – The Coalition is offering a series of free, physician wellness videos certified by the OSMA for AMA PRA Category 1™ credit.

05/11/2021

Webinar: The New Ohio Medicaid Provider Network Management

May 11, 2021 – The Ohio Department of Medicaid invites you to an overview of the new Provider Network Management (PNM) module and Centralized Credentialing.

05/05/2021

Telehealth Immersion Program

May 5, 2021 – To help guide the future of how practices use telehealth, OSMA is excited to collaborate with the AMA on this program. By doing so, we hope to provide you access to all the latest resources for best implementing telehealth in your practice now and into the future. Join an introductory session on the program on May 11, 2021, 12–12:45 p.m. EST.

05/05/2021

Medicare Recoupment Reminder—Let Us Know How It's Going!

May 5, 2021 – CMS recently began automatic recoupment of COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments. OSMA and AMA are very interested in feedback about recoupment of the Medicare advance payments.

05/05/2021

Malpractice Claims from the COVID-19 Pandemic

May 5, 2021 - The pandemic has raised pressing questions around preventive measures, vaccines, and safe treatment, but it has also obscured one key lingering uncertainty for medical professionals: Where are all the medical malpractice claims?that can help mitigate risks.

04/29/2021

Discussing the COVID Vaccine with Patients: Campaigns Physicians Can Use

April 29, 2021 – This is a big moment in time for vaccines. As we honor World Immunization Week the last week of April, it seems appropriate to give a big thank-you to the many doctors, scientists, immunologists and healthcare professionals who make vaccines possible.

04/23/2021

Introducing OSMA’s New President: A Q&A with Lisa Egbert, MD

April 23, 2021 – We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Egbert as our new President, and we thank Dr. Anthony Armstrong who skillfully completed his term. Read on to learn more about Dr. Egbert, her medical career, and her vision for leading OSMA.

04/22/2021

State Budget Bill Update: House Approves HB 110, Sends to Senate

April 22, 2021 - OSMA has been monitoring the budget process over the last several months, keeping a close eye on provisions related to healthcare. This week, members of the Ohio House Finance Committee approved substitute House Bill 110, the House version of the state operating budget.

04/22/2021

Medical Board's April Meeting Highlights

April 21, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on April 14, 2021. Here are the topic highlights from the meeting.

04/15/2021

Ohio Medicaid Announces New Managed Care Contracts

April 15, 2021 - The Ohio Department of Medicaid has selected six companies as recipients of the next managed care organizations (MCOs) contracts. The contracts are scheduled to start in January 2022.

04/15/2021

Ohio to Increase Vaccine Distribution to Physician Practices

April 15, 2021 - OSMA was informed that the Ohio Department of Health is planning to increase distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to physician practices in the next two weeks.

04/15/2021

OSMA's 2021 Annual Meeting Summary

April 15, 2021 - Get the details and results from our 2021 event. The virtual meeting kicked off with a keynote speech from Governor Mike DeWine, who took the opportunity to thank OSMA physician members for their service to patients as well as their counsel and leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

04/06/2021

Temporary Medicare Claims Hold Pending Congressional Action

April 6, 2021 - CMS issued the following statement on March 30, in anticipation of possible Congressional action to extend the 2% sequester reduction suspension...

04/06/2021

Telehealth from the Field: Case Study Involving Remote Monitoring Problems

April 6, 2021 - Brought to you by OSMA Preferred Partner, The Doctors Company: Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of remote patient monitoring was expanding. The technologies offer many benefits, but they may also create potential malpractice risks. Consider the following case example and strategies that can help mitigate risks.

04/05/2021

Free Webinar: Key Provisions of Information Blocking Compliance

April 5, 2021 - Are you prepared? The compliance date for the information blocking provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act final rule was set for April 5, 2021.

04/05/2021

REMINDER: Repayment of Medicare Accelerated & Advance Payments Started March 30

April 5, 2021 - CMS recently issued a clarification on payback terms for those practices that received accelerated and advanced payments from Medicare last year.

03/24/2021

CMS Seeking Applications for Next Round of Primary Care First (PCF) Model

March 24, 2021 - Primary care practices in eligible regions are encouraged to apply. Practices that participate in PCF will have flexibility in terms of care delivery and the opportunity to increase practice revenue through performance-based model payments. The deadline for practice applications is April 30, 2021; the deadline for payer applications is May 28, 2021.

03/17/2021

March Advocacy Update—The Issues on OSMA’s Agenda

March 17, 2021 - OSMA’s Government Relations team serves as the voice of Ohio’s physicians—advising state departments and influencing state policy on health issues. We are currently working on a variety of familiar issues, as well as laying the groundwork and progressing with several reform initiatives.

03/17/2021

Senate Bill 22 Passes in the Ohio Legislature, DeWine Indicates He Will Veto

March 17, 2021 - As you may recall, SB 22 is the legislature’s reaction to the state’s pandemic response, and would limit the ability of the governor and the health department to issue orders related to the pandemic.

03/16/2021

Federal Advocacy Update

March 16, 2021 - Revisions to Policy that Would Have Raised Fees on Practices, and Biden Administration Announces Increase to Vaccine Administration Payment

03/15/2021

Annual PAC Campaign – Help Us Build Back Stronger!

March 15, 2021 - We wanted to let you know that we are gearing up efforts at a strong comeback after a challenging 2020 year. Because the OSMAPAC suspended a lot of its typical fundraising activities last year due to the impact of COVID-19 on the health care environment, it is even more important that we do everything we can this year to build back the strength of the PAC in 2021.

03/14/2021

Medical Board's March Meeting Highlights

March 14, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on March 10, 2021. Here are the highlights from the meeting.

03/11/2021

Physician Experts Address Top Questions about COVID-19

March 11, 2021 - Leading pandemic voices, Dr. Bob Wachter and Dr. Ashish Jha, share views at virtual TDC board meeting.

03/10/2021

Medicare Revenue Down 19% over First Half of 2020

March 10, 2021 - The economic impact of COVID-19 on health care continues to reveal itself through reductions in patient volume and revenue and in higher practice costs. As the pandemic stretches on, physician practice viability remains under threat.

03/10/2021

Behavioral Heath Integration Research Study

March 10, 2021 - a research study is launching to gather feedback from primary care and physician practices that are interested in integrating behavioral health care for their patients.

03/03/2021

Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation (BWC) announces a 7% decrease in premiums for 2021

March 3, 2021 - Last week the BWC Board announced an average premium reduction of 7.1% for the 2021 policy year that begins in July.

03/03/2021

White House Modifies Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

March 3, 2021 - On Monday, February 22, 2021, the Biden-Harris administration announced changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to “provide equitable relief” and increase the availability of the PPP funds to the smallest employers and sole proprietors.

03/03/2021

Before COVID-19, Outlier Medical Malpractice Verdicts Were Rising—What’s Next?

March 3, 2021 - Brought to you by OSMA Preferred Partner, The Doctors Company: Severity, the average cost of a medical malpractice claim, continues its relentless increase. Though severity has been rising since at least the 1970s, in recent years we have seen a sharp increase in outlier verdicts, which exceed common policy limits and often set records for their venues.

02/25/2021

What Consumers Want from Healthcare—Q&A with Expert, Linda MacCracken

February 25, 2021 - In advance of our 2021 Education Symposium, Navigating the Future of Healthcare, we’re highlighting one of our expert speakers, Linda MacCracken from Accenture, who shares her thoughts on what consumers—especially seniors—want from healthcare providers. More about this topic will be shared in a webinar at OSMA’s Education Symposium.

02/23/2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Answers from Virtual Panel of Healthcare Experts

February 23, 2021 - Leading pandemic voices, Dr. Bob Wachter and Dr. Ashish Jha, share perspectives at a virtual meeting hosted by the TDC Group of companies.

02/23/2021

Addressing Physical & Behavioral Health During COVID-19

February 22, 2021 - Brought to you by OSMA Symposium Sponsor, Medical Mutual: ...With increased incidents of mental health concerns due to COVID-19, the mental, as well as physical, health of our Medical Mutual members—your patients—is more important than ever. Here are four focus areas to improve care coordination and reduce hospital readmissions for members with behavioral health concerns.

02/21/2021

Workers' Comp Insurance Program Update

February 21, 2021 - We’re excited to announce that CompManagement will become Sedgwick as of March 1, 2021. Sedgwick’s commitment to Ohio employers remains as strong as ever. With more than 3,000 colleagues in Ohio, they will continue to offer the best workers’ compensation program solutions to help you mitigate risk and reduce costs.

02/18/2021

2021 Legislative Sessions Kick Off – What is OSMA Working on So Far?

February 18, 2021 - The 134th General Assembly is underway, and hearings in the Ohio House and Senate have begun. As always, OSMA is on hand to monitor all legislation as it is introduced, identify proposals that would affect Ohio physicians and patient care, and make your voice heard on emerging issues.

02/17/2021

OSMA Joins AMA in Urging Congress to Extend the Moratorium on the Medicare Sequester

February 17, 2021 - OSMA recently signed on to a letter from the American Medical Association (AMA) encouraging congressional leadership to take action and pass legislation that would extend the current moratorium on the 2% Medicare payment sequester beyond the expiration date of March 31, 2021.

02/16/2021

Being an Advocate Q&A with OSMA Thought Leader, Alan Levy, MD

February 16, 2021 - What are some of the biggest policy issues facing healthcare at both the state and federal level? What does it mean to be a healthcare advocate? Learn from OSMA's Chair of the Focused Task Force on Legislation.

02/16/2021

Governor DeWine’s Proposed Budget – Items Impacting Health Care

February 16, 2021 - Many details within the budget are subject to change as the bill progresses through the two chambers, so OSMA will keep Ohio physicians informed in the coming weeks as budget proceedings continue.

02/16/2021

Join Our Advocacy Updates at 2021's Education Symposium

February 16, 2021 - Stay current with what’s going on at the Statehouse at the opening session of this year’s OSMA Education Symposium.

02/15/2021

Nominations Open for the 2020 Physician Advocate of the Year

February 15, 2021 - This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated the ability to effectively advocate at the local, state or federal level on behalf of their profession and patients throughout 2020.

02/15/2021

Medical Board Meeting Highlights

February 15, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on February 10, 2021. Here are the highlights from the meeting.

02/11/2021

Health Equity Q&A with OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD

February 11, 2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic and elevated conversations about racial justice have brought the issue of healthcare equity to the forefront for healthcare professionals everywhere. As we support members in 2021, we’re pleased to share thoughts from OSMA President Anthony Armstrong, MD on health equity and what this means for Ohio physicians.

02/10/2021

OSMA's 2021 Education Symposium Registration Now Open!

February 10, 2021 - More session choices, more education credits and more convenience. At the lower registration price of $100 for member physicians and staff, attendees can earn up to 14 AMA PRA Category 1™ credits.

02/10/2021

What Resident Physicians Must Know about Privacy & Confidentiality

February 10, 2021 - Successful physician-patient relationships are built on the foundation of privacy. The promise of confidentiality is essential in order for patients to feel as though they can be candid about their health.

02/10/2021

CGS Offering Assistance in Preventive Care 

February 10, 2021 - Three programs have been implemented to improve utilization rates of the Medicare Preventive services, Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP), and Chronic Care Management (CCM) services.

02/02/2021

Interstate Licensure for Telehealth Can Fuel Medical Practice Growth

February 2, 2021 - Licensing restrictions have been eased to facilitate care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the new normal of greater state-to-state cooperation for access to care may persist after the pandemic. Still, the savvy physician knows that many restrictions apply, and that understanding them reduces risk.

02/02/2021

Helping Your Patients Understand Medicare Coverage

February 2, 2021 - In Ohio, more than two million people rely on Medicare, and it is essential they have all the information they need to make an informed decision about their Medicare plan selection.

02/02/2021

Is Your Office Prepared for the New Interoperability Rules?

February 2, 2021 - OSMA's free, live webinar on Feb. 10 (at 1pm) can help... "Meeting Interoperability and Avoiding Information Blocking"

02/01/2021

Be Aware: Recent Ransomware Attacks in Ohio

February 1, 2021 - Cybercriminals recently began launching ransomware attacks on local businesses, right here in Ohio. Victims include hospitals and medical associations, government organizations, and private sector companies.

01/27/2021

Join Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Fauci, for a Q&A

January 27, 2021 - You're encouraged to attend a Fireside Chat with Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci. Questions will be answered about how the new administration is approaching the COVID-19 crisis. There will also be a moderated Q&A during which time you can ask Dr. Fauci questions through the chat function.

01/26/2021

Tips for Communicating with COVID-19 Vaccine-Hesitant Patients

January 26, 2021 - Physicians should be proactively preparing for the upcoming administration of vaccines to the general population. This includes implementing a plan to initiate effective, informed consent conversations with patients to guide them to an informed decision about the vaccine.

01/25/2021

Medical Students: Remember Your Annual Meeting is Feb. 7

January 25, 2021 - Please RSVP to attend virtually on Sunday, Feb. 7 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.

01/23/2021

President Biden's Executive Orders for Handling COVID-19

January 23, 2021 - President Biden has unveiled a significant national strategy for handling COVID-19 and addressing pandemic preparedness generally. The President also took initial steps to immediately implement portions of this strategy, issuing several executive orders and memoranda.

01/19/2021

Ohio’s New Legislative Session – The 134th General Assembly

January 19, 2021 - OSMA is proud to continue to represent you and advocate on your behalf. We believe that in 2020, our advocacy team laid the groundwork that will help us achieve more in 2021. We expect to see familiar issues resurface in the coming months, and we also hope to advance several new advocacy priorities this year.

01/19/2021

Help OSMA Set Our Advocacy Agenda

January 19, 2021 - As the Ohio Legislature begins a new general assembly, OSMA is working to formulate our advocacy agenda for the year, and we need to hear from you!

01/18/2021

Medical Board Update

January 18, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on January 13, 2021. We've highlighted the topics discussed at the meeting that OSMA is closely following.

01/14/2021

Vaccination Update

January 14, 2021 - Governor DeWine and the ODH announced that Ohio will expand its vaccination efforts starting the week of January 18. New "1B" groups will be eligible for vaccination, and the state has also implemented a search tool for vaccine provider locations where the vaccine shipments have become available.

01/13/2021

2021 Medicaid Managed Care Survey

January 13, 2021 - ODM is gathering feedback about physicians’ satisfaction with Medicaid managed care plans. The information will be used to evaluate health plan performance and identify opportunities for health plan improvement.

01/12/2021

Temporary Relaxation of Physician Assistant Supervision

January 12, 2021 - The State Medical Board of Ohio issued the following update on January 6 to providers.

01/08/2021

OSMA's 2021 Annual Meeting Update

January 8, 2021 - Save the Dates! Our Annual Meeting will be fully virtual this year and will take place April 9–11. Details are still in the planning phase, but we want to share important dates for your calendar, along with the information that we do have.

01/07/2021

Ohio’s Vaccine Distribution Update

January 7, 2021 - As we continue to hear from practices with questions about vaccination, we have notified ODH of specific local level challenges. More vaccine allocations are being sent to local health departments weekly, so we are hopeful this will help with access.

01/06/2021

Federal Budget/COVID Relief Overview for Physician Practices

January 6, 2021 - The AMA has provided a comprehensive update on the impact of the latest legislation passed by Congress and signed by the president. Major items include updates to the Medicare fee schedule and billing, money for provider relief and small business support.

01/05/2021

COVID-19: A Call for Innovation and Leadership in Healthcare

January 5, 2021 - For the next decade, we will all be carried along on a jet stream of change. Ask yourself a simple question: will the practice of good medicine in 2030 look the same as good medicine in 2020? Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO of OSMA’s liability insurance partner—The Doctors Company—provides his insight.

12/23/2020

Ohio’s Lame Duck Legislative Session – What You Should Know

December 23, 2020 - After weeks of significant legislative activity and some unexpected additional session dates for both the House and the Senate, the 133rd General Assembly inched closer to finishing work for the year this week. Dozens of key OSMA issues progressed across the finish line this week.

12/22/2020

Federal Legislation Passes Impacting COVID Relief, Medicare Physician Payment & Surprise Billing

December 22, 2020 - After several weeks of intense negotiation, Congress passed a comprehensive omnibus spending package that funds the federal government through fiscal year 2021. President Trump is expected to sign the bill. Here is what the major provisions in the legislation include.

12/21/2020

Update from the Ohio Vaccine Preparedness Office

December 21, 2020 - We want to share the Ohio Department of Health's "Weekly Update" from the Ohio Vaccine Preparedness Office. Get the latest on the pandemic vaccine news, resources and talking points.

12/20/2020

New Telehealth Policies in Medicare 2021 Physician Fee Schedule

December 20, 2020 - The changes for 2021 are designed to expand the use of telehealth technologies among Medicare beneficiaries. The changes in the Final Rule include the following.

12/17/2020

Latest Vaccine Rollout Guidance

December 17, 2020 - OSMA continues to communicate with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the governor’s office about the vaccine rollout. This week, we received more specific guidance for physicians not affiliated with a hospital or healthcare system.

12/16/2020

Medical Board of Ohio Meeting Highlights

December 16, 2020 - The State Medical Board of Ohio met on December 9. Here is a recap of the meeting's highlights, including: light-based medical devices, weight loss prescribing rules, medical licensure renewal extension, and introduction of new board member, Yeshwant P. Reddy, MD, FRCS, FAAPMR, ABIPP.

12/15/2020

Be Aware: New Email Phishing Scam

December 15, 2020 - The State Medical Board of Ohio has been made aware of an email phishing scam that is being sent to licensees. The sender claims to represent the Ohio Secretary of State and is attempting to gain access to your personal information through a fraudulent request to validate your profile.

12/10/2020

Vaccine Distribution Update

December 10, 2020 - Get the latest updates from the Ohio Department of Health specific to physicians and other healthcare personnel. We are still waiting for information on specifically which physicians and healthcare staff will be included in the first phase of vaccine availability.

12/08/2020

OSMA Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates for At-Large Council Seats

December 8, 2020 - Are you interested in more actively participating in the work of OSMA? The OSMA Committee on Nominations is seeking candidates to serve as At-Large members of the OSMA Council. The Committee will nominate at least 4 candidates to fill 3 At-Large Council seats. The term of office is 2 years.

12/08/2020

Tell Congress now is not the time to cut Medicare payments

December 8, 2020 – As physicians continue to battle the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing they should have to worry about is cuts to their Medicare payments. Unfortunately, without Congressional action before January 1, 2021, that nightmare scenario will become reality.

12/03/2020

Medical Licensure Renewal Extended to July 1, 2021

December 3, 2020 – The State Medical Board of Ohio has released the following statement regarding the medical licensure renewal extension. All affected licensees are, however, still able to renew at their regularly scheduled deadline with a couple benefits to doing so.

12/03/2020

CMS Releases Policy, Payment, & Quality Provision Changes to the Medicare Fee Schedule

December 3, 2020 – On December 1, CMS released the final 2021 Medicare fee schedule rule. While there are some positive changes related to telemedicine coverage, OSMA joins the AMA and other states with concerns regarding proposed cuts to certain aspects of physician reimbursement.

12/02/2020

ODM Announces New Telehealth Rule & Other Billing/Coding Updates

December 2, 2020 – From new telehealth billing guidelines to an updated clinical lab fee schedule, new COVID vaccine codes, and the adoption of different codes for reporting urine drug tests—here are the details on the recent Ohio Department of Medicaid's announcements.

12/02/2020

Year-End Practice Planning Tips & Document Retention

December 2, 2020 – As the year comes to a close, many practices have questions about their files and record retention. As a reminder, you can access the OSMA’s medical records toolkit for tips on record retention, storage and what to do with records if you are thinking about retiring or closing your office.

12/01/2020

OSMA Joins the "Coalition to Stop the Spread"

December 1, 2020 – As OSMA continues to work to be ever responsive to the needs of Ohio physicians throughout this pandemic, we have recently stepped forward as a founding member of the Coalition to Stop the Spread.

12/01/2020

COVID-19 & Patient Safety in the Medical Office

December 1, 2020 – Medical offices must remain very attentive to the widespread outbreak of COVID-19, continuing to proactively take steps to safely manage patients while protecting clinical staff. Here are tips and resources for this season of the pandemic.

12/01/2020

Health Insurance for Physicians—by Physicians.

December 1, 2020 – When it comes to running and managing a self-funded health care insurance program, we think physicians can do it better! It’s time to select a plan managed by those who truly understand medical practice needs.

11/19/2020

More than 450 physicians take action to help remove controversial APRN bill from this week’s voting

November 19, 2020 – OSMA’s government relations team sent out a call to action last Friday which resulted in an extraordinary response—over 450 physicians, residents, and medical students all over Ohio reached out to their legislators to express their concerns and to urge them not to support HB 177.

11/18/2020

Free Training on Death Certificates for Disaster Situations

November 18, 2020 – The Montgomery County Coroner's Office in Dayton Ohio is providing free grant-funded death certificate training to death certifiers, in order to have death certificates filled out as they relate to disaster situations.

11/10/2020

Lower Your Health Insurance Costs for your Practice—Preparing for 2021!

November 10, 2020 – One of the biggest costs facing medical practices continues to be health insurance coverage for employees. Costs are rising and coverage continues to change year to year. Learn more about the options available through OSMA's HBP.

11/09/2020

Keep a COVID-19 Diary: Document Now in Case of Future Lawsuits

November 9, 2020 – What the future holds relative to the evolution of COVID-19 remains unknown, but it is certain that litigation for COVID-related claims is on the horizon and will impact physicians in all medical specialties and practice models.

11/09/2020

ONC Extends Deadline for Implementing Info Blocking Rule

November 9, 2020 – Responding to the AMA’s and OSMA’s advocacy efforts requesting additional time and flexibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ONC’s interim final rule now pushes the information blocking compliance date to April 5, 2021.

11/05/2020

OSMA's Election Recap – 2020 Results

November 5, 2020 – Get our overview of the election outcomes and how the OSMAPAC’s endorsed candidates fared at the polls this week.

10/29/2020

Alert: Ransomware Activity Targeting Healthcare Providers

October 29, 2020 – There are reports of a pending cyber attack targeting hospitals and healthcare providers. OSMA encourages physicians to contact their IT teams/advisors.

10/28/2020

Take Action on Proposed Medicare Cuts

October 28, 2020 – OSMA is joining the American Medical Association (AMA) and various physician specialty associations in advocating against proposed rate cuts as part of the proposed Medicare physician payment schedule.

10/28/2020

Medical Board Investigator Scam Warning

October 28, 2020 – OSMA President, Dr. Anthony Armstrong, urges the Medical Board to help physicians verify the Identity of Medical Board investigators.

10/27/2020

Competition in Health Insurance Study Released

October 27, 2020 – Earlier this month the American Medical Association (AMA) released the 2020 update to its comprehensive study of U.S. health insurance markets based on enrollment data as of January 1, 2019.

10/26/2020

Check Your Eligibility for the Latest COVID-19 Ohio Small Business Grant

October 26, 2020 – We are pleased to report that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced a $125 million grant program to help small businesses that have been harmed by the effects of COVID-19.The grants will provide $10,000 to small businesses in Ohio with no more than 25 employees.

10/20/2020

Ensure Your Voice is Heard—Make a Plan to Vote!

October 20, 2020 – Early voting and absentee voting are both underway. Whether you plan to do early in-person voting, voting by mail, or you attend a poll to vote on election day, we've summarized the details on all voting options to help with your planning.

10/15/2020

OSMA Partners with Buckeye Coaches to Remind Ohioans to Stop the Spread

October 15, 2020 – On Tuesday, October 13, Governor DeWine previewed a commercial that will run on broadcast and cable television over the next three weeks to remind Ohioans that we must stay diligent at wearing masks and social distancing to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

10/14/2020

CMS Offering COVID-19 Guidance & Education

October 14, 2020 – Stakeholder Engagement Calls are being held to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19, and a new webinar is available on optimizing healthcare PPE, supplies, and future trends.

10/06/2020

New Round of Physician Relief Payments Now Available

October 6, 2020 – The application process is open! On October 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $20 billion in new funding for physicians and other healthcare providers.

10/06/2020

Medicare Accelerated/Advanced Payment Revisions

October 6, 2020 – Last week, as part of the short-term spending bill passed by Congress, several changes were made to the Accelerated and Advanced Payment program. The changes relax many of the terms of repayment for physicians that took advantage of the program in March.

10/05/2020

HHS Releases Updated Version of its Security Risk Assessment (SRA) Tool

October 5, 2020 – The tool is designed to help healthcare providers conduct a security risk assessment as required by the HIPAA Security Rule and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program.

10/05/2020

COVID-19 Is Changing Liability Risks and Litigation in Healthcare

October 5, 2020 – Across the spectrum of care, healthcare delivery is changing as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, creating additional pressures to maintain patient safety and shaping new liability risks for hospitals, group practices, and solo physicians. The Doctors Company offers expert insights on how COVID-19 has changed liability risks and litigation.

09/25/2020

OSMA Launches Campaign to Encourage Immunizations

September 24, 2020 – Recent data suggests immunization rates are down significantly for children across the country. Join us in raising awareness to help remind parents that it is more essential than ever to keep children current with their immunizations.

09/23/2020

Telehealth Coverage—The Latest Changes

September 23, 2020 – There is pending legislation—draft rules and other discussions—to make permanent some aspects of the telemedicine coverage flexibility altered for the pandemic.

09/22/2020

OSMA President Meets Virtually with Medical Students

September 22, 2020 – The pandemic isn’t stopping OSMA president, Anthony Armstrong, MD, from virtually reaching out to the next generation of doctors to discuss the importance of organized medicine in advocating and supporting the profession.

09/16/2020

Governor Signs COVID-19 Immunity Legislation into Law

September 16, 2020 – On Monday, September 14, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation into law which will expand civil immunity for health care and service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

09/15/2020

Highlights from State Medical Board's September 9th Meeting

September 15, 2020 – From telehealth legislation and regulatory discussions to sexual misconduct education efforts and physician mental health concerns, here's a recap of the recent State Medical Board of Ohio's meeting.

09/10/2020

Sharing Concerns about the Pandemic's Impact on Physician Well-Being in Ohio

September 10, 2020 – Physician well-being has been a significant concern over the past several years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has now created many additional challenges. In response, several medical associations in Ohio came together to ask the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) to take action to support its licensees.

09/09/2020

Provide Your Comments on How Medicare Measures Quality of Care

September 9, 2020 – CMS is seeking comments from physician practices on these proposed rules. Comments are due no later than 5 p.m. EDT, on Monday, October 5. This is your chance to provide feedback on how quality will be measured in the future.

09/09/2020

Updates Released on the 10 Essential Public Health Services (EPHS)

September 10, 2020 – The American Medical Association provided the following information to all states this week.

09/03/2020

COVID-19 Liability Protection Reform Bill Passes Ohio Legislature

September 3, 2020 – OSMA is thrilled to report that legislation to expand civil immunity for health care and service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic is now just one step away from becoming Ohio law. This is a victory in the face of considerable uncertainty in the medical community for months.

09/01/2020

Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic

September 1, 2020 – Each year, OSMA’s malpractice insurance partner, The Doctors Company, assembles healthcare leaders to discuss the most pressing issues affecting physicians, practices, and systems across the spectrum of care. The 2020 virtual discussion focused on pandemic experiences and what can help healthcare organizations navigate through COVID-19 and beyond.

09/01/2020

Medicare/Medicaid On-Demand Webinars Now Available

September 1, 2020 – If you missed the live Medicare & Medicaid webinars, you can still benefit from the recorded payer presentations and earn AAPC credit.

08/31/2020

CGS to Provide Medical Review Process Update on September 29th

August 31, 2020 – Ohio’s Medicare contractor, CGS, is offering a teleconference for practices on the Medical Review Process. The call has been scheduled for all Medicare providers/suppliers under the CGS J15 jurisdiction on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., EST.

08/31/2020

Upcoming CMS Webinar: Understanding Clinical Quality Measures

August 31, 2020 – On Sept. 15 or 17, learn how CMS is modernizing its approach to digital measurement with an engaging and informative overview of quality measurement, the unique features of electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) and future plans for digitization.

08/31/2020

CMS Announces QPP eCQM Scoring Issue – Check Your Data

August 31, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is alerting physicians to an issue that impacts electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) scoring during the 2020 performance year.

08/26/2020

Addressing Minority Health Challenges in Ohio

August 26, 2020 - State task force releases Blueprint of priorities to begin to further address these challenges. Governor DeWine appointed a COVID-19 Ohio Minority Health Strike Force—where OSMA President, Anthony Armstrong, M.D., was appointed as a member.

08/26/2020

Women’s Health Professional Development Opportunities from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Ohio Department of Health

August 26, 2020 - Two virtual training opportunities are now available: Telehealth Delivery Training for Women’s Health Providers, and Obstetric Emergency Simulation Training for Emergency Medicine Providers

08/20/2020

Federal Advocacy Update

August 20, 2020 - OSMA is your ally in Ohio advocacy—making your voice heard on key issues impacting the physician community. Here are the major state advocacy updates for August.

08/20/2020

Ohio Advocacy Update

August 20, 2020 - OSMA is your ally in Ohio advocacy—making your voice heard on key issues impacting the physician community. Here are the major state advocacy updates for August.

08/11/2020

Focusing on Physician Well-Being

August 11, 2020 - At OSMA, it is our goal to support physicians in a holistic way—professionally and personally. We know stress and burnout are serious issues facing the physician profession, and these concerns have become even more prevalent in the COVID-19 climate.

08/10/2020

Virtual Summit for Diabetes Healthcare Providers

August 10, 2020 - Ohio ranks in the bottom quarter of states with 12.2% of its adult population having diabetes. On October 3, the Diabetes Institute at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine will be holding a virtual summit on diabetes care.

08/10/2020

Protect Your Practice & Patients—Beware of HIPAA Postcard Scam

August 11, 2020 - The Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has been made aware of postcards being sent to health care organizations disguised as official OCR communications, claiming to be notices of a mandatory HIPAA compliance risk assessment.

08/04/2020

Ohio Medicaid Suspends Episode of Care Program

August 4, 2020 - The Ohio Department of Medicaid will not conduct reporting or assess positive and negative incentive payments for the performance periods of calendar year 2020 and 2021. OSMA applauds this decision and will work with practices and ODM next year as it develops plans for 2022.

08/04/2020

Continued Flexibility for Medicare Regulations, Telehealth, and HIPAA

August 4, 2020 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended the public health emergency for another 90 days through October 23, 2020.

08/04/2020

Health Insurance Coverage for your Practice—Preparing for 2021

August 4, 2020 - One of the biggest costs facing practices today continues to be health insurance coverage for employees. Costs are rising and coverage continues to change year to year. OSMA addresses this challenge by creating the OSMA Health Benefits Plan (HBP).

08/04/2020

Informed Consent: Substance and Signature

August 4, 2020 - OSMA’s preferred partner, The Doctors Company, outlines how an established physician-patient dialogue can prevent patient disappointment from ripening into a claim.

07/16/2020

Mid-Year Advocacy Update

July 17, 2020 – It is an understatement to say that 2020 has brought us all many unexpected challenges. Together, we continue to be a strong collective force, and OSMA is pleased to have made progress with many of the year’s advocacy goals despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

07/14/2020

OSMAPAC Announces 2020 Election Endorsements

July 14, 2020 – As the political voice for the OSMA’s physician, resident and student members, the Ohio State Medical Association Political Action Committee (OSMAPAC) advocates for Ohio physicians by helping to elect state and federal candidates who support the OSMA’s policy agenda.

03/31/2020

State Issues Order for Weekly Ventilator Equipment Inventory Reporting

March 31, 2020 - Ohio Department of Health Director, Amy Acton, MD, issued an order requiring all entities with ventilators to report their inventory by no later than 5:00 p.m. each Wednesday beginning April 1, 2020 until further notice.

08/01/2019

Ohio Physicians Give Feedback on Medicaid Managed Care Program

Many of our members provide daily patient care to Ohio’s Medicaid population and thus are uniquely qualified to provide meaningful information to assist the Ohio Department of Medicaid in its upcoming competitive Medicaid managed care procurement process. The comments we received from our members generally centered on areas where improvement is most desired, including plan accountability, grievances and appeals, provider support, benefits and delivery, and care coordination and management.

07/18/2019

Ohio Budget Process Complete

The OSMA Government Relations team has been engaging with legislators on health care-related budget items since the governor’s initial proposal was released, and has been following and participating in the ongoing debates about a number of health policy decisions.

07/18/2019

Terminating Patient Relationships

Just as it is an acceptable and reasonable practice to screen incoming patients, it is acceptable and reasonable to know when to end patient relationships that are no longer therapeutic. It is critical, however, to end the patient relationship in a manner that will not lead to claims of discrimination or abandonment.

07/18/2019

Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition Offers Online CME Courses

The Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition (OPWC), which represents Ohio physicians and hospitals and focuses on addressing physician burnout, launched six videos in its continuing medical education (CME) wellness video series.

07/18/2019

Training Managers Who Walk the Walk

Identifying and training role models in your business or practice is key to creating a positive, productive work environment. Which managers should you cultivate as role models to lead your organization?

06/06/2019

New Pain Management Toolkit Available

A new state toolkit designed to assist primary care doctors who prescribe opioids will be released this month by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

06/06/2019

The $4.6 Billion Price Tag of Physician Burnout

To put a price on burnout, the study authors culled data from recent research findings and reports — including direct or inferred findings on doctors cutting back on hours or quitting as a result of burnout.

05/16/2019

Ohio’s Health Value Needs to be Better Now

Ohio is ranked 46 out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia according to the 2019 Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) Health Value Dashboard—landing the Buckeye state in the bottom quartile.

04/25/2019

Concerns about U.S. Measles Outbreak

A recent poll by The Doctors Company received 9,459 responses to the question: How concerned are you as a healthcare provider about the recent U.S. measles outbreak?

04/25/2019

Hiring Friends and Family at the Office Is a Bad Idea

If your sister is pressuring you to hire your nephew for that much-coveted summer internship position so he can get his “foot in the door,” don’t give in to temptation.

03/28/2019

The 3-Minute Guide to Creating a Modern Website

How to Go Beyond an Online Business Card and Build an Effective Online Presence...

03/28/2019

Dollars & Sense: The State Budget

Earlier this week, the state budget became a bill on Capitol Hill—or at least on Capitol Square in Columbus, Ohio. The OSMA has completed an initial review of the bill language...

03/28/2019

On-Demand Care for YOU

As part of its commitment to the well-being of all physicians in the state of Ohio, the OSMA Physician Well-Being Committee recently launched an online hub...

03/14/2019

Oxycon"tained" Again in 2018

Pharmacy Board Releases Compelling OARRS Data... This week, the State of Ohio Pharmacy Board reported that the number of opioids dispensed to Ohioans dropped by 325 million from 2012 or 2018.

02/28/2019

OSMA Goes to Washington

Earlier this month, several OSMA members along with the OSMA Government Relations staff traveled to Washington DC to meet with members of Congress to discuss how existing laws are affecting patients and practices.

02/28/2019

Lions, and Tigers and Boards, Oh My!

Vision for the Future Commission released its final report to the American Board of Medical Specialties Board of Directors early this month.

02/28/2019

This Bud’s for You (or Your Patients)

Within the first month that the medical marijuana program was running in the state of Ohio, nearly $1M in sales were recorded, but questions remain.

02/27/2019

Take Control of Rising Healthcare Costs

The OSMA understands the struggles to maintain an independent practice. This is one reason why the OSMA decided to offer an OSMA managed, self-funded health care plan.

02/15/2019

2019 OSMA Annual Meeting—Resolutions Posted

All resolutions received by the Wednesday, February 6th deadline have been posted to the website so you can start to review them. We will post background information as we receive it.

02/14/2019

Despite 21% Decrease in Overdose Deaths, Ohio Still Has Work to Do

According to a recent CDC report, Ohio saw a significant decrease – 21.4% - in overdose fatalities in July 2017 through June 2018; second in the nation only to Washington DC, which saw a 24.2% decrease.

01/10/2019

Make Sure to Do your Annual HR Check Up

Now that 2019 is underway, it is essential that you make sure your company is in compliance with state and federal regulatory updates.

01/10/2019

OSMA Insurance Agency Announces 2019 Average Rate Renewal of only 2.9 Percent

Physician practices participating in the OSMA’s Health Benefits Plan (HBP) will see another year of rate increases averaging single digits. Renewal increases for 2019 will average 2.9%. This increase, along with plan increases over the past three years, show a four-year average of 4.5%. Significantly below the national averages.

01/03/2019

Physician Well-Being: The Real 5th Vital Sign

"The reason we should care about burnout is because it has the potential for serious consequences on the quality of patient care and safety, patient satisfaction, professionalism, physicians’ own care and safety, and the viability of the health care system..."

12/06/2018

Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient Registry Opens: What it Means for Doctors

The amount of product will be extremely limited, as growers and dispensaries come online throughout 2019.

06/10/2021

Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Falsehoods & Supporting Statewide Vaccination Efforts

June 10, 2021 - As Ohio continues efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible against COVID-19, OSMA is proud to support these efforts and ensure member physicians have the information and tools they need to encourage vaccines and be vaccine providers.

06/09/2021

Medical License Renewal Reminder

June 9, 2021 - According to the medical board, almost 4,000 physicians have not yet renewed! If you are one of those physicians, make sure that you renew by the July 1st deadline.

06/03/2021

Helpful Policies Implemented for Ohio Vaccine Providers

June 3, 2021 - The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has announced a number of policy changes that will make it much easier for primary care practices of all sizes to provide the COVID vaccine in their offices.

06/03/2021

White House Vaccine Conversation: Recording Available!

June 3, 2021 - If you missed the White House's vaccine conversation for Ohio primary care providers, a recording is now available. Hear from governor DeWine, surgeon general Murthy, other White House, the CDC and ODH, as well as OSMA President, Dr. Lisa Egbert—who hosted a panel discussion.

06/01/2021

Artificial Intelligence, COVID-19, and the Future of Pandemics

June 1, 2021 - Artificial intelligence (AI) has proven of value in the COVID-19 pandemic and shows promise for mitigating future healthcare crises.

05/26/2021

National Health Care Expenditures, 2019

May 25, 2021 - A new report from the AMA provides a detailed look at the official U.S. health care spending estimates through 2019. We will continue to keep you informed as we get updated spending data for 2020 and into 2021.

05/13/2021

OSMA Supports Governor’s Announcement to Rescind Health Orders

May 13, 2021 – Yesterday, Governor DeWine announced that all health orders (except those related to longterm care and assisted living facilities) will be rescinded on June 2. As we’ve learned more about the science of how this virus works and as more Ohioans have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, we’ve made outstanding progress in bringing down the rate of new COVID-19 cases.

05/11/2021

Physician Wellness Coalition Releases New Video Resources

May 11, 2021 – The Coalition is offering a series of free, physician wellness videos certified by the OSMA for AMA PRA Category 1™ credit.

05/05/2021

Telehealth Immersion Program

May 5, 2021 – To help guide the future of how practices use telehealth, OSMA is excited to collaborate with the AMA on this program. By doing so, we hope to provide you access to all the latest resources for best implementing telehealth in your practice now and into the future. Join an introductory session on the program on May 11, 2021, 12–12:45 p.m. EST.

05/05/2021

Medicare Recoupment Reminder—Let Us Know How It's Going!

May 5, 2021 – CMS recently began automatic recoupment of COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments. OSMA and AMA are very interested in feedback about recoupment of the Medicare advance payments.

05/05/2021

Malpractice Claims from the COVID-19 Pandemic

May 5, 2021 - The pandemic has raised pressing questions around preventive measures, vaccines, and safe treatment, but it has also obscured one key lingering uncertainty for medical professionals: Where are all the medical malpractice claims?that can help mitigate risks.

04/29/2021

Discussing the COVID Vaccine with Patients: Campaigns Physicians Can Use

April 29, 2021 – This is a big moment in time for vaccines. As we honor World Immunization Week the last week of April, it seems appropriate to give a big thank-you to the many doctors, scientists, immunologists and healthcare professionals who make vaccines possible.

04/15/2021

Ohio to Increase Vaccine Distribution to Physician Practices

April 15, 2021 - OSMA was informed that the Ohio Department of Health is planning to increase distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to physician practices in the next two weeks.

04/06/2021

Telehealth from the Field: Case Study Involving Remote Monitoring Problems

April 6, 2021 - Brought to you by OSMA Preferred Partner, The Doctors Company: Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of remote patient monitoring was expanding. The technologies offer many benefits, but they may also create potential malpractice risks. Consider the following case example and strategies that can help mitigate risks.

03/11/2021

Physician Experts Address Top Questions about COVID-19

March 11, 2021 - Leading pandemic voices, Dr. Bob Wachter and Dr. Ashish Jha, share views at virtual TDC board meeting.

03/10/2021

Medicare Revenue Down 19% over First Half of 2020

March 10, 2021 - The economic impact of COVID-19 on health care continues to reveal itself through reductions in patient volume and revenue and in higher practice costs. As the pandemic stretches on, physician practice viability remains under threat.

03/03/2021

Before COVID-19, Outlier Medical Malpractice Verdicts Were Rising—What’s Next?

March 3, 2021 - Brought to you by OSMA Preferred Partner, The Doctors Company: Severity, the average cost of a medical malpractice claim, continues its relentless increase. Though severity has been rising since at least the 1970s, in recent years we have seen a sharp increase in outlier verdicts, which exceed common policy limits and often set records for their venues.

02/23/2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Answers from Virtual Panel of Healthcare Experts

February 23, 2021 - Leading pandemic voices, Dr. Bob Wachter and Dr. Ashish Jha, share perspectives at a virtual meeting hosted by the TDC Group of companies.

02/23/2021

Addressing Physical & Behavioral Health During COVID-19

February 22, 2021 - Brought to you by OSMA Symposium Sponsor, Medical Mutual: ...With increased incidents of mental health concerns due to COVID-19, the mental, as well as physical, health of our Medical Mutual members—your patients—is more important than ever. Here are four focus areas to improve care coordination and reduce hospital readmissions for members with behavioral health concerns.

02/17/2021

OSMA Joins AMA in Urging Congress to Extend the Moratorium on the Medicare Sequester

February 17, 2021 - OSMA recently signed on to a letter from the American Medical Association (AMA) encouraging congressional leadership to take action and pass legislation that would extend the current moratorium on the 2% Medicare payment sequester beyond the expiration date of March 31, 2021.

01/27/2021

Join Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Fauci, for a Q&A

January 27, 2021 - You're encouraged to attend a Fireside Chat with Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci. Questions will be answered about how the new administration is approaching the COVID-19 crisis. There will also be a moderated Q&A during which time you can ask Dr. Fauci questions through the chat function.

01/26/2021

Tips for Communicating with COVID-19 Vaccine-Hesitant Patients

January 26, 2021 - Physicians should be proactively preparing for the upcoming administration of vaccines to the general population. This includes implementing a plan to initiate effective, informed consent conversations with patients to guide them to an informed decision about the vaccine.

01/23/2021

President Biden's Executive Orders for Handling COVID-19

January 23, 2021 - President Biden has unveiled a significant national strategy for handling COVID-19 and addressing pandemic preparedness generally. The President also took initial steps to immediately implement portions of this strategy, issuing several executive orders and memoranda.

01/14/2021

Vaccination Update

January 14, 2021 - Governor DeWine and the ODH announced that Ohio will expand its vaccination efforts starting the week of January 18. New "1B" groups will be eligible for vaccination, and the state has also implemented a search tool for vaccine provider locations where the vaccine shipments have become available.

01/06/2021

Federal Budget/COVID Relief Overview for Physician Practices

January 6, 2021 - The AMA has provided a comprehensive update on the impact of the latest legislation passed by Congress and signed by the president. Major items include updates to the Medicare fee schedule and billing, money for provider relief and small business support.

01/05/2021

COVID-19: A Call for Innovation and Leadership in Healthcare

January 5, 2021 - For the next decade, we will all be carried along on a jet stream of change. Ask yourself a simple question: will the practice of good medicine in 2030 look the same as good medicine in 2020? Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO of OSMA’s liability insurance partner—The Doctors Company—provides his insight.

12/21/2020

Update from the Ohio Vaccine Preparedness Office

December 21, 2020 - We want to share the Ohio Department of Health's "Weekly Update" from the Ohio Vaccine Preparedness Office. Get the latest on the pandemic vaccine news, resources and talking points.

11/09/2020

Keep a COVID-19 Diary: Document Now in Case of Future Lawsuits

November 9, 2020 – What the future holds relative to the evolution of COVID-19 remains unknown, but it is certain that litigation for COVID-related claims is on the horizon and will impact physicians in all medical specialties and practice models.