03/27/2020

What’s in the Federal Coronavirus Stimulus Package?

March 27 - Congress passed a federal funding bill to provide aid in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. At about $2.2 trillion, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act will be the largest stimulus package passed in modern American history. OSMA will update information on our Coronavirus Business Support page about the stimulus package as any new information becomes available.

03/26/2020

Ohio Legislature Responds to the COVID-19 Emergency

March 26 - The Ohio State Medical Association is committed to keeping Ohio physicians informed on state and federal updates related to COVID-19, especially how they impact Ohio’s medical practices and healthcare professionals. Here’s a breakdown of the major items contained in the bill passed out of both chambers, including items related specifically to the health care industry, as well businesses and other community programs and services.

03/26/2020

Relief for Your Business

March 25 - The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to healthcare delivery systems and most physician practices. New information is being released each day to assist small businesses and employees. Additionally, changes are being made that are specific to medical practices.

03/24/2020

Medical Practice/Business Relief
 Questions & Updates

March 23, 2020 - Here is a quick overview of upcoming telehealth and business relief information—as well as new details on liability/malpractice guidance, extension of prior authorization, quality reporting deadline delays, and BWC premium delays.

03/23/2020

The Latest State Orders & Clinical Regulatory Changes

March 23, 2020 - What do these latest updates mean for you? From the effects of the "Stay at Home" order, to the Pharmacy Board's emergency rules on prescribing, to PPE and COVID-19 testing supplies... OSMA's updates get you the latest information.

03/23/2020

COVID-19 Malpractice Coverage FAQs

March 20, 2020 - As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve rapidly, OSMA partner, The Doctors Company has created a Q&A to address your critical questions during this time. You are doing such important work on the frontlines of this coronavirus pandemic, and we are here to support you. Please continue to check back daily as we update the information.

03/19/2020

Update on Telehealth Changes & Resources

March 19, 2020 - Due to the unprecedented disruption to the healthcare system, many physicians are being forced to consider alternative options to see patients and stay viable as a business. We recognize you may be dealing with difficulties.

03/17/2020

All Non-Essential Surgeries Must Be Postponed

March 17, 2020 - Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, MD, has ordered hospitals and outpatient surgical centers to postpone all elective, non-essential surgeries and procedures indefinitely.

03/17/2020

COVID-19 Update

March 16, 2020 - As you are aware, the healthcare system in Ohio and across the country and world is in a state of flux due to issues related to COVID-19. After speaking to numerous practices over the last several days we recognize physicians and practices are looking for information and guidance related not only to testing/treating patients for COVID-19 but also simply how you can keep your practice open, safe and viable over the next several weeks.

03/16/2020

Physicians with a CTR: Reminder of Reporting Requirements

March 16, 2020 – Ohio Administrative Code 4731-32-03 requires each physician with a certificate to recommend medical marijuana to submit an annual report to the board that describes their observations regarding the effectiveness of medical marijuana in treating patients. Completion of this survey will satisfy the requirement in the rule.

03/15/2020

OSMA Council to Meet Virtually on March 21

March 15, 2020 – As you know the OSMA canceled its Annual in-person Meeting of the House of Delegates. The OSMA Council will meet virtually on March 21 to plan how the OSMA will accomplish the organizational business that would otherwise have been conducted at the in-person meeting, namely elections and disposition of resolutions.

03/15/2020

ODH Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Primary Care & Outpatient Providers

March 15, 2020 – The coronavirus situation warrants a unified, consistent approach and requires primary care providers and other outpatient services providers to comply with the following course of action regarding screening and treatment of potential COVID-19 patients. 

03/12/2020

OSMA Symposium Event Cancelled

March 12, 2020 – The Ohio State Medical Association’s Education Symposium scheduled for March 20 in Columbus, Ohio has been CANCELLED. Please save the date for April 9, 2021!

03/11/2020

OSMA Annual Meeting Event Cancelled

The Ohio State Medical Association’s Annual Meeting scheduled for March 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio has been CANCELLED.

03/10/2020

Coronavirus & Patient Safety in the Medical Office

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread across multiple continents. Given that outbreaks are expected to occur at a community level, medical offices will undoubtedly experience an influx of patients seeking assistance. The question is: Are medical offices doing enough?

02/27/2020

Ohio Department of Health Issues Notice to Physicians Regarding Coronavirus

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to consider the health risk from COVID-19 to be low among the general public in the U.S. However, there is increasing concern that eventually community person-to-person spread will occur here as it has recently in countries...

02/18/2020

Doctors & Hospitals Win Again in Court on Price Transparency

On February 7, 2020 the 6th District Court of Appeals of Ohio ruled in favor of the OSMA, Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) and other health care organizations in its lawsuit seeking to prevent implementation of a price transparency law enacted in 2016.

02/13/2020

Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is proposing some sweeping changes—give your feedback!

The OSMA advocated for significant changes to the Ohio Medicaid Managed Care Progra—and we were heard. Using our initial feedback, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is proposing some sweeping changes to simplify physician and patient interaction with the system and again is asking for our feedback on the proposal.

02/13/2020

Modern Payment Solutions for Modern Medicine

With one simple, healthcare-centric payment gateway, hospitals & clinics can now give their patients the flexibility to manage their financial obligation anytime, anywhere. 90 percent of our clients reported an increase in cash flow from patients utilizing the Best Card payment platform.

02/06/2020

Doctors: How to Talk to Patients About Nutrition and Diet

Andrew M. Freeman, MD, FACC, co-chair of the Lifestyle and Nutrition Workgroup with the American College of Cardiology, explains that the drugs we use to treat heart disease can be wonderful tools, but they don’t really focus on a cure or reversal—they only control the disease.

01/30/2020

A Look at the Way HIPAA Impacts Digital Marketing

Violating the HIPAA Act by accidentally revealing protected health information (PHI) is one of the most common reasons for healthcare professionals to avoid engaging in digital marketing activities.

01/21/2020

CMS Scope of Practice Sign on Letter

OSMA joins with AMA and other organizations responding to Trump Administration’s executive order on scope of practice.

01/14/2020

Remember to Check Your Initial 2020 MIPS Eligibility

01/14/2020

The MIPS 2019 Data Submission Period is Now Open

01/14/2020

Language Barriers: Reducing Claims with Multilingual Patients

12/19/2019

A Year in Physician Advocacy – 2019 Update & 2020 Preview!

It would be an understatement to say that 2019 was a hectic year for the OSMA Advocacy team. With a biennial budget process that went into overtime and many other major issues taking center stage, the OSMA was on-hand at the Statehouse day after day: meeting with legislators, testifying in committee hearings, and attending meetings with other interested parties to work on proposals which would impact the practice of medicine in Ohio.

12/19/2019

OSMA Prevails in CRNA Scope Deliberations

HB 224 initially proposed to modify the scope of practice of CRNAs by granting them undefined hospital-based prescriptive authority. The physician community expressed a number of serious concerns with the proposal from the start, and the OSMA has been working with the sponsor and proponents for many months to try and come to an understanding.

12/17/2019

Primary Care First Questions to Be Answered by CMS

The AMA has partnered with the American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Physicians to host Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation staff in a FREE, 60-minute webinar about the new Primary Care First Model on Monday, January 6 from 7-8 pm EST.

12/12/2019

Tackling Physician Burnout Requires Unprecedented Leadership

Recent actions by the World Health Organization seem to further legitimize what many physicians are experiencing: a chronically stressful healthcare system that makes connecting with patients and providing quality care more challenging.

12/10/2019

Prior Authorization Reform – Still Time to Join The Effort

In order to focus our 2020 advocacy efforts on continuing prior authorization reform, we need your help in completing a comprehensive survey on general issues as well as analyzing specific elements of compliance with the 2016 law. We are asking every practice in Ohio to complete the 15-minute survey.

11/13/2019

Ohio Department of Medicaid Announces Uniform Drug List & Other Policy Changes

The Ohio Department of Medicaid announced two major policy changes for 2020. Medicaid will move to a Uniform Drug List (UDL) across all of its managed care plans. There will also be significant changes to the Episodes of Care reporting programing.

11/12/2019

Response to The Doctors Company’s Physician Survey on Opioid Use

The Doctors Company’s social media surveys of physicians, as well as national data, demonstrate that the medical community is responding to the message about safe prescribing and is exploring solutions.

11/12/2019

Exploring the Benefits of Combining a 401(k) with a Cash Balance Plan

Many business owners have the same financial goals: minimize taxes and increase retirement savings while mitigating cost. Business owners seek to accomplish these goals by adopting a Cash Balance Plan combined with a 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, as this strategy could be a cost effective way to maximize benefits for business owners.

11/12/2019

CMS Releases 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule & Quality Payment Program Final Rules

On November 1, 2019 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule related to the 2020 Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program.

11/05/2019

OSMA Speaks Out Regarding Scope Changes in Trump Executive Order

On October 29, the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) joined a coalition of numerous national and state medical and specialty societies to voice serious concerns about scope of practice changes in the Executive Order titled “Protecting and Improving Medicare for our Nation’s Seniors.”

10/10/2019

Survey Opportunity: Physician Leadership Development

Please consider completing this voluntary survey regarding your experience and educational needs as a physician leader to make your voice heard.

10/08/2019

CME Requirements for Licensure Renewal Changing as of October 17th

As part of this year’s state budget legislation that passed in mid-July, several changes were made to physician licensure laws enforced by the State Medical Board of Ohio.

10/08/2019

Opioid Response Network Provides Free Training

This network provides local training and education free of charge for specific needs at a community level to address this health crisis. The Opioid Response Network team stands ready to assist you.

10/03/2019

OSMA Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates for At-Large Council Seats

Are you interested in more actively participating in the work of the 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.

10/03/2019

HIPAA Privacy & Security Compliance Gets Real

The federal Office for Civil Rights recently announced a $10,000 settlement against a small dental practice in Texas for failing to maintain the privacy of patients on social media when responding to an online review of the practice.

10/01/2019

Health Alert: Severe Pulmonary Disease Associated with E-Cigarettes or Vaping

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) issued an updated health alert to healthcare providers requiring them to report all suspected cases of serious pulmonary disease of unclear etiology with a history of vaping in the past 90 days to local health officials for investigation.

10/01/2019

Advanced Practice Provider Closed Claims: What Can We Learn?

We analyzed claims against two types of advanced practice providers (APPs): physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). Of the 649 claims that closed between 2012 and 2017, approximately 60 percent were against PAs and 40 percent were against NPs. The study provides insights into patient allegations, identifies underlying issues that contribute to patient harm, and outlines strategies for mitigating risk.

09/12/2019

Networking Reception & Policy Forum

Plan to attend a FREE event near you this September or October. Please RSVP to attend...

09/10/2019

Electronic Health Records Continue to Lead to Medical Malpractice Suits

EHR-related medical malpractice suits are becoming more common. For eight years, claims in which the use of EHRs contributed to patient injury have been on the rise.

09/10/2019

OSMA Continues to Advocate For Prior Authorization Reform

The OSMA joined with the AMA and numerous other national and state medical organizations in calling for major prior authorization reforms in the Medicare Advantage market.

09/09/2019

OCR Settles First Case in HIPAA Right of Access Initiative

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is announcing its first enforcement action and settlement in its Right of Access Initiative.

08/15/2019

Fall Advocacy Preview

The OSMA expects that several years of work with a coalition to bring mental health insurance coverage parity to Ohioans will culminate this fall with the introduction of legislation.

08/15/2019

New OSMA Strategic Plan In Progress

Having reached the end of the current three year strategic plan (2016-2019), the OSMA Council used its summer meeting to engage in future strategic planning. After reviewing accomplishments as well as unfinished tasks in the current plan, the Council set future priority issues for the OSMA...

08/15/2019

Healthier Ohio – 2020 & Beyond

OSMA President, Susan Hubbell, M.D. updated Council at our August meeting on the Healthier Ohio: 2020 & Beyond initiative that was launched at the OSMA Annual Meeting in April.

08/15/2019

The Young Physician Section is Official

The OSMA House of Delegates approved creation of the Young Physician Section (YPS) in 2018 and its organizers developed the governing structure, which the OSMA Council approved in August. The YPS will give younger physicians the opportunity to participate in specific education, networking and leadership opportunities.

08/05/2019

Medical Board Adopts CONFIDENTIAL One-bite Program

Through the combined efforts of the OSMA and other physician-led associations, the confidential one-bite program is now available.

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.

08/01/2019

Ohio Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Hemp & CBD Oil

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 57 into law, legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp and the manufacturing and sales of cannabidiol (CBD) products in the state. This new law tasks the Ohio Department of Agriculture with the creation of a licensure system for hemp farming, and state officials hope to get this program up and running by next year so that farmers can grow hemp by spring. But what does this mean for Ohio Physicians?

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.

03/16/2020

Physicians with a CTR: Reminder of Reporting Requirements

March 16, 2020 – Ohio Administrative Code 4731-32-03 requires each physician with a certificate to recommend medical marijuana to submit an annual report to the board that describes their observations regarding the effectiveness of medical marijuana in treating patients. Completion of this survey will satisfy the requirement in the rule.

03/15/2020

OSMA Council to Meet Virtually on March 21

March 15, 2020 – As you know the OSMA canceled its Annual in-person Meeting of the House of Delegates. The OSMA Council will meet virtually on March 21 to plan how the OSMA will accomplish the organizational business that would otherwise have been conducted at the in-person meeting, namely elections and disposition of resolutions.

03/15/2020

ODH Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Primary Care & Outpatient Providers

March 15, 2020 – The coronavirus situation warrants a unified, consistent approach and requires primary care providers and other outpatient services providers to comply with the following course of action regarding screening and treatment of potential COVID-19 patients. 

03/12/2020

OSMA Symposium Event Cancelled

March 12, 2020 – The Ohio State Medical Association’s Education Symposium scheduled for March 20 in Columbus, Ohio has been CANCELLED. Please save the date for April 9, 2021!

03/11/2020

OSMA Annual Meeting Event Cancelled

The Ohio State Medical Association’s Annual Meeting scheduled for March 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio has been CANCELLED.

10/10/2019

Survey Opportunity: Physician Leadership Development

Please consider completing this voluntary survey regarding your experience and educational needs as a physician leader to make your voice heard.

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.

02/18/2020

Doctors & Hospitals Win Again in Court on Price Transparency

On February 7, 2020 the 6th District Court of Appeals of Ohio ruled in favor of the OSMA, Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) and other health care organizations in its lawsuit seeking to prevent implementation of a price transparency law enacted in 2016.

02/13/2020

Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is proposing some sweeping changes—give your feedback!

The OSMA advocated for significant changes to the Ohio Medicaid Managed Care Progra—and we were heard. Using our initial feedback, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is proposing some sweeping changes to simplify physician and patient interaction with the system and again is asking for our feedback on the proposal.

01/21/2020

CMS Scope of Practice Sign on Letter

OSMA joins with AMA and other organizations responding to Trump Administration’s executive order on scope of practice.

12/19/2019

A Year in Physician Advocacy – 2019 Update & 2020 Preview!

It would be an understatement to say that 2019 was a hectic year for the OSMA Advocacy team. With a biennial budget process that went into overtime and many other major issues taking center stage, the OSMA was on-hand at the Statehouse day after day: meeting with legislators, testifying in committee hearings, and attending meetings with other interested parties to work on proposals which would impact the practice of medicine in Ohio.

12/19/2019

OSMA Prevails in CRNA Scope Deliberations

HB 224 initially proposed to modify the scope of practice of CRNAs by granting them undefined hospital-based prescriptive authority. The physician community expressed a number of serious concerns with the proposal from the start, and the OSMA has been working with the sponsor and proponents for many months to try and come to an understanding.

12/10/2019

Prior Authorization Reform – Still Time to Join The Effort

In order to focus our 2020 advocacy efforts on continuing prior authorization reform, we need your help in completing a comprehensive survey on general issues as well as analyzing specific elements of compliance with the 2016 law. We are asking every practice in Ohio to complete the 15-minute survey.

09/10/2019

OSMA Continues to Advocate For Prior Authorization Reform

The OSMA joined with the AMA and numerous other national and state medical organizations in calling for major prior authorization reforms in the Medicare Advantage market.

08/15/2019

Fall Advocacy Preview

The OSMA expects that several years of work with a coalition to bring mental health insurance coverage parity to Ohioans will culminate this fall with the introduction of legislation.

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.

03/27/2020

What’s in the Federal Coronavirus Stimulus Package?

March 27 - Congress passed a federal funding bill to provide aid in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. At about $2.2 trillion, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act will be the largest stimulus package passed in modern American history. OSMA will update information on our Coronavirus Business Support page about the stimulus package as any new information becomes available.

03/26/2020

Ohio Legislature Responds to the COVID-19 Emergency

March 26 - The Ohio State Medical Association is committed to keeping Ohio physicians informed on state and federal updates related to COVID-19, especially how they impact Ohio’s medical practices and healthcare professionals. Here’s a breakdown of the major items contained in the bill passed out of both chambers, including items related specifically to the health care industry, as well businesses and other community programs and services.

03/26/2020

Relief for Your Business

March 25 - The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to healthcare delivery systems and most physician practices. New information is being released each day to assist small businesses and employees. Additionally, changes are being made that are specific to medical practices.

03/24/2020

Medical Practice/Business Relief
 Questions & Updates

March 23, 2020 - Here is a quick overview of upcoming telehealth and business relief information—as well as new details on liability/malpractice guidance, extension of prior authorization, quality reporting deadline delays, and BWC premium delays.

03/23/2020

The Latest State Orders & Clinical Regulatory Changes

March 23, 2020 - What do these latest updates mean for you? From the effects of the "Stay at Home" order, to the Pharmacy Board's emergency rules on prescribing, to PPE and COVID-19 testing supplies... OSMA's updates get you the latest information.

03/23/2020

COVID-19 Malpractice Coverage FAQs

March 20, 2020 - As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve rapidly, OSMA partner, The Doctors Company has created a Q&A to address your critical questions during this time. You are doing such important work on the frontlines of this coronavirus pandemic, and we are here to support you. Please continue to check back daily as we update the information.

03/19/2020

Update on Telehealth Changes & Resources

March 19, 2020 - Due to the unprecedented disruption to the healthcare system, many physicians are being forced to consider alternative options to see patients and stay viable as a business. We recognize you may be dealing with difficulties.

03/17/2020

All Non-Essential Surgeries Must Be Postponed

March 17, 2020 - Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, MD, has ordered hospitals and outpatient surgical centers to postpone all elective, non-essential surgeries and procedures indefinitely.

03/17/2020

COVID-19 Update

March 16, 2020 - As you are aware, the healthcare system in Ohio and across the country and world is in a state of flux due to issues related to COVID-19. After speaking to numerous practices over the last several days we recognize physicians and practices are looking for information and guidance related not only to testing/treating patients for COVID-19 but also simply how you can keep your practice open, safe and viable over the next several weeks.

03/16/2020

Physicians with a CTR: Reminder of Reporting Requirements

March 16, 2020 – Ohio Administrative Code 4731-32-03 requires each physician with a certificate to recommend medical marijuana to submit an annual report to the board that describes their observations regarding the effectiveness of medical marijuana in treating patients. Completion of this survey will satisfy the requirement in the rule.

03/15/2020

OSMA Council to Meet Virtually on March 21

March 15, 2020 – As you know the OSMA canceled its Annual in-person Meeting of the House of Delegates. The OSMA Council will meet virtually on March 21 to plan how the OSMA will accomplish the organizational business that would otherwise have been conducted at the in-person meeting, namely elections and disposition of resolutions.

03/15/2020

ODH Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Primary Care & Outpatient Providers

March 15, 2020 – The coronavirus situation warrants a unified, consistent approach and requires primary care providers and other outpatient services providers to comply with the following course of action regarding screening and treatment of potential COVID-19 patients. 

03/12/2020

OSMA Symposium Event Cancelled

March 12, 2020 – The Ohio State Medical Association’s Education Symposium scheduled for March 20 in Columbus, Ohio has been CANCELLED. Please save the date for April 9, 2021!

03/11/2020

OSMA Annual Meeting Event Cancelled

The Ohio State Medical Association’s Annual Meeting scheduled for March 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio has been CANCELLED.

03/10/2020

Coronavirus & Patient Safety in the Medical Office

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread across multiple continents. Given that outbreaks are expected to occur at a community level, medical offices will undoubtedly experience an influx of patients seeking assistance. The question is: Are medical offices doing enough?

02/27/2020

Ohio Department of Health Issues Notice to Physicians Regarding Coronavirus

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to consider the health risk from COVID-19 to be low among the general public in the U.S. However, there is increasing concern that eventually community person-to-person spread will occur here as it has recently in countries...

02/18/2020

Doctors & Hospitals Win Again in Court on Price Transparency

On February 7, 2020 the 6th District Court of Appeals of Ohio ruled in favor of the OSMA, Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) and other health care organizations in its lawsuit seeking to prevent implementation of a price transparency law enacted in 2016.

02/13/2020

Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is proposing some sweeping changes—give your feedback!

The OSMA advocated for significant changes to the Ohio Medicaid Managed Care Progra—and we were heard. Using our initial feedback, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is proposing some sweeping changes to simplify physician and patient interaction with the system and again is asking for our feedback on the proposal.

02/13/2020

Modern Payment Solutions for Modern Medicine

With one simple, healthcare-centric payment gateway, hospitals & clinics can now give their patients the flexibility to manage their financial obligation anytime, anywhere. 90 percent of our clients reported an increase in cash flow from patients utilizing the Best Card payment platform.

02/06/2020

Doctors: How to Talk to Patients About Nutrition and Diet

Andrew M. Freeman, MD, FACC, co-chair of the Lifestyle and Nutrition Workgroup with the American College of Cardiology, explains that the drugs we use to treat heart disease can be wonderful tools, but they don’t really focus on a cure or reversal—they only control the disease.

01/30/2020

A Look at the Way HIPAA Impacts Digital Marketing

Violating the HIPAA Act by accidentally revealing protected health information (PHI) is one of the most common reasons for healthcare professionals to avoid engaging in digital marketing activities.

01/14/2020

Remember to Check Your Initial 2020 MIPS Eligibility

01/14/2020

The MIPS 2019 Data Submission Period is Now Open

01/14/2020

Language Barriers: Reducing Claims with Multilingual Patients

12/17/2019

Primary Care First Questions to Be Answered by CMS

The AMA has partnered with the American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Physicians to host Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation staff in a FREE, 60-minute webinar about the new Primary Care First Model on Monday, January 6 from 7-8 pm EST.

12/12/2019

Tackling Physician Burnout Requires Unprecedented Leadership

Recent actions by the World Health Organization seem to further legitimize what many physicians are experiencing: a chronically stressful healthcare system that makes connecting with patients and providing quality care more challenging.

12/10/2019

Prior Authorization Reform – Still Time to Join The Effort

In order to focus our 2020 advocacy efforts on continuing prior authorization reform, we need your help in completing a comprehensive survey on general issues as well as analyzing specific elements of compliance with the 2016 law. We are asking every practice in Ohio to complete the 15-minute survey.

11/13/2019

Ohio Department of Medicaid Announces Uniform Drug List & Other Policy Changes

The Ohio Department of Medicaid announced two major policy changes for 2020. Medicaid will move to a Uniform Drug List (UDL) across all of its managed care plans. There will also be significant changes to the Episodes of Care reporting programing.

11/12/2019

Response to The Doctors Company’s Physician Survey on Opioid Use

The Doctors Company’s social media surveys of physicians, as well as national data, demonstrate that the medical community is responding to the message about safe prescribing and is exploring solutions.

11/12/2019

Exploring the Benefits of Combining a 401(k) with a Cash Balance Plan

Many business owners have the same financial goals: minimize taxes and increase retirement savings while mitigating cost. Business owners seek to accomplish these goals by adopting a Cash Balance Plan combined with a 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, as this strategy could be a cost effective way to maximize benefits for business owners.

11/12/2019

CMS Releases 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule & Quality Payment Program Final Rules

On November 1, 2019 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule related to the 2020 Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program.

11/05/2019

OSMA Speaks Out Regarding Scope Changes in Trump Executive Order

On October 29, the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) joined a coalition of numerous national and state medical and specialty societies to voice serious concerns about scope of practice changes in the Executive Order titled “Protecting and Improving Medicare for our Nation’s Seniors.”

10/10/2019

Survey Opportunity: Physician Leadership Development

Please consider completing this voluntary survey regarding your experience and educational needs as a physician leader to make your voice heard.

10/08/2019

CME Requirements for Licensure Renewal Changing as of October 17th

As part of this year’s state budget legislation that passed in mid-July, several changes were made to physician licensure laws enforced by the State Medical Board of Ohio.

10/08/2019

Opioid Response Network Provides Free Training

This network provides local training and education free of charge for specific needs at a community level to address this health crisis. The Opioid Response Network team stands ready to assist you.

10/03/2019

OSMA Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates for At-Large Council Seats

Are you interested in more actively participating in the work of the 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.

10/03/2019

HIPAA Privacy & Security Compliance Gets Real

The federal Office for Civil Rights recently announced a $10,000 settlement against a small dental practice in Texas for failing to maintain the privacy of patients on social media when responding to an online review of the practice.

10/01/2019

Health Alert: Severe Pulmonary Disease Associated with E-Cigarettes or Vaping

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) issued an updated health alert to healthcare providers requiring them to report all suspected cases of serious pulmonary disease of unclear etiology with a history of vaping in the past 90 days to local health officials for investigation.

10/01/2019

Advanced Practice Provider Closed Claims: What Can We Learn?

We analyzed claims against two types of advanced practice providers (APPs): physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). Of the 649 claims that closed between 2012 and 2017, approximately 60 percent were against PAs and 40 percent were against NPs. The study provides insights into patient allegations, identifies underlying issues that contribute to patient harm, and outlines strategies for mitigating risk.

09/12/2019

Networking Reception & Policy Forum

Plan to attend a FREE event near you this September or October. Please RSVP to attend...

09/10/2019

Electronic Health Records Continue to Lead to Medical Malpractice Suits

EHR-related medical malpractice suits are becoming more common. For eight years, claims in which the use of EHRs contributed to patient injury have been on the rise.

09/10/2019

OSMA Continues to Advocate For Prior Authorization Reform

The OSMA joined with the AMA and numerous other national and state medical organizations in calling for major prior authorization reforms in the Medicare Advantage market.

09/09/2019

OCR Settles First Case in HIPAA Right of Access Initiative

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is announcing its first enforcement action and settlement in its Right of Access Initiative.

08/15/2019

New OSMA Strategic Plan In Progress

Having reached the end of the current three year strategic plan (2016-2019), the OSMA Council used its summer meeting to engage in future strategic planning. After reviewing accomplishments as well as unfinished tasks in the current plan, the Council set future priority issues for the OSMA...

08/15/2019

Healthier Ohio – 2020 & Beyond

OSMA President, Susan Hubbell, M.D. updated Council at our August meeting on the Healthier Ohio: 2020 & Beyond initiative that was launched at the OSMA Annual Meeting in April.

08/15/2019

The Young Physician Section is Official

The OSMA House of Delegates approved creation of the Young Physician Section (YPS) in 2018 and its organizers developed the governing structure, which the OSMA Council approved in August. The YPS will give younger physicians the opportunity to participate in specific education, networking and leadership opportunities.

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.