Medicaid Has Online Provider Complaint Form

Ohio’s Medicaid program contracts with five private managed-care organizations to act as insurance companies to Ohio’s 3 million Medicaid recipients. Physicians who have problems with a managed care plan are encouraged to use the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s (ODM) online form. This type of tracking system can be helpful to policymakers, as the data is public record.

Providers must appeal denied claims to the plan before the Department will process a complaint. The resolution timeframes are generally two business days for complaints involving access to care, and 15 business days for all other issues. If you have a complaint regarding Medicaid Fee For Service, call 1-800-686-1516.

In other Medicaid news, ODM has posted the draft Substance Use Disorder Treatment Demonstration (SUD 1115) waiver for public comment. Information about how to provide comments, dates and locations for the two public hearings, along with a summary document and the full draft waiver application are online. It will be available until November 25.

Medical Marijuana Certification Webinar in Two Weeks

An online, two-hour Medical Cannabis Course is set for Thursday, November 15, 6:00-8:00pm. The content has been certified by the OOA as meeting CME requirements mandated by the State Medical Board of Ohio in OAC 4731-32-02 in order for Ohio licensed physicians to recommend medical marijuana. 
 
The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine designated this program for a maximum of 2 hours of AOA Category 1-A credits and will report CME and specialty credits in accordance with the extent of the physicians’ participation in this activity. The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians.

Register online. OOA members receive a discounted fee: use the code OOANOV18 to save $25! (Code valid only for the November 15 course.)

In related news, 319 physicians in Ohio hold a certificate to recommend (CTR) and 56 dispensaries have been licensed. Physicians’ recommendation to use medical cannabis (it is not a prescription) will go through OARRS, which will be updated to include a medical marijuana tab with qualifying conditions and other verification.

Ohio University to Break Ground on New Medical Education Facilities Next Year

Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM) is working with the University to plan a new $65 million academic home for the Athens campus that will anchor the university’s future Union Street Green. The new facility makes possible innovative, purpose-built spaces for medical education, as well as fundamental changes to the way OU-HCOM works and improvements to the research and community outreach initiatives.

Check out the video showcasing the  state-of-the-art medical education facilities. Groundbreaking is set for spring.

APRNs Seek Independent Practice! 

If you haven't already, please contact your state legislator. As the lame duck session nears, they need to hear from their constituents that HB 726 threatens the reliable assurance of safe and appropriate patient care.

The bill would eliminate the current requirement that APRNs collaborate with a physician, thereby granting independent practice authority. This would fundamentally change how physicians and APRNs work together to treat patients.

The OOA supports the physician-led, team-based approach to patient care, recognizing that each health care professional brings complementary skills.

Let your legislators know that physicians and APRNs are not interchangeable, and that Ohio physicians will not stand for this unnecessary and unsafe change to APRN scope of practice!