Legislature Adjourns For Summer, But Work Continues

The Ohio General Assembly has adjourned for the summer; however, legislative work continues.  

State Rep. John Patrick Carney (D-Dublin) has shared draft legislation intended to revise the legal requirements for patient notification of the termination of the patient-physician relationship.  Currently, physicians are required to notify their patients when terminating the relationship, but in many cases, the physician does not own the patient record and is contractually prevented from contacting the patient directly.  OOA has suggested an additional amendment to the bill that would require hospitals to notify patients, upon request, as to how to get in touch with physicians who have had employment contracts terminated by hospitals.  

Representatives Pryor  (D-Chillicothe) and Garland (D-Gahanna) continue to hold  interested party meetings to refine legislation designed to close down pill mills.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Hospital Association have convened a work group to look at possible changes in the infectious waste disposal laws.

The 34-member Ohio Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force submitted a preliminary report to the Governor with recommendations to combat the growing number of “pill mills” and an alarming increase in prescription drug abuse.  Task force recommendations include in part:  to establish local and regional task forces; enlist state medical and health care associations to actively address the problem; examine the feasibility of implementing standards for pain management clinics; identify other methods of addressing improper prescribing of pain medication; and increase the number of prescribers registered with the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System.  

 Cleanne Cass, DO, of Dayton, Arron Adams, DO, of Portsmouth, and OOA Executive Director Jon F. Wills have been attending of the task force, including a May 11 session to prepare the final report.  Cass submitted three proposals for inclusion in the initial report to the Governor, all of which were approved.  Her proposals address the needs of patients and protect the rights of legitimate prescribers to treat chronic pain. In addition, Adams is serving as Chair of the Public Health Work Group and Cass is serving as Vice-Chair of the Treatment Work Group.