05/20/2020

Ohio Coalition of Primary Care Physicians Meets on May 8

The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) hosted a meeting of the Ohio Coalition of Primary Care Physicians on Friday, May 8. Representatives from the OAFP, the Ohio Osteopathic Association; the Ohio Chapter, the American Academy of Pediatrics; the Ohio State Society, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians; the Ohio Chapter, American College of Physicians – Society of Internal Medicine, the Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association, the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers, and the Ohio State Medical Association participated in the meeting.

In addition to the legislative and regulatory actions taken that impact the practice of medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, the group discussed potential opportunities for advocating for regulatory changes that were made on an emergency basis to become permanent. Telemedicine reimbursement is a prime example.

In addition, Coalition members reviewed the work of the Physician and Allied Health Care Workforce Preparation Task Force noting that while it was the intent of Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner to continue the work of the task force past its report filing on March 1, 2020, the pandemic has halted work for now. It is hoped that work will start back up once the COVID-19 emergency stabilizes. Finalizing the Health Professions Data Warehouse with analysis of data collected by the various licensing boards is the Coalition’s first priority for action.

The Coalition also reviewed legislation currently under consideration by the Ohio General Assembly. It is expected that the House and Senate will work quickly in May so that they can recess in June, campaign through November, and then return for a busy lame duck session.

The Ohio Coalition of Primary Care Physicians plans to meet again in September to strategize and prepare for the lame duck session after the November presidential election.