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January 2021 eNews
Updates & Important Information from the State Medical Board of Ohio
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Medical Board Officers
The following members of the board will serve as officers during calendar year 2021:
- President, Mark Bechtel, MD
- Vice President, Betty Montgomery
- Secretary, Kim G. Rothermel, MD
- Supervising Member, Bruce Saferin, DPM
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New Medical Board Rules Effective December 31, 2020
Military rules for all license types
Medical Board Seeking Comment on Proposed Rules
Comments Due January 22
Public comment is being sought on the proposed language for updated hearing rules. The rules can be found on the Medical Board’s website under “Proposed Rules Under Initial Review” or by clicking the button below.
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House Bill 404
HB 404 extended the deadline for renewal of licenses that were due to expire between March 9, 2020 – April 1, 2021. Click here for further details.
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Need to Check the Expiration Date of Your License?
eLicense.ohio.gov
24/7 access & instant verification
no need to log in, simply search by name
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Scam Alerts
Licensees should remain aware that a scam has resurfaced targeting Ohio prescribers. Scammers have been calling and faxing prescribers stating they have been investigated for drug trafficking by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and their license has been suspended effective immediately.
There is additional information posted on our website. Learn how to identify a legitimate investigation, how to verify if the caller is from the Medical Board and how to file a complaint if you are contacted by a scammer.
The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has also reported an email phishing scam has been sent to their licensees. The sender claims to represent the Board of Pharmacy and created a website that mimics the Pharmacy Board’s site as an additional step to deceive licensees. Read their alert here.
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Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer Registry
The Ohio Department of Health is seeking licensed health care professionals to enroll in the Medical Reserve Corps and help administer the COVID-19 vaccine in Ohio communities. Click here to learn how you can enroll today.
New Survey Published Dec. 2020 - Health Care Provider Deployment
Below is a link to a new survey for licensed health care providers willing to be deployed to health facilities in crisis due to COVID-19. Patient care may be needed for both clinical and behavioral health. This is an unprecedented incident and we need to identify all available health care providers to mount an effective response. Interested licensees will be contacted by a representative from the State of Ohio or by interested health care entities to discuss next steps. Even if you previously completed a similar survey, please complete this survey to ensure updated information is on file. PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY. If you have questions about the survey, please contact: MRC@odh.ohio.gov.
Vaccine
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has developed a COVID-19 Vaccine Communications Toolkit for providers. It includes talking points, language tips, graphics, myths vs. facts, FAQs and more to help you communicate about the vaccination with staff and patients.
If you are a provider interested in administering the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available, the Ohio Department of Health urges you to enroll now. ODH must review and process applications and conduct provider training as quickly as possible to be prepared to mobilize immediately with little notice. It is also essential that they be able to identify and address any vaccine provider gaps across the state.
If you have any questions, please contact the ODH COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Enrollment Team at covidvaccine@odh.ohio.gov.
Temporary Relaxation of Physician Assistant Supervision
Senate Bill 310 was signed into law on December 29, 2020 by Governor DeWine. Several sections respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting strain on health care providers. The emergency clause attached to this bill made it effective immediately upon Governor DeWine’s signature until May 1, 2021.
- Physician assistants (PA) that are employed by or under contract with a hospital or other health care facility, may practice under the direction, control, and supervision of any physician or podiatrist in that setting regardless of whether they have a supervision agreement with that physician or podiatrist.
- These PAs may perform services within their scope of practice, if authorized by the physician or podiatrist and the hospital or health care facility, regardless if those services are authorized in any existing supervision agreement to which they are a party.
- Physicians and podiatrists practicing in a hospital or other health care facility, may (1) supervise a PA (employed by or under contract with a hospital or other health care facility) that they do not have a supervision agreement with and (2) authorize that PA to perform services that are within their scope of practice if those services are also authorized by the hospital or health care facility.
Webinar
The Ohio Department of Health and the Governor’s Pandemic Response and Recovery Leadership Team invites you to view a webinar on how to participate in the Ohio COVID-19 Vaccine Program. This on-demand webinar provides an overview of Ohio’s proposed vaccination strategy, as well as detailed instructions if you choose to become a provider of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Testing
No-cost COVID-19 testing sites are available throughout Ohio. This map lists a combination of private companies, retail sites, Community Health Centers, and pop-up sites offering testing.
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The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is leading Ohio’s pandemic response. If you have questions or concerns about their programs, please use the links below. SMBO will continue to share information from ODH as it is received.
Ohio Responds Volunteer Registry FAQs
Ohio Responds Registry username or password assistance
Contact an Ohio Responds program administrator
COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider FAQs
Communications toolkit (talking points, language tips, social media language and trusted resources)
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Trusted Resources
- State Medical Board of Ohio COVID-19 updates
- Board of Pharmacy updates
- State of Ohio's website
- Department of Health hotline
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- World Health Organization
- DEA
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Licensee Obligation to Complete Death Certificates
When an individual dies under natural causes the attending physician is to sign the death certificate within forty-eight hours after the death. Read the Medical Board's policy statement and FAQs here. |
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Prescriber Compounding Rules, effective March 31
Effective 3/1/21, new rules for prescriber compounding go into effect. To assist licensees in complying with the new rule, the Board of Pharmacy recently published a prescriber compounding inspection guide.
The inspection guide aligns with internal guidance used by Pharmacy Board inspectors and allows licensees to conduct self-inspections to ensure compliance. The guide also includes links to the new rules, important definitions and reminders of when a licensee is required to submit notification or additional information to the Pharmacy Board.
To provide further guidance to licensees, the Pharmacy Board has opened comment/question period for the inspection guide until January 31, 2021. Use the link to the inspection guide for additional information.
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Duty to Report
Ohio physicians and many other allied health care providers, regulated by the State Medical Board of Ohio, are obligated to report violations of law, rule and code of ethics standards to the Medical Board. Knowing a colleague is violating regulations and not reporting to the Medical Board not only puts patients at risk but also puts your license to practice in jeopardy. Failure to report can result in fines of up to $20,000 and disciplinary action.
While standards of care and scope of practice are specific to the type of health care you provide, you should be familiar with three main sets of regulations:
- Statutes: Laws are outlined in Ohio Revised Code (ORC). A link for each license type can be found on our website.
- Rules: Regulations that were created specifically by the State Medical Board of Ohio for its licensees. These are found in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) and a link for each license type can be found on our website.
- Code of Ethics for your profession
In 2019, the State Medical Board of Ohio took additional steps to ensure licensees know the seriousness of their duty to report knowledge of misconduct. The board added a new section to the application and renewal process to ensure those applying for and renewing their licenses are aware of the duty to report.
Licensees should not assume that by informing their supervisor their duty to report is fulfilled. Ohio law is clear when a licensee needs to report information directly to the Medical Board. Anyone, including licensees, can file a complaint directly with the Medical Board 24/7 through the confidential complaint hotline at 1-833-333-SMBO (7626) or online at med.ohio.gov.
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Protect Yourself
As the COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Ohio, it will take some time until it is available for all Ohioans. Getting a flu shot is another way to protect yourself and stay healthy this winter. Wear a mask. Social distance. Get a flu shot. Visit Ohio Department of Health's influenza webpage for more info. |
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Board Seeks Subject Matter Experts
Family medicine, internal medicine and pain management
The State Medical Board of Ohio contracts with qualified medical experts for quality of care reviews. The board is currently seeking experts in family medicine, internal medicine and pain management. Potential experts should have a clinical practice within Ohio and be board-certified for a minimum of five years. If interested, email your CV to donald.davis@med.ohio.gov.
Medical Marijuana
The State Medical Board of Ohio is looking for qualified medical experts to review petitions. These petitions will request the addition of qualifying medical conditions to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. If you are interested in becoming a subject matter expert reviewer, please submit a completed questionnaire and a copy of your CV to donald.davis@med.ohio.gov. Following receipt of this information, your name will be added to our list of subject matter experts. When the board receives a petition matching your background, experience, and specialty, board personnel will contact you with further details.
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UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS
February 10
March 10
Meetings will be shared via livestream
CONTACT US
30 E. Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-3934
contact@med.ohio.gov
QUICK LINKS
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EMS PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION
The board is updating its contact information in accordance with Ohio law. Please take a moment to complete* the short survey if you work as:
- An EMS medical director
- An EMS Regional Physician Advisory Board (RPAB) member
- A correctional institution employee
- A youth services employee
*If you have already completed the survey, you do not need to complete it again. |
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Office Closure
The Medical Board’s office will be closed on Monday, February 15 in observance of the state holiday. |
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Update Your Address
Medical Board licensees are required to give notice of a change of address (residence, business or electronic) no later than 30 days after the change occurs.
Update your address > |
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Monthly Formal Action Report
Review summaries of the disciplinary actions initiated, and the disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Medical Board at its monthly meeting. An individual's license information can be found on
eLicense.
Monthly Formal Actions >
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