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March 2021 eNews
Updates & Important Information from the State Medical Board of Ohio
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House Bill 442
On January 7, 2021, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 442 into law. A number of the statutory changes will impact State Medical Board of Ohio licensees.
Below is a summary of the changes in Ohio law that become effective April 12, 2021. Licensees are encouraged to read the complete law in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). The Medical Board has also created an FAQ document to address questions you may have due to these changes.
Cosmetic Therapists
- The license requirement for cosmetic therapists in Ohio has been eliminated. Cosmetic therapists will no longer be licensed by the Medical Board or any other licensing entity in Ohio.
- Amendments have been made to Chapter 4713 of the Ohio Revised Code, which governs the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. The new language provides that an individual may practice cosmetic therapy in a salon if authorized by that board.
Oriental Medicine Practitioner
- The license requirement for oriental medicine practitioners in Ohio has been eliminated.
- All oriental medicine licenses will be converted to acupuncture licenses under Medical Board regulation, and licensees will be required to meet the renewal requirements for acupuncturists in order to renew their licenses. The renewal date and license numbers for previous holders of oriental medicine licenses will not change.
Massage Therapy
- The amount of education hours required to complete a massage therapy program will be reduced from 750 to 600 hours. The amended education hours must meet the minimum requirements:
- Two hundred seventy-five hours in anatomy and physiology and pathology;
- Two hundred seventy-five hours in massage theory and practical, including hygiene;
- Twenty-five hours in ethics;
- Twenty-five hours in business and law.
Physician Assistant
- Changes in the law will now allow the Medical Board to recognize any accrediting organization for physician assistant education programs. Previously, the board required physician assistants to be accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education.
Physicians
- The amount of continuing education hours a physician may earn providing health care services as a volunteer will be increased to ten hours, however the accrual rate will change. Five hours of volunteer time will be equal to one hour of CME.
- Clinical research facility certificate: All qualifications, except an unrestricted license to practice medicine in another state or country and appointment to serve in Ohio on the academic staff of a medical school in good standing with the Medical Board, have been eliminated for this license type. All renewal fees and CME requirements have also been eliminated for this license type.
- Visiting clinical professional development certificates: All qualification requirements except (1) holds an unrestricted license issued in another country and (2) has been accepted for participation in the clinical professional development program of a medical school that is accredited, as well as the certificate fee, have been eliminated for this license type.
- Visiting podiatric faculty certificates: This certificate fee for this license type has been eliminated.
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Continuing education audits to resume
In March 2020, the board suspended enforcement of continuing education (CE) requirements for licenses that were due to expire before March 1, 2021.
While enforcement was suspended, the legal requirement to complete the required CE still existed. The board-ordered suspension of enforcement has now expired and licensees are now subject to audit for compliance with continuing education requirements. |
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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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COVID-19 Updates
How to Help - 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.
Vaccination Scheduling Tool
Ohio's centralized vaccination scheduling website is now available at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov. The website will serve as a singular location for Ohioans to confirm that they are eligible to be vaccinated, identify nearby providers and schedule their vaccine appointments.
The Ohio Department of Health will continue to work directly with vaccine providers to integrate their current systems into the statewide system. Providers will be expected to use this system or another electronic scheduling system that interfaces with this portal. The centralized scheduling website will also be used for scheduling appointments at the mass vaccination clinics.
Outside partners, including the Area Agencies on Aging, will be available to help Ohioans who do not have access to the internet with appointment scheduling.
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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.
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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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Ohio prescribers are required to include the diagnosis code on all controlled substance prescriptions per 4729-5-30 of Ohio Administrative Code. |
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You’re invited to BWCs 2021 virtual Medical & Health Symposium
Join health care practitioners, provider office staff and administrators and legal professionals nationwide for a world-class, virtual medical symposium.
Three online educational tracks have been designed with continuing education opportunities.
The 2021 virtual symposium offers national and state experts covering the latest topics impacting patient care and providers. Session topics this year will cover a wide variety of issues, including substance use disorders, clinical insights into COVID-19, where the legal and medical worlds intersect, stories of triumph after tragedy, and violence in the workplace. |
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Patient safety alert regarding children using hyaluron pens
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA) has issued an alert regarding children buying and using “hyaluron pens” to inject hyaluronic acid filler into the epidermal and upper dermal layers of the skin. ASDSA members, who are board-certified dermatologists, have found concerning social media videos in which children use these pens to self-inject and promote their use to peers.
These pens were created as medical devices. The use of air pressure technology causes these pens to deliver the hyaluronic acid to insert nanoscale molecules of the filler through the skin. Consumers are told that these devices can create volume and lift lips, fill nasolabial and marionette lines, and treat 11 lines and forehead wrinkles. While marketing materials for the pens claim that the hyaluronic acid only reaches the papillary layer of the dermis – making this a safe treatment with no occlusion – as well as no sharp tips that would puncture blood vessels, ASDSA members feel that the risk of harm remains.
If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Hellquist, Director of Advocacy and Practice Affairs, at khellquist@asds.net or (847) 956-9144. |
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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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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 3/31/21, new rules for prescriber compounding go into effect. To assist licensees in complying with the new rule, the Board of Pharmacy 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.
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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. |
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UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS
April 14
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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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