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December eNews
Updates & important information from the State Medical Board of Ohio
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CDC Health Advisory: Seasonal flu is high across U.S.
Seasonal influenza is high across the U.S. The CDC estimates that in the 2022-23 season to date, there have been at least 13 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations and 7,300 deaths from influenza. While the FDA has not indicated shortages of oseltamivir (generic or Tamiflu) in any of its forms (capsules, oral suspension), the CDC has received numerous anecdotal reports of of availability issues for some generic oseltamivir in some locations.
Click here to read the full CDC health alert.
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CDC Health Update: COVID-19 Therapeutics for Treatment and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update to emphasize to healthcare providers, public health departments, and the public that the majority of Omicron sublineages circulating in the United States have reduced susceptibility to the monoclonal antibody, bebtelovimab and the monoclonal antibody combination, cilgavimab and tixagevimab (EvusheldTM).
Because of this reduced susceptibility, on November 30, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the use of bebtelovimab is not currently authorized for use for patients with COVID-19. For continuing updates, click here. |
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Vendor Email is Not Connected to State Medical Board
The State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) was notified of an email (see picture below) from a third-party vendor that advertises a bundle of mandatory topics for continuing medical education (CME). The email did not originate from SMBO, and the third party vendor is not connected to the board.
Although physicians are required to complete 50 hours of CME each renewal period, the only mandatory CME is one hour on the topic of a licensee’s duty to report for which the board has created a course for licensees to complete. The remaining hours may be earned by completing educational activities that have been awarded Category 1 credit by accredited CME providers such as the Ohio State Medical Association.
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Public Rules Hearing Notices: January 4, 2023
Below are links to the hearing notice and the associated rules:
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Get to Know SMBO
The Medical Board has released a new video explaining the monthly board meetings as part of its Get to Know SMBO series. Learn about the personnel and proceedings in this formal gathering of 12 board and staff members, which is open to the public.
To watch the video, click here.
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Spoofing SMBO Email Scam
Licensees should be aware that a scam is spoofing State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) emails. In the image below, scammers sent an email to a licensee under the pretense that they are a legitimate SMBO employee; however, the email address in the body of the email and the email address in the sender portion do not match. All emails from an SMBO sender should end in @med.ohio.gov.
If you are contacted by a scammer, please report the incident to your local law enforcement and Ohio's Attorney General by filing a complaint online at ohioprotects.org or by calling 800-282-0515.
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CDC Health Alert: Measles cases in Ohio
Columbus Public Health, Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other local public health jurisdictions are working closely with clinical and community partners to respond to an ongoing outbreak of measles in central Ohio. Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness. Heathcare providers should be alert for the signs and symptoms of measles (high fever, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis, followed by a rash), particularly among persons who have not yet received the measles-containing vaccine (MCV).
Click here to read the full CDC health alert.
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Petition Period Open for Adding New Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions
The submission period is open from November 1 – December 31. Anyone may submit a petition requesting a condition be added to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. If a condition has been previously rejected by the board, the new petition must contain new scientific information that supports the request. Details on the process can be found here.
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Partnership Provides Ohioans with Disabilities Access to COVID-19 Tests
Ohio Department of Health and its Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities announced a partnership with
Be My Eyes and Accessible Pharmacy Services to offer a solution for Ohioans who face challenges self-administering COVID-19 tests. The partnership supports Ohioans who are blind or have low vision in self-administering at home COVID-19 tests, widely available through retail, pharmacy and grocery stores, community libraries, and local health departments.
Be My Eyes is a free app that utilizes video call technology that provides help to those, who are blind or have low vision, navigate any situation where a sighted individual can see for the blind person. For more information, click here.
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Ohio Responds Volunteer Registry
The Ohio Responds Volunteer Registry is the State of Ohio’s online system for managing public health and healthcare professionals who wish to volunteer. If you are would like to volunteer to help the state's efforts, please visit www.ohioresponds.odh.ohio.gov/ to register. |
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2023 Board Meetings & Committees
The State Medical Board released its list of upcoming 2023 board and committee meeting dates. View the list here. |
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Monthly Formal Action reports include summary descriptions of the disciplinary actions initiated and the disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Medical Board at its monthly meeting. Reports also contain updated information regarding changes in probationary monitoring requirements, reinstatement of licenses following suspension, and status reports of cases on appeal through the courts.
Click here to view Monthly Formal Action Reports.
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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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One-bite Program & Confidential Monitoring
The Medical Board's
One-bite Program is a non-disciplinary, confidential program for the treatment of impaired licensees and applicants of the Medical Board - established in section 4731.251 of the Revised Code. For more information visit med.ohio.gov and ophp.org.
The Medical Board's
Confidential Monitoring Program is a non-disciplinary, confidential program for licensees with mental physical conditions impacting ability to practice established in section 4731-28-02 of the Administrative Code.
Well-Being CARE Service
The Ohio State Medical Association created a Well-Being Checkup And Referral Engagement Service, which is a free, anonymous checkup of one's mental and emotional health. For more information, click here.
Click here to view available wellness resources.
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Ohio prescribers are required to include the diagnosis code on all controlled substance prescriptions per 4729:5-5-15 of the Ohio Administrative Code. |
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Stay in Touch With Us!
#didyouknow the Medical Board has Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts? Follow our pages for news, updates, videos and more. |
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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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Office Closure
The Medical Board’s office will be closed on Monday, December 26, Monday, January 2 and Monday, January 16 in observance of the state holidays. |
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
January 9 – Dietetics Advisory Council
Dietetics Advisory Council meetings are held in-person at the Rhodes State Office Tower.
January 11 – Board Meeting
Board meetings are held in-person. They are shared as a courtesy via livestream on our YouTube channel, as
technology permits.
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Duty to report obligation
Licensees have statutory and ethical duties to report certain misconduct to the board.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The board has created FAQ documents to address questions on specific rules and protocol.
FAQs >
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