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Your Gastroenterology COVID-19 Update
March 27, 2020
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Ohio: Governor Signs Relief Bill
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Federal: President Gets Stimulus Package
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Top 5 Things to Know About Telehealth
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Use of Ventilators
Your Gastroenterology COVID-19 Update
March 24, 2020
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How to Use Telehealth
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Stay Home Order
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Pharmacy Board: Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine
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Financial Relief for Medical Practices
Without question, Ohio’s efforts to quell the spread of COVID-19 relies on two things: a willingness to adhere to the social distancing orders and the incredible work of physicians and other healthcare professionals. As of Tuesday afternoon, Ohio has 564 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 91 healthcare professionals. Thank you for all you do and please remember to keep yourself safe.
COVID-19 Updates
March 20, 2020
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Testing
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Financial Support for Medical Practices
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Revised Telemedicine Rules
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Prescribing & Licensing Rules Relaxed
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to usher in new mandates and changes that are leveling a rapid and significant impact on Ohio’s healthcare system. State officials expect for the number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio to continue to rise.
Elective Surgeries Postponed
March 17, 2020
Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, MD, has ordered hospitals and outpatient surgical centers to postpone all elective, non-essential surgeries and procedures indefinitely.
Only scheduled surgeries and procedures that meet one or more of the following criteria as it relates to the patient’s medical condition will be allowed:
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There is a threat to the patient’s life if the surgery or procedure is not performed;
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There is a threat of permanent dysfunction of an extremity or organ;
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There is a risk of metastasis or progression of staging;
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Risk of rapidly worsening to severe symptoms (time sensitivity).
If the surgery or procedure does not meet one of the above criteria, then it must be canceled, Gov. Mike DeWine and Dr. Acton announced on Tuesday.
Join your colleagues at The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course in San Antonio, October 25 - 30, 2019.
Anti-MOC Bill Moving Forward at Ohio Statehouse
The Ohio House has begun hearings on an important bill that could ban maintenance-of-certification (MOC) as a prerequisite for licensure, insurance plan participation, hiring, and hospital admission privileges. Ohio is now one of about a dozen states that have or is currently seeking to curtail the use of MOC as a threatening tactic that could impact a physicians’ ability to practice medicine.
Legislative Update
While House Bill 273, the maintenance of certification (MOC) measure, has drawn the most attention from OGS, there are a number of other pending bills, rules and laws of interest for gastroenterologists.
Those who prescribe opioids to patients as part of a pain management plan should be aware that the state medical board has imposed new rules for treating acute pain conditions.
The state pharmacy board also has new rules related to prescribing opioids. The pharmacy board, to better track which doctors are prescribing opioids and for what reason they are prescribing the painkillers, will soon require ICD-10 codes to be included on the actual prescription that patients take to a pharmacy to be filled.
Meanwhile, a lawsuit blocking the implementation of a health care price transparency law that was supposed to have been started on Jan. 1 of this year is still pending. In late 2016, the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA), Ohio Hospitals Association (OHA), OGS and other provider organizations filed a lawsuit against the State of Ohio seeking an injunction against law.