Page 44 - OPTA Access Spring 2020

LEGISLATIVE AND PAYMENT POLICY UPDATES
Legislative Report
Amanda Sines – OPTA Lobbyist Government Advantage Group
LEGISLATION FOR “UNIVERSAL LICENSING” INTRODUCED
Senate Bill 246 has been introduced by Senators Kristina Roegner (R – Hudson) and Rob McColley (R – Napoleon) and House Bill 432 was introduced by Representatives Jena Powell (R – Arcanum) and George Lang (R – West Chester) . These bills would create a process for all out-of-state licensure applicants practicing a profession to get a license in Ohio without having to meet additional requirements or demonstrate competency for Ohio’s standards . This bill is intended to spur economic development in Ohio and make it more attractive for professionals to work here . The Senate President has indicated this a priority for their chamber in 2020 . The OPTA Board has reviewed the proposal and does not have any objections to the bill in its current form .
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OPTA SET TO PURSUE LICENSURE COMPACT
The OPTA is excited to begin the process in Ohio
of joining the PT Compact . Twenty-six states have passed legislation to become a compact state and Ohio would like to be the 27th! OPTA has approved a bill draft and is now working with members of the General Assembly to identify a primary sponsor . We hope to have official legislation introduced soon.
Separately, the Ohio Psychological Association
(OPA) has introduced a licensure compact bill that is sponsored by Senator Theresa Gavarone (R – Bowling Green) . The OPA’s compact is focused on telehealth and varies in scope from the PT compact .
LEGISLATURE COULD REPEAL PT EDUCATOR LICENSE
In the previous General Assembly, the legislature enacted a bill to require an Occupational Licensing Review of every license issue by the state at least every six years . In order to continue a license, the legislature must pass a bill to retain the licensure . 2019 was the first year of these reviews. The first round of licenses was reviewed by the House State and Local Government Committee . The majority and minority members of that committee have issued recommendations based on the testimony received during the review . While the OTPTAT Board was not subject to the initial review, there is a recommendation that could affect school-based PT practitioners .
The report recommends:
Eliminate Temporary Pupil Services Licenses (school audiologist, school social worker, school speech- language pathologist, school nurse, occupational
therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapy assistant, and physical therapy assistant). These licenses are already issued by their respective boards and therefore, by eliminating the extra license it avoids duplication and provides less restrictive access into their profession.
A placeholder bill, House Bill 452, has been introduced by Representatives Jason Stephans (R – Getaway) and Shane Wilkin (R – Lynchburg) and it will be used as the vehicle to adopt the committee recommendations .
In order to formulate an official position on the recommendation, OPTA will need to review the actual language of HB 452 . We have heard that it is an unnecessary financial burden for PTs to pay an additional $200 license fee to practice in schools . However, we will want to ensure any language
will not preclude PTs from performing “specialize instruction” under IEPs.
The report also recommends to: “Eliminate Acupuncturist /Oriental Medicine Practitioner License . This license does not provide a medical necessity but rather a personal preference . Individuals practicing acupuncturist or oriental medicine can be certified through a national licensing entity if they choose.”
OPTA MEETS WITH BWC
OPTA has been busy at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) . OPTA met with BWC and other stakeholders on December 2, 2019 to discuss creating a unique W code to take into consideration a more comprehensive functional capacity evaluation (FCE) . Earlier this year BWC decreased the number of units allowed for FCEs . This code