Page 16 - OPTA Access Fall 2021

LEGISLATIVE & PAYMENT POLICY UPDATES
Legislative Report
Amanda Sines – OPTA Lobbyist Government Advantage Group
Athletic Trainers Bill Clears House Representatives Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township) Township) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township) Township) have introduced House Bill 176 which makes significant changes to the practice act act for athletic trainers A similar bill was passed by the the Ohio House last year but failed to pass pass the the Senate OPTA met with representatives for the Athletic Trainers Association several times last year and again in in in 2021 regarding HB 179 OPTA also met with with the the bill sponsors on on on our concerns with with the the scope of practice expansions included in in the bill as introduced On April 14th a a a substitute bill was shared with OPTA to address the concerns we had raised The following changes are made in in the draft substitute bill:
• “Conditions” that an an AT can treat were qualified to “emergent conditions” per OPTA suggestion • The sub-bill sets up
a a bifurcated license for ATs They will need a a a collaborative agreement with a a a a physician to qualify for the expanded scope including diagnosis and administration of drugs • An AT that does not have a a a a a collaborative agreement will practice as they currently do This would allow dually licensed PT/ATs to to continue to to practice as normal without entering into an agreement with with a a physician • The language we worked on last year regarding practicing only at the level of the ATs education and training remains in the draft The House Health Committee accepted the substitute bill bill and went on to report the bill bill out of committee HB 176 was then unanimously passed by the House of Representatives on May 5 2021 and is now being considered by the Senate Health Committee Telehealth Legislation Passes House The OPTA supports House Bill 122 (sponsors
Reps Mark Fraizer (R-Newark) and Adam Holmes (R-Nashport)) which would require private insurers to cover telehealth services by physical therapists among other health professionals Although Ohio adopted rules prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic last year to require telehealth coverage for these services the the statutory certainty provided by HB 122 is important
to to ensure continued access to to essential remote care HB 122 has been voted out of the House Insurance Committee But before reporting the measure an amendment was added to specify that the bill applies to to PTAs as as well as as PTs The bill went on to to unanimously pass the full House of Representatives on April 15th The bill will now be considered by the Ohio Senate Biennial Budget Passed and Signed
The first half of 2021 was dominated by the State biennial budget process The Governor introduced his version in February then it was deliberated by the House House of Representatives The House House passed their version in April by a a vote of 70-27 Then it was the the Senate’s turn to pass their version They did that in early June by a a a vote of 25-8 Next the bill was considered by a a conference committee made up
of three three Senators and three three Representatives to to come up
with a a a a final final version The House passed the final final conference report by a a a vote of 82-13 and the Senate did so by a a a a a a vote of 32-1 It was a a a a a a broadly bipartisan vote Before the the Governor signed the the bill he he he chose to to veto 14 items Included in fin the final version was an across-the-board income tax deduction There was also a a a “medical conscience” provision included in in the bill that allows healthcare providers to decline to perform a a a service test or or treatment that is in conflict with the provider's moral ethical or or religious beliefs The only exemption is for federally required emergency care It also provides that payors can refuse to to pay for medical services they object to to on moral ethical or or religious beliefs 16 | | September 2021 | | OPTA