Statehouse Update: OSMA Mid-Session Legislative Wrap

The 2011-2012 legislative session has been full of activity, with many politically divisive legislative issues being debated by Republicans and Democrats at the Statehouse in Columbus. The OSMA continues to be actively engaged on many topics which may impact the practice of medicine. Click here for a mid-session legislative wrap up from the OSMA.

If an OSMA member would like more information regarding any piece of legislation, click here (login required) for the latest report from the OSMA Focused Task Force on State Legislation (FTFSL) or click here to email the OSMA. Additional information on recently proposed legislation is below.

Recently Proposed Legislation. As reported by Gongwer News Service, below is a list of recently introduced health care legislation.

HB 526: PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES - To require the Director of Health to develop protocols regarding the authority to administer, deliver, distribute or dispense drugs during certain public health emergencies.

HB 551: HEALTH INSURANCE RATES - To prohibit a health plan issuers from considering gender when determining premium rates.

HB 552: ABORTION - To prohibit a physician from performing an abortion on a pregnant woman by decapitation of a fetus.

HB 567: PROFESSIONAL LICENSES – To modify counselor, social worker and marriage and family therapist licensing law to provide certain professional rights to such licensees.

HB 570: SEX-SELECTION ABORTION - To prohibit sex-selection abortions.

SB 307: PRESCRIPTIONS - To require physicians to take certain actions before and after issuing prescriptions for drugs intended to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

SB 329: INMATE HEALTH CARE - To authorize the Director of Rehabilitation and Correction to implement a program to improve prisoners' access to psychotropic drugs and a program authorizing the provision of medical and behavioral health care to prisoners through telecommunication methods.

SB 347: TANNING SERVICES - Regarding the regulation of chemical tanning applications and the use of tanning services by individuals under 18 years of age.

SB 350: CIVIL COMMITMENT - To make changes to the laws governing the civil commitment of and treatment provided to mentally ill persons.

More information from Gongwer News Service can be found here.

Ohio Democratic Party Chooses Skindell to run for Ohio Supreme Court The Ohio Democratic Party selected State Sen. Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood) to run against incumbent Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence O'Donnell in the November election. According to a report by Gongwer News Service, Sen. Skindell was the only applicant to formally request the party's nomination after the original candidate Robert Price decided to withdraw.

In December 2011, the Ohio State Medical Association Political Action Committee (OSMAPAC) endorsed Justice O'Donnell and Justice Robert R. Cupp in their bid for re-election to the Supreme Court of Ohio.

The OSMAPAC seeks to support judicial candidates with a philosophy of judicial restraint, one that interprets the law and defers public policy matters to the legislative branch. The announcement regarding a challenger for Justice O’Donnell makes it all the more important that the physician community continues to strongly support this philosophy of judicial restraint.