State Agencies

Ohio Agency Monitoring

The OOA routinely attends meetings and reviews, analyzes and interprets agency regulations as they are promulgated. For rules and regulations and other information about health-related state agencies, visit the following websites:


Medicare in Ohio

Ohio DOs and OOA staff serve on the Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees of Ohio's Quality Improvement Organization (Ohio KePRO, Inc). For helpful Medicare information, use these links.

*If you aren’t registered for the CGS ListServ, you may not have all the latest information concerning Medicare. CGS is committed to continuous communication and the OOA encourages you to take advantage of this free service. Simply visit the following link to sign up and select your areas of interest: https://www.cgsmedicare.com/medicare_dynamic/ls/001.asp  Upon registration, subscribers will receive critical and timely email notifications targeted towards the contracts they serve.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing a series of 11 short video and audio presentations for health care providers on top health care compliance topics. The newest step in OIG's Provider Compliance Training initiative, these free videos, average about four minutes each and cover major health care fraud and abuse laws, the basics of health care compliance programs, and what to do when a compliance issue arises.  The site also includes  audio podcasts with more detailed information on a variety of compliance topics.  Click on the icon below to visit the OIG Provider Compliance Web Site.

 

HHS-OIG Compliance Training Videos

 

Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS)

OARRS is a free on-line tool for physicians and other prescribers to check to see if new or existing patients are potentially abusing dangerous drugs or obtaining prescriptions from multiple providers that could cause adverse drug interactions. Outpatient pharmacies that dispense controlled substances to Ohio residents are required to report information into the database at regular intervals.  

Any prescriber can access OARRS to obtain detail prescription drug histories that includes the:

  • Patients name, address and phone number
  • Patient's date of birth and gender
  • Quantity of drug
  • Days supply of drug
  • Date of dispensing
  • Date prescription written or authorized
  • Number of refills authorized
  • Prescriber's DEA registration number
  • Pharmacy's name and contact information

HB 93, passed in 2011, requires all Ohio prescribers to register for OARRS and query the system according to rules established by the Ohio State Medical Board.   To establish an account with OARRS:

  • Go to http://www.ohiopmp.gov and complete the online registration.
  • Print the application and have your signature notarized
  • Mail the application and a copy of your driver's license, medical license and DEA registration to the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy
  • The registration process takes about two weeks.  


Office of Health Transformation 

The Ohio Office of Health Transformation has created a video page on its web site which contains  testimonials from health care stakeholders speaking on the OHT's plans to rebalance long-term care, improve care coordination, integrate behavioral and physical health care and modernize reimbursements. Click here to hear what OOA representative Richard J. Snow, DO, MPH has to say.

 

CliniSync  - Ohio's Health Information Partnership 

CliniSyncClinicSync, (also known as the Ohio Health Information Partnership) was designated by Governor Ted Strickland in August 2009, to oversee the adoption and use of electronic medical records by Ohio's health care providers.  The founding five members include: BioOhio, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Ohio Osteopathic Association, and the State of Ohio.  The partnership has received more than $43 million in state and federal funding and is charged with implementing and overseeing a statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE) that will improve access to data and patient information by authorized health care providers while ensuring patient privacy.  ClinicSync is  collaborating  with industry experts to provide educational, technical, and procurement services to health care providers who need to implement electronic medical records and achieve meaningful use to qualify for up to $63,750 in incentive payments from the federal government.  OOA has a permanent seat on CliniSync's Executive Committee, which is currently held by OOA Executive Director Jon F. Wills.  Gregg Alexander, DO of London, is serving a three-year term on the Board of Directors, while Martha Simpson, DO, is a member of the Privacy and Security Committee.  For more information about how ClinicSync and the Ohio Health Information Partnership is helping physicians and hospitals in Ohio, click here.

  

Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force

Governor Strickland formed the Ohio Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force, April 2, 2010, to combat prescription drug abuse across Ohio.  The OPDATF submitted its final report to the Governor and other Ohio leaders on October 1, 2010.  Cleann Cass, DO, of Dayton, represented the OOA on the task force and also served as co-chair of the Treatment Work Group.  Aaron Adams, DO, an OOA member and Scioto County Health Commissioner, headed the Public Health Work Group.   For additional information about the task force click here.

 

Public Health Initiatives

The OOA maintains ongoing relations with allied health associations and other healthcare organizations. The OOA provides representation on inter-professional coalitions such as the Ohio Tobacco Control Resrouce Group, the Ohio Coalition for Civil Justice, the State Planning Committee for Health Education in Ohio, the Ohio Coalition of Primary Care Physicians, the Ohio Medical Volunteer Corps, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, eHealth Ohio, and similar organizations.