OHSAM focuses its advocacy efforts on state legislation and regulation that impact the field of addiction medicine in Ohio.
Letter of opposition to SB 261
On behalf of the Ohio Society of Addiction Medicine (OHSAM), the medical specialty society representing physicians and clinicians in Ohio who specialize in the treatment of addiction, we write to express our opposition to SB 261, which updates the regulatory framework for the state’s medical cannabis program.
House Bill 122 was signed and goes into effect 3/23/22.
It gives state medical boards responsibility for establishing a standard of care for telehealth services that is equal to the standard of care for in person services. It forbids boards to require an initial in-person visit for many SUD patients — those MAT patients with a mental health disorder who are in an emergency situation per the health care professional. These can be provided an initial visit remotely via telehealth. Physicians, CNPs and PA’s may provide telehealth services to a patient located outside of this state if permitted by the laws of the state in which the patient is located. It allows health care professionals to charge a health plan issuer, but not a patient, for durable medical equipment used at a patient or client site.