Ohio-ACC members participated in the Ohio-ACC Legislative Day on April 27, 2010. We discussed the following:

ISSUE #1: Tobacco

Smoking is a leading cause of heart and vascular disease, major lung diseases, and other common forms of cancer. Nearly one-fifth of deaths from cardiovascular disease are attributable to smoking. In Ohio, tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in our state, killing more than 18,000 Ohioans each year. Another 18,000 Ohio kids become regular, daily smokers; one-third of them will die prematurely as a result. This is not a coincidence; tobacco companies spend $1.5 million every day in Ohio, which is also used as a testing ground for new tobacco products, many intended for and marketed towards potential younger users.  It’s time for us to do something. Studies show that increasing the cigarette tax and taxing non-cigarette forms of tobacco at the same rate as cigarettes are highly effective ways to reduce the use of these dangerous products, increase revenue for our state, and, most importantly, save lives and money. And your constituents support this; a recent poll showed that 63.5% of Ohioans supported increasing the cigarette tax, and 74.9% of Ohioans support taxing all products at the same rate.

ISSUE #2: Physician Profiling

The issue of physician ranking has been hotly debated for several years. Insurers have supported obtaining data in order to tier and quantify cost effective care, while consumers have wanted data to compare doctors based on quality and cost. OH-ACC supports H.B. 122 and S.B. 98, which seek to address the issue of physician ratings by insurance companies in Ohio. This legislation would:

• Rank physicians based on quality or quality and cost, and clearly identify the degree to which rankings are based on cost;
• Utilize nationally recognized, AMA-approved quality standards;
• Use valid sample sizes, appropriate risk adjustment, and accurate physician attribution methodologies;
• Note the limitations of physician profiling programs and provide a process for patients to register complaints about the system;
• Provide physicians with information about the way rankings are designed and a process to appeal; and
• Utilize an independent ratings examiner with expertise in efficiency measurement to oversee compliance.

ISSUE #3: Medical Liability Reform

From 2001 to 2005, Ohio was designated a medical liability “crisis” state and physicians’ medical liability premiums increased on average 105 percent during that time period. Since then, the legislature has wisely enacted nearly two dozen reforms, including a $350,000 cap on non-economic damages and a statute of repose and limitations on claims. As a result, Ohio has experienced a 22 percent decline in medical liability premiums and a 40 percent reduction in the number of lawsuits filed against doctors. OH-ACC greatly appreciates our successful medical liability laws, and strongly opposes any effort to overturn or weaken them.