05/29/2024

OPPA sends Action Alert to members to take action to oppose Senate Bill 60

Please contact your legislators if you haven't already done so

As you may be aware, OPPA, OSMA, and other physician groups oppose Senate Bill 60 that would establish licensure by the State Medical Board for a new allied practitioner: certified mental health assistants (CMHAs). The legislation does not outline any education and training requirements for this new practitioner and would give them prescriptive authority. 

The Ohio Senate is poised to vote on this legislation in the coming weeks and we need your help! Please follow the instructions to send a letter to your Senator (we are utilizing OSMA's web-based communications system) and urge them NOT to support SB 60. It will only take a few moments of your time, and it is critical that your legislators hear from you that while Ohio physicians understand and share the common goal of addressing the increased need for mental health care services across the state – this proposal is NOT the solution! 

This legislation is sponsored by Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and supported by Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). You can also contact the sponsor, Sen. Gavarone, as well as the members of the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee (which is the committee currently debating the bill) at the office numbers below and urge them to oppose SB 60.

Sen. Theresa Gavarone

(614) 466-8060

Sen. Jerry Cirino

Chair, Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee

(614) 644-7718

Sen. Michael Rulli

Vice Chair, Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee

(614) 466-8285

Sen. Catherine Ingram

Ranking Member, Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee

(614) 466-5980

Sen. Bill Reineke

Member, Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee

(614) 466-8049

Sen. Michele Reynolds

Member, Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee

(614) 466-8064