07/19/2023

Ohio’s Biennium Budget Impacts State Medical Board of Ohio

Ohio’s biennium budget includes changes that will impact State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) licensees. Below is a summary of the law changes that become effective October 3, 2023. The SMBO will continue to provide updates on these changes leading up to the effective date.

Upcoming changes for all license types:
■ The board will create a new Confidential Monitoring Program for licensees impaired with substance use disorder, mental illness, and physical conditions. The newly created Confidential Monitoring Program will be managed by the Ohio Professionals Health Program (OPHP). Licensees currently participating in One-
Bite or the Board’s confidential monitoring program for physical or mental impairment will receive detailed information about transition into the new program. House Bill 33 also authorizes the Board to transfer both the ongoing monitoring of board ordered probationers and the approval of treatment providers to OPHP. The Board will engage in an information campaign to give you more information on these important changes over the next few months.

■ Licensees will have the ability to change their licenses to a retired status. Eligibility requirements will include a voluntary retirement from practice, a paid application fee, and no pending investigations or disciplinary actions. Retired status prohibits practice but continues the use of any title authorized for the license and allows the reactivation of the license if certain conditions are met.

■ The SMBO’s active license roster will only include the business address of the licensee. Watch for more information on how to make sure your address is up to date in the SMBO system.

House Bill 33 included changes to administrative procedures.

■ The SMBO will be authorized to use additional document service methods through email, facsimile, or domestic commercial delivery service and allows for alternative methods to complete service if initial attempts fail, including using alternative addresses, before publishing notice in a newspaper of general circulation.

■ The maximum number of days within which an agency generally must hold an administrative hearing after a party to an adjudication requests one will increase from 15 to 60.

■ Certain notices and orders that must be served to a party in an Administrative Procedure Act adjudication can be provided to the party’s attorney or other representative rather than requiring the notices be mailed.

■ An agency’s rejection of an application for registration or renewal of a license will not be effective until the 15th day after notice of the rejection is mailed to the licensee.