Acupuncturist supervisory period

Replaces the provisions of the bill regarding an acupuncturist's supervisory period as follows:

(1) If an acupuncturist practicing on the effective date of the bill has been practicing for less than one year and is not subject to disciplinary action, the supervisory period begins on the bill's effective date and ends when the acupuncturist has practiced for one year from the date the initial certificate was granted. However, an acupuncturist subject to disciplinary action during this period must continue to be supervised until the acupuncturist completes a full year without being subject to disciplinary action.

(2) An acupuncturist who is granted an initial certificate on or after the bill's effective date is subject to a one-year supervisory period beginning on the date the certificate is granted. However, an acupuncturist subject to disciplinary action during that year must continue to be supervised until the acupuncturist completes a full year without being subject to disciplinary action.

Oriental medicine

Removes the provision of the bill that would have allowed an applicant seeking to practice as an acupuncturist to submit evidence to the State Medical Board, as part of the acupuncturist application, that the applicant has been designated by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) as a "diplomate in Oriental medicine." Retains current law that requires an applicant to be designated by the NCCAOM as a "diplomate in acupuncture."

Educational requirements for certain physician assistants

Adds a provision to the bill that makes it unnecessary for an applicant to hold a master's degree or higher for an initial certificate to practice as a physician assistant, or to retain or renew the certificate, if the applicant presents evidence satisfactory to the State Medical Board of (1) holding a degree, other than a master's degree or higher, obtained as a result of being enrolled on January 1, 2008, in a program in Ohio that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant but does not grant a master's degree or higher to individuals enrolled in the program on that date and (2) completing the program on or before December 31, 2009.

Conditions for the prescription of certain anti-inflammatories by optometrists

Amends a provision recently enacted by Sub. H.B. 149 of this General Assembly to clarify that certain conditions apply to prescription of methylpredisolone, not all anti-inflammatories.

The conditions are that methylpredisolone be prescribed by an optometrist only (1) for use in allergy cases, (2) for use by an adult, (3) on the basis of a particular episode of illness, and (4) in an amount not exceeding the amount packaged for a single course of therapy.

S0245-127.doc/ss 04/30/08