11/21/2024

A Brief History of OAPA and the PA Profession in Ohio

With PAs practicing in the State of Ohio for more than 50 years, it can be difficult to give proper recognition to decades of contribution to the profession, legislative advancements, and operational changes made by the thousands of Ohio PAs and OAPA members. Here is a brief overview of OAPA, from the early years to today.

1971

Gilbert Nelmes and James Asher, graduates of the Duke University PA Program, are the first PAs to practice in Ohio with Robert Johnson, M.D., a general practitioner in Coshocton.

1974

The Cuyahoga Community College PA Program becomes the first program in Ohio to be accredited by the Joint Review Committee for Educational Programs for the Assistant to Primary Care Physician (JRC-PA). Students from the initial Cuyahoga Community College PA Program cohorts meet to discuss establishing a professional society and investigate the process for drafting and introducing the first statutes governing PA scope of practice.

1975

Representative Reverend Phale Hale (D) 31st District introduces HB 663 to enact section 4730.01 to 4730.11 of the Ohio Revised Code to govern the physician assistant profession.

The Ohio Academy of Physician Assistants is created, with Gilbert Nelmes, PA-C, elected as the first President.

1976

The 111th Ohio General Assembly passes, and Governor James Rhodes (R) signs, the first enabling legislation for PA scope of practice.

The Ohio Academy of Physician Assistants is the first state chapter to be “chartered” to the AAPA at the Annual Conference House of Delegates meeting.

Rebecca Yost, PA-C, is issued the first certificate of registration for PA practice in Ohio.

1978

Due to nonprofit paperwork issues, the Ohio Academy of Physician Assistants regroups and newly incorporates under the name Ohio Association of Physician Assistants.

1979

Ohio Attorney General William Brown renders an official opinion which determines that reimbursement for the delivery of primary health services rendered by physician assistants is authorized under the Ohio Medicaid program.

1980

OAPA honors Charles L. Hudson, M.D. by creating an award in his name to be given to an individual who demonstrates outstanding service to the PA profession.

1986

Representative John Thompson (D) 16th District introduces, the 116th General Assembly passes, and Governor Richard Celeste (D) signs HB 769 reforming the Ohio State Medical Board and its oversight of the PA profession.

The Ohio State Medical Board (OSMB) changes its name to the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) so as not to be confused with or appear to be affiliated with the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA).

1992

OAPA contracts with Government Policy Group, Inc. of Columbus as the first lobbyist for the association.

1995

Senator Grace Drake (R) 22nd District sponsors, the 121st General Assembly passes, and Governor George Voinovich (R) signs SB 143 which, among other changes, updates terminology from “employ” to "supervise” (allowing PAs to be employed by hospitals and other healthcare facilities rather than physicians only), defines supervisory agreements, and re-titles Physician Assistant Advisory Committee to the Physician Assistant Policy Committee (PAPC).

1996

OAPA contracts with Roger Peckinpaugh, Esq., to provide management services and become the association’s first Executive Director.

1999

OAPA contracts with the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners (AOHC) for management services, with Elizabeth Adamson as the new OAPA Executive Director.

The OAPA Board of Directors approves restructuring of the board by reorganizing the 4 existing regions into 7 geographical regions, with all regions having a seat on the board.

2000

Elizabeth Adamson leaves AOHC and forms Associates in Issues Management (AIM), bringing along OAPA as her client and remaining OAPA's Executive Director.

2006

Senator Lynn Wachtmann (R) 1st District introduces SB 154 and Representative Jon Peterson (R) 2nd District introduces companion bill HB 305. The 126th General Assembly passes, and Governor Robert Taft (R) signs into law, the legislation that expands PA scope of practice including physician delegated prescriptive authority with Schedule III-V drugs, requires a masters degree to prescribe and practice (with a “grandfather clause” for PAs who had been in practice for greater than 10 years), changes terminology of a" physician assistant utilization plan" to" physician supervisory plan," removes the "new patient/new condition" requirements,  and redefines "supervision" to include a 60 minute distance requirement for off-site supervision and no countersignature for writing medical orders.

2012

Representative Anne Gonzalez (R) 19th District and Representative Tom Letson (D) 64th District introduce, the 129th General Assembly passes, and Governor John Kasich (R) signs HB 284 expanding PA scope of practice including adding Schedule II drugs to the PA formulary, pronouncing death, giving medical direction to emergency medical providers, and waiving the masters degree requirement for PAs who have served 3 consecutive years in the Federal services.

2015

Senator David Burke (R) 26th District introduces, the 131st General Assembly passes, and Governor John Kasich (R) signs SB110 changing the requirement from a supervisory plan to a supervision agreement, permitting PAs to perform any services authorized by the supervising physician that are a part of the physician’s “normal course of practice and expertise," eliminating the requirement for SMBO to approve “special services” that can be performed by PAs, allowing for PAs to delegate the performance of a task and administration of a drug, eliminating the certificate to prescribe and provisional certificate concepts, granting PA "licenses" rather than "certificates of practice", eliminating the requirement for a supervising physician to be in a location of not more than 60 minutes travel time in favor of a distance that “reasonably allows the physician to assure proper care of patients”, and increasing the PA to supervising physician from 2-1 to 3-1.

2018

Representatives Rick Carfagna (R) 68th District and Scott Ryan (R) 71st District introduce, the 132nd General Assembly passes, and Governor John Kasich (R) signs HB111 eliminating the requirement that each physician assistant supervision agreement be submitted to, and reviewed by, the State Medical Board of Ohio.

Senator Bob Hackett (R) 10th District introduces, the 132nd General Assembly passes, and Governor John Kasich signs SB259 revising PA practice laws to remove the PA formulary, increase the ratio of PAs to supervising physicians to 5-1, allow for out-of-state and military PAs without a Masters Degree to obtain Ohio PA licensure with two years of practice immediately preceding application, allow for PAs with a Masters Degree but who did not apply for prescriptive authority when the law previously changed to now obtain prescriptive authority, and change the PAPC, including allowing meetings to be conducted by teleconference or videoconference and reducing the number of pharmacists to one.

2019

The Ohio General Assembly is rocked by the largest political corruption scheme in the state’s history with the HB 6 (nuclear bailout bill) scandal, disrupting legislative advancements for PAs.

2020

The Covid-19 pandemic spreads across the world, with PAs playing a critical role in addressing the massive and unprecedented healthcare need.

2022

OAPA regains its footing post-pandemic and begins laying the groundwork for legislative advancement in ensuing years.

2023

OAPA selects Tracy L. Vanneman, CAE, as its new Executive Director as longtime staff leader Elizabeth Adamson departs the organization.

2024

Sponsored by Senator Kristina Roegner and passed by the 135th General Assembly, Governor Mike DeWine (R) signs SB28, making Ohio the 13th state to join the PA Licensure Compact, to assist with telehealth to expand medical care to more patients, allow for consistent follow up with patients who may be out of state, and expand access to more quality providers and quicker appointments.

After more than 20 years with Bricker Graydon, formerly Bricker & Eckler, OAPA selects new lobbying firm, Hicks Partners, to begin on January 1, 2025.

OAPA is awarded an AAPA Advocacy Grant to support 2025 legislative efforts.