Ohio Department of Health proposes draft Health Care Service rules for comment

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is required to set minimum standards for certain health care services (HCS),  specifically blood and bone marrow transplantation, solid organ transplantation, adult cardiac catheterization and open heart surgery, pediatric intensive care services, radiation therapy, and pediatric cardiac catheterization and cardiovascular surgery (Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-84). Draft revisions to these standards have been posted to the ODH website (Ohio Department of Health, 2022). 

Here are some of the significant changes that may require action if these draft rules are approved:

• In preparation for Ohio’s hospital licensure requirements taking effect in 2024, adopting several  federal conditions of participation in the Medicare program
• Level II adult cardiac catheterization labs need not be open 24/7; only on a regular schedule
• Volume standards for cardiac catheterization and open heart: numerical volume threshold standards have been replaced with a general sufficient volume quality and safety guideline
• Volume standards for organ transplant: replaced with volume standards established by 42 CFR § 482.80 and 482.82, generally 10 transplants per 12 months with no volume threshold for heart-lung, intestinal, pancreas and pediatric organ transplantation
• Volume standards for blood and bone marrow transplantation: revises to distinguish standards for autologous services only, autologous and allogeneic services, adult and pediatric services, and services at multiple sites
• Revises the definition of pediatric patient to less than 18 years of age
• Revises required signatures for the attestation of compliance
• Updates the tuberculosis control plan and assessment requirement
• Revises the requirement to review mortality and significant morbidity cases within 60 days for all HCSs
• Revises and removes certain reporting requirements
• Revises certain requirements for the service’s medical director
• Revises certain facility space requirements
• Revises certain requirements for personnel availability to be on-site, in-house, or by teleconference
• Removes radiation therapy requirement from Chapter 84 and requires operation of the service in accordance with Chapter 3748 and Ohio cancer incidence surveillance system

Look for more information as these rules go through the public comment period and filing processes.