By Bonnie Otonicar

Are the interests of your occupational health organization being well represented and reflected in legislative and legal actions that can significantly impact upon operations? For most providers the answer to this question is a resounding "No!" So, the next question becomes, what can or should providers  do to correct this situation? A case in point: In March of 1997, Ohio began its workers’ compensation managed care program called the Health Partnership Plan (HPP). Prior to its implementation, the final rules of the new workers’ compensation system were being developed and negotiated by a stakeholder group representing the State, employers, workers and providers. However, occupational health professionals, as a provider type, were not specifically represented or even recognized in this stakeholder group and the rules were evolving in a manner that could have negatively impacted the numerous established occupational health programs in the State.

In response, several hospital-based providers came together and approached the Ohio Hospital Association for assistance. Out of this, The Society of Occupational Health Professionals was founded as a professional society within the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) in 1995. The Society was and remains the only occupational health society to be affiliated with its state’s hospital association. Through this affiliation, occupational health providers were given administrative, political and legislative support. Prior to the implementation of the HPP, the OHA was able to facilitate the opportunity for occupational health providers to testify and make legislative changes to the draft rules and to educate the State about the role and value of occupational practices within the health delivery system. The OHA now has a better understanding of the unique services of occupational providers and has partnered with the Society to make a difference politically at the state level. In addition, many relationships were initiated with the government and managed care organizations that would not have been possible for individual providers to develop.

Today, the Society of Occupational Health Professionals has over 100 members and remains one of the largest societies of the OHA. The Society has been successful in fulfilling its mission of providing a forum for the exchange of information and ideas between professionals, facilitating cooperation and understanding among providers, employers and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation with the mutual goal of reducing healthcare and workers’ compensation costs, while improving workplace health and safety.

For its members, the Society also serves as the primary clearing-house of timely information and clarification regarding regulatory changes or other new programs of the state. Assisting in the dissemination of this information are regional representatives, who are elected throughout the State’s four regions. These individuals hold meetings and seminars at the local level in addition to attending quarterly board meetings. A quarterly occupational health newsletter is also sent to providers to keep them apprised of new or evolving issues. In addition to the legislative updates, the Society has placed continuing education as another key goal and accomplishment. The Society has hosted two successful continuing educational seminars each year with topics and speakers of local or national interest.

For the past three years the Society has gained momentum within the politics of workers’ compensation and continues to be involved in the assessment and improvement of the current managed care system. It gives occupational health providers a much need venue for creating processes and systems that benefit not only providers, but the State, its employers, and injured workers. In addition, networking with providers across the state is helpful for staying current on local or regional legislative or regulatory changes.

Occupational health providers in other states should consider forming such associations with their state hospital association. Workers’ compensation reform and the transition to managed care models are under active consideration in many states. Having a unified voice that can be effectively leveraged when dealing with state legislatures, insurers, managed care organizations or other allied health professional groups is invaluable to occupational health providers, particularly when you consider how little is known or understood about our profession. There is strength and advantage in numbers. In Ohio, occupational health is now recognized and considered within the new workers’ compensation system. This recognition and the associated advantages would have been virtually impossible in the absence of an affiliation with the Ohio Hospital Association with its established and respected position within state politics.