Est. 2014

The Medical Association Coalition (MAC) was established in 2014 by Ohio's major physician associations to address concerns of the State Medical Board of Ohio's (SMBO) proposed changes to the one-bite program.  The one-bite program was originally established in 1987 to allow for the confidential treatment of physicians for substance use disorders. 

Under the leadership of retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice, Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, the MAC began its work on a four-year project of improving the current one-bite program.  Through the tireless work of Cheryl Grossman and bill sponsor Stephen Huffman, M.D., positive changes were made under House Bill 145.  Enacted in February 2018 by Governor John Kasich following a near unanimous vote of the General Assembly, House Bill 145 made changes that include:

1. Requiring impairment to be reported to a monitoring organization not the SMBO, to improve confidentiality;

2. Providing clarity of eligibility criteria and minimizing disqualify events for the confidential program;

3. Expanding the one-bite program to include all of the licensees under jurisdiction of the SMBO; and 

4. Removing outdated treatment standards and allowing for individualized treatment plans to be implemented.

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The rules were finalized on January 31, 2019 for the One-Bite Program and the MAC is working together with the Ohio Physicians Health Program to get the program up and running.

Understanding the impact of physician burnout and the national physician shortage, the MAC quickly expanded it's focus.  The MAC works collaboratively to monitor legislation and regulatory agency rules that could impact physicians and their practice.

For more information, please contact info@ohiophysicianwellness.org