Cameras in nursing homes, expanded telehealth signed into law for Ohio
Two health care issues that gained momentum amid the COVID-19 pandemic – safety of nursing home residents and access with telehealth – will see changes in Ohio after Gov. Mike Dewine signed two bills into law Wednesday. For families with loved ones in nursing facilities, they will soon be allowed to install cameras in nursing home rooms thanks to Esther's Law.
Ohio resident Steve Piskor, who advocated for Esther's Law, used a hidden camera to catch multiple aides abusing his mother. Advocates argue that allowing cameras in rooms will mean more accountability in making sure patients are treated well.
The idea of cameras made even more sense when COVID-19 prompted nursing facilities to shut down in-person visits. “Not having visitors in nursing homes is a really bad situation,” Piskor had said. “Visitors in nursing homes is what keeps nursing homes on their toes.”
Residents with roommates, however, will need the roommates' permission to have a camera posted, and certain forms would have to be signed if required by the facility.
During the pandemic, more Ohioans took advantage of telehealth, such as remote doctor visits, as many feared catching COVID-19 during in-person medical visits. Since then, telehealth has increased in popularity.
In response to the pandemic, the State Medical Board of Ohio temporarily expanded the usage of telehealth and lifted in-person requirements for certain drug prescriptions and medical marijuana.
The new law makes many of those expanded capabilities permanent, though it still allows the medical board to require an in-person visit when prescribing certain controlled substances to new patients.
In addition, the new law authorizes insurance and Medicaid coverage of telehealth services and adds pharmacists, psychologists, therapists and workers in multiple other health care fields under existing telehealth law.
While some have expressed skepticism and note that remote care can't replace in-person care, many praised the increased access to care that will be increased.
“Telehealth provides cancer patients and survivors with a convenient means of accessing some cancer care and primary care – a particularly important option for individuals in rural areas of the country and the immunocompromised,” said Leo Almeida, with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Titus Wu is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.