Ohio Coalition of Primary Care Physicians (OCPCP) Convenes to Discuss Key Issues

On Nov. 21, the Ohio Coalition of Primary Care Physicians (OCPCP) convened with participation from the OSS ACOFP, Ohio Osteopathic Association, Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, along with several invited medical association guests.

Roberta J. Guibord, DO, Past OSS ACOFP President, represented the organization, and Edward E. Hosbach, II, DO, current OOA President and Past OSS ACOFP President, presided over the meeting. Heidi A. Weber, MBA, CAE, served as Executive Director for both organizations.

Key discussions focused on Ohio’s application to the Rural Health Transformation Fund and the essential role of family medicine in shaping the state’s goals and implementation strategy. The OCPCP will engage the Ohio Department of Health to ensure the family medicine community’s priorities and expertise remain central to this work.

A sincere thank you to Dr. Guibord for representing the OOS ACOFP at this critical coalition meeting. Stay tuned for more updates.

ACOFP Submits Nominations for April Convening

The ACOFP Leadership Development Committee has concluded its deliberations and has notified its Board of Governors of submissions for leadership for next year. Among those selected include Ohioans Jennifer L. Gwilym, DO, and Sean M. Johnson, DO.

The nominees were sent to the Congress of Delegates in anticipation of its April 15, 2026, meeting.

• President-elect David A. Connett, DO, FACOFP dist., IA
• Secretary/Treasurer Saroj Misra, DO, FACOFP dist., MI
• Governor (expires 2026) Peter F. Bidey, DO, FACOFP, PA
• Governor (expires 2026) Jennifer L. Gwilym, DO, FACOFP dist., OH
• Governor (expires 2027) Lynn M. Wilson, DO, FACOFP, PA
• New Physician-in-Practice Governor Sean M. Johnson, DO, OH
• Resident Governor Evan Bischoff, DO, MI
• Student Governor Ly Nguyen, OMS III, IA
• Speaker Antonios J. Tsompanidis, DO, FACOFP dist., NJ
• Vice Speaker Rachel A. Young, DO, FACOFP, MI

Returning to the ACOFP Board of Governors in positions not subject to election are:

• President Greg D. Cohen, DO, FACOFP dist., IA
• Governor (expires 2027) Rebecca D. Lewis, DO, FACOFP, OK
• Governor (expires 2028) Traci-lyn Eisenberg, DO, FACOFP, FL
• Governor (expires 2028) Derrick J. Sorweide, DO, FACOFP, OR
• Immediate Past President Gautam J. Desai, DO, FACOFP dist., MO

Gov. Mike DeWine has named Scott Partika as the incoming director of the Department of Medicaid, following the retirement of Maureen Cocoran.

Mr. Partika has been Gov. DeWine's policy director. He must be confirmed by the Senate to officially take the role.

"Partika brings a strong background in state-level policy development and public service to the Ohio Department of Medicaid. He has been deeply involved in Ohio's health and human services policy landscape over the past decade," according to the governor's office.

"Partika will continue to ensure that Ohio's Medicaid recipients receive high-quality care, that the system remains fiscally responsible, and that innovation and transparency guide the department's work."

Mr. Partika, a Mahoning Valley native, began in 2020 as the governor's assistant policy director covering health and human services. In that role, he oversaw policy for the departments of Medicaid, Aging, Mental Health & Addiction Services, Health, Veterans Services, Developmental Disabilities, Insurance, and Job & Family Services.

Governor Mike DeWine announced the state's application for the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, included in recent federal legislation. Half of the funds will be distributed equally among states, while the other half will be allocated based on 23 factors.

The DeWine administration outlined Ohio's initiatives to secure the funding, including expanding telehealth and value-based reimbursement models, while pursuing new opportunities to drive transformational change in rural communities.

Ohio’s application:

• Provides rural Ohioans access to care by supporting partnerships between hospitals, community health centers, family physicians, pharmacies, behavioral health specialists, and others to launch Rural Health Innovation Hubs;
• Builds out Ohio’s Rural Healthcare Workforce Pipeline through collaborative partnerships between healthcare providers and educational institutions;
• Invests in innovative solutions and technology to improve emergency medical services triage, outcomes, and response times in rural Ohio;
• Prioritizes efforts to combat chronic disease, promote healthy behaviors, and improve patient engagement by launching Healthier Ohio Initiatives in Rural Communities;
• Expands school-based health centers into more rural communities;
• Extends OhioSEE to ensure students in rural Ohio receive comprehensive vision care;
• Expands evidence-based home visiting models to every rural community to improve health outcomes for moms and babies.
• Invests in data and IT infrastructure to enhance care coordination and support providers in rural Ohio, such as pharmacies and behavioral health providers.