The West Virginia State Legislature is considering a bill (WV S.B. 714) that eliminates the osteopathic (DO) medical board and transfers the regulation and discipline of DOs to the allopathic (MD) medical board. While DOs and MDs complete the same comprehensive medication education, DOs complete additional training in osteopathic principles and practice – unique competencies that benefit patients and are properly assessed by a board comprised of other DOs.
The West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine (WVBOM) has been efficiently and effectively regulating DOs for over 100 years, and that it is financially self-sustaining; therefore, there is no benefit to the state or taxpayers if the bill is passed. Further, while the MD board processes applications and complaints quarterly, the WVBOM does so on a rolling basis, which facilitates timely entry into—and continued—practice for qualified DOs in the state.
The AOA and the West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association (WVOMA) launched a grassroots campaign encouraging DOs in West Virginia to oppose this legislation. Eliminating professional self-regulation for DOs disregards the profession’s unique contributions to the health and well-being of West Virginians, particularly those in underserved areas and populations, and could disrupt the continued delivery of timely, high-quality osteopathic health care in the state. The AOA and WVOMA will continue to monitor this bill through the legislative process.