We Tackled Hot-Button Issues Above and Beyond Liability Reform

Although MSDC concentrated on medical liability reform in 2005, it did not neglect a host of important issues impacting the DC physician community:

"Don't Tax Health Care to Pay for Baseball!" Coined

MSDC warned the DC Council of unintended consequences of the gross receipts tax on health care, and advocated for an exemption for physicians.  We also convinced the DC Council to raise the threshold for those impacted by a gross receipts fee from $4 million to $5 million. 

NCRIC Merger with ProAssurance Supported

MSDC testified in support of the merger between NCRIC and ProAssurance, noting that it is good for DC physicians and their patients.  We emphasized that it is imperative to have a strong, financially sound company providing liability insurance to the physicians of the Nation's Capital.  In 2005, we renewed a three-year endorsement deal with NCRIC, Inc., resulting in reduced MSDC membership dues for NCRIC insureds.

Details on Proposed National Capital Medical Center Requested

When a proposal was made to build a National Capital Medical Center on the site formerly occupied by DC General, MSDC requested additional information to get a better sense of how the proposed entity would impact DC physicians and the City's healthcare infrastructure.  In July 2005, MSDC noted that the Center would improve patient access to health care, but potential adverse effects remained unclear.

Adequate Funding for Board of Medicine Recommended

When the Board of Medicine came under attack in 2005, the Medical Society encouraged the DC government to re-think the Board's budget so that it would be better-positioned to perform all activities the City and DC residents expect of it.

Inappropriate Release of Physician Information Not Recommended

In a recommendation to the Department of Health, MSDC went on record in opposition to the indiscriminate release of malpractice information about physicians.  We encouraged the Board of Medicine to "look for repeat offenders, recurrent patterns of injury and sanctionable behavior."

AMA Pay-for-Performance Position Supported

In March 2005, MSDC endorsed the American Medical Association's new set of principles and guidelines for the formation and implementation of pay-for-performance programs.