Behavioral health is a major public health issue in the District of Columbia. Sadly, many of the legislative and regulatory initiatives around behavioral health are tied to other public health concerns, such as opioid addiction, maternal mortality, and health equity.

In partnership with the Washington Psychiatric Society, AMA, and American Psychiatric Association (APA), MSDC works to ensure that patients receive appropriate support for behavioral health issues, that the practice of psychiatry is supported in the District, and that psychiatrists are available to patients in the District.

MSDC was a proud supporter of the Behavioral Health Parity Act of 2017, which enshrined into law that all health plans offered by an insurance carrier meet federal requirements of the Wellstone/Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

MSDC Statements and Testimony of Behavioral Health Issues

25th Council period information coming soon

Vaccine Rollout, Budget Hearings Offer Opportunities for Physician Advocacy

Jan 27, 2021, 09:01 AM by MSDC Staff

Newly announced hearings offer physicians the opportunity to use their advocacy skills on important issues.

The announcements by the DC Council and DC Committee on Health of hearings in the next few months offer physicians an opportunity to speak up on important healthcare issues.

Earlier this week, Committee on Health Chair Vincent Gray announced a two-day hearing on the COVID vaccine rollout strategy. In the hearing notice (see here) the committee states it will, "examine the District’s COVID-19 vaccination process, and will be conducted over a two-day period... Issues that will be discussed include: the effectiveness of the District's vaccinate.dc.gov enrollment portal and call-in number, the enrollment process, communication and outreach, and the equitable prioritization of vaccines."

Anyone interested in testifying is asked to contact the committee by January 28 at 6 PM. Any physician who wishes to testify and would like assistance from MSDC can contact Robert Hay at hay [at] msdc.org or call the MSDC hotline.

In addition, the Council announced this week its 2020-2021 Performance Oversight and 2022 Budget Hearing schedules. These hearings are opportunities for individuals and organizations to draw attention to healthcare issues that are either underfunded, unfunded, or not in the Council's awareness; or to provide comments on the performance of government agencies. Last year, MSDC Board member Laurie Duncan, MBBS, testified during the DC Health performance hearing on the importance of partnership in handling physician wellbeing. Then-President Desiree Pineda also testified in the summer on specific line items in the District budget including the Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program.

The schedule for health agencies is below:

Oversight Hearings
Friday, February 12 – 9 am - 6 pm
Health Benefit Exchange Authority/Department of Behavioral Health

Thursday, March 4 – 9 am - 6 pm
UMC/DMHHS/Department of Health Care Finance

Friday, March 19 – 9 am - 6 pm
Department of Health

Budget Hearings
Friday, April 9 – 9 am - 6 pm
UMC/DMHHS/Department of Health Care Finance

Wednesday, April 28 – 9 am - 6 pm
Department of Health

Friday, April 30 – 9 am - 6 pm
Health Benefit Exchange Authority/Department of Behavioral Health

Anyone interested in testifying and would like assistance from MSDC can contact Robert Hay at hay [at] msdc.org or call the MSDC hotline.

Sample of Legislation MSDC is Tracking in Behavioral Health

(see the whole list of bills here)

Suicide Prevention Continuing Education Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-543)

What does it do? The bill requires licensed health providers to complete 2 hours of CME on suicide prevention, assessment, and screening.

MSDC position: MSDC opposes the bill as written as the language does not encourage physician wellbeing or sufficient awareness of suicide prevention.

Current status: The bill had a hearing with the Committee on Health on June 10.