Behavioral Health
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
MSDC Board Looks Back on Productive Past and Ahead to Bright Future
The Medical Society of DC Board of Directors met on Monday with an agenda full of planning for the year ahead but recognizing the achievements of the past 12 months.
For the second time, the Board met in a hybrid format. Board members in person got to visit the MSDC office on Pennsylvania Avenue while other Board members participated via Zoom.
As they do at every December meeting, the MSDC Board members elected their officers for the upcoming year. Annually, the Board votes on executive committee positions not elected by MSDC members and chosen from the members of the Board. The following individuals were elected by unanimous vote:
J. Desiree Pineda, MD - Chair, Board of Directors
Laurie Duncan, MBBS - Secretary
Raymond K. Tu, MD - Treasurer
Matthew Lecuyer, MD - At-large member of the Executive Committee
The meeting also had a guest presentation by American College of Physicians (ACP) Governor Shmuel Shoham, MD and DC Chapter Advocacy Chair Lawrence Klein, MD. Drs. Shoham and Klein outlined ACP-DC's priorities for the upcoming year and led a discussion on how MSDC and ACP-DC can collaborate on issues. Another guest was Physician Health Committee Chair Charles Samenow, MD, who updated the Board on the Committee's activities.
As part of the meeting, the Board discussed some of the achievements of the past year, including:
- Creation of a new Private Practice Physician Section
- Creation of an Advocacy Curriculum
- Introduction of MSDC Wellbeing App
- Surpassing 3,100 members
The next meeting of the Board of Directors is February 28, 2022, at MSDC's offices.
Sample of Legislation MSDC is Tracking in Behavioral Health
(see the whole list of bills here)
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.
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