MSDC Board Creates Awards Committee and Formalizes "BYD"

Medicaid Enrollment Touches 39% of the Residents of The District of Columbia; DC’s 70/30 FMAP is Vital for the Maintenance of Health & Human Services

A reduction in the District’s FMAP would not lead to long-term government savings and would have a ripple effect throughout the entire health system in the DMV, crippling access to care for not only Medicaid beneficiaries but also all those who live, work, and visit the District of Columbia, including members of Congress and their staffs.

Why does DC receive an Enhanced FMAP Rate?

The DC FMAP rate of 70% established by the Revitalization Act resulted from bipartisan analysis, discussion, and negotiation by Congressional leadership aiming to balance fairness with the District’s restricted ability to generate revenue. Congress recognized that the District of Columbia faces unique financial challenges due to its non-state status and the significant amount of federally-owned land within its boundaries. The District is unable to tax non-residents’ earnings, so these workers pay no taxes to support the infrastructure and services, such as roads, public safety and emergency services that they benefit from in the District. The District is also unable to tax up to 40% of the real property within its borders due to statutory restrictions.

Why are we concerned about DC's FMAP now?

Members of Congress have proposed reducing the DC FMAP to the statutory minimum for all other states, which is currently 50% (but could be reduced even more). Such a change would impact every physician and every practice, regardless of type, location, and payers contracted. Even practices who take no insurance will not be able to send patients for specialist care, hospital admissions, or other types of care.

What can MSDC members do?

If you know a member of Congress or staffer, reach out to them and share how DC cuts will hurt your patients.
Share your relationships and outreach with hay@msdc.org so we can help coordinate advocacy efforts.
Email hay@msdc.org if you would like to be paired with a physician member of Congress office and trained by MSDC staff on how to reach out.

Resources

DC FMAP cut fact sheet
California Medical Association fact sheet on Medicaid cuts
MSDC and healthcare association letter to Congress arguing against DC FMAP changes.
MSDC original story on Medicaid changes.

News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues

MSDC Board Creates Awards Committee and Formalizes "BYD"

Feb 25, 2020, 08:06 AM by MSDC Staff

In their first meeting of 2020, the MSDC Board created two new ways for members to engage with the Society.

In its first Board of Directors meeting of the year, the MSDC Board formalized new avenues of member involvement in the Society by formally creating a "Bright Young Docs" section and creating an annual awards committee.

The MSDC Board met on Monday night in the ProAssurance "Benjamin A. Harrison" conference room in Washington, DC. The meeting began with a presentation from the DC Department of Health Care Finance. Medicaid Director/Senior Deputy Director Melisa Byrd presented on the department's major initiatives and solicited ideas and assistance from the Medical Society.

As part of its business for the meeting, the Board created a new Awards Committee. The committee's role is selecting nominees for the four annual awards given at the MSDC annual meeting: the Certificate of Meritorious Service, the Dr. Charles H. Epps III Community Service Award, the Distinguished Service Award, and the John Benjamin Nichols Award.

The Board also formally voted to charter the Bright Young Doctors section. The section, which existed informally for the past twelve months, serves those new to the physician profession or early in their careers. Dr. Matthew Lecuyer was approved as the first chair of the section's governance committee. BYD joins Women in Medicine as MSDC's current sections for physicians.

Other business conducted at the Board meeting included:

The approval of the Society's 2020 Investment Policy Statement for its financial reserves
The approval of a new staff handbook to strengthen staff benefits
Signing off on the Women in Medicine proposed activities for the first half of 2020
Hearing a presentation from Immediate Past President Dr. Raymond Tu on reimbursement differences between inpatient admissions and observation
The announcement of MSDC adding a third delegate to its American Medical Association delegation

The next MSDC Board of Directors meeting will be April 27, 2020 at 6:30 PM. The location will be announced prior to the meeting, and any MSDC member interested in attending may contact Robert Hay Jr. for an invitation.