Health Equity
News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues
25th Council session information coming soon.
MSDC Announces 24th Council Period Advocacy Agenda
With the current Council of DC legislative period approaching its end, MSDC is pleased to announce its advocacy agenda for the next two years.
At its December 7, 2020 Board meeting, the Board unanimously approved the "DC COVID Heroes Advocacy Agenda for 2021-2022". The agenda is modeled after the one the Board approved two years ago and establishes the Society's advocacy priorities during the next Council period. The agenda was updated and reviewed by MSDC's advocacy committee prior to the Board meeting.
As seen below, the agenda focuses on four areas that help make the District "the best place to practice medicine":
- Providing quality care to all
- Protecting all physician practices
- Promoting public health
- Making prescriptions affordable
Most of the priorities remain similar from the 2019-2020 document, as this one seeks to build off of a series of major advocacy wins this Council period. A summary of this session's advocacy successes will be published in the near future.
Making the list this year are a few new or adjusted priorities. While reforming medical liability has always been an MSDC priority, this document spells it out even more explicitly. The agenda also includes language related to MSDC's Wellbeing and Physician Health Programs, advocating for protections for physicians experiencing burnout or addiction. Building off MSDC's strong and early work in medical equality, the agenda includes a priority to address structural racism in medicine. Finally, building off of MSDC's win for biosimilars, the agenda lays out more priorities for making medication accessible and affordable for patients.
MSDC also looks to build on its unprecedented grassroots and testifying record this Council period. MSDC members and physicians who want to become more involved in local advocacy can contact Robert Hay at hay [at] msdc.org.
Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked
What does it say? The bill allows for the administration of medicinal marijuana in schools as well as allows students to bring sunscreen to schools and apply it without a prescription.
MSDC position: MSDC supports the language permitting sunscreen application in schools
Current status: A win for DC physicians and public health! The legislation passed the Council in February and was signed by the Mayor. Previous temporary and emergency legislation permitted students to use sunscreen at schools this school year already.
What does it say? The bill requires DC Health to establish an electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment registry (eMOST).
MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation to more easily allow patients to make their treatment orders known.
Current status: A win for the physician community and our patients! The Council passed the bill in December and the Mayor signed it into law on January 16, 2020.
What does it say? The bill would implement a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on the distribution of "sugary" beverages. The money collected from the tax would establish a Healthy People, Healthy Places Open Spaces Grant Program.
MSDC position: MSDC sent a letter to Council Chair Mendelson asking for a hearing to discuss all of the issues around a beverage tax.
Current status: The bill was introduced October 8, 2019 and referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Committee of the Whole.
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