Health Equity
News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues
25th Council session information coming soon.
MSDC Board of Directors Discusses Equitable Pay in Medicine, Unconscious Bias
The MSDC Board of Directors held wide-ranging discussing on major equity issues in medicine at its first Board meeting of 2021.
The Board welcomed new member Matthew Lecuyer, MD, an emergency pediatric medicine physician at Children's National Hospital. Dr. Lecuyer is an alternate delegate for the MSDC American Medical Association delegation and join EW Emanuel, MD as one of MSDC's two new alternates.
The Board heard a presentation by the American Medical Women's Association on "Addressing Gender Based Pay Disparities in the Medical Community". DC native Medha Reddy, a first year medical student and AMWA volunteer, discussed how MSDC could be involved in the movement for equitable pay in the medical community. The Board engaged in the discussion and asked Ms. Reddy to work with the Women in Medicine Section to plan next steps and recommendations on this ask.
The Board also heard updates on two of its major initiatives. Unconscious Bias in DC Medicine Task Force Chair Dr. Lecuyer shared the executive summary of the Task Force's paper and walked through high-level analysis of their data [n.b. receive a summary at the March 10 webinar on the task force's work]. Dr. Emanuel also shared analysis of the Membership Task Force's survey data and implications for a potential new membership model.
The Board also took the following actions, among others:
- Renamed the PLAN Committee as the Advocacy Committee
- Adopted the Investment Policy Statement for 2021
- Approved the Awards Committee's recommendation for 2020 MSDC award winners
- Approved the creation of an Industry Committee
The next MSDC Board meeting is April 19, 2021.
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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