Health Equity
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.
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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’s 2021 Annual Report Showcases DC Physician Achievements
MSDC’s 2021 accomplishments include increased physician wellbeing resources, major advocacy wins, and a growing and active physician membership. See the brief 2021 Annual Report video and 2021 highlights.
As 2021 comes to a close, the members of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia should be proud of what together they have achieved on behalf of patients and the profession in the District. As professionals dedicated to the practice of medicine in the second year of a grueling pandemic, MSDC’s physician leadership and members demonstrated strong resolve and made great strides on core priorities including physician wellbeing, patient and physician advocacy, and physician membership and impact. Below is a video snapshot and overview of the past year.
See the 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
2021 HIGHLIGHTS
MSDC prioritized physician wellbeing with comprehensive wellness resources, information, and necessary and safe social connection
MSDC is dedicated to providing resources and support for individual physicians in their struggle against burnout, especially during the prolonged pandemic. MSDC launched a Healthy Physician app to put help at physician’s fingertips. The app, available in Google Play and App stores, is filled with wellness tips, inspirational notifications, access to wellness professionals, relevant events, peer messaging options, and a listing of resources. MSDC provided uplifting “dose of wellness” cards to deliver emotional inspiration. MSDC continues to raise awareness on the causes and negative impact of physician burnout and assist struggling physicians.
Understanding the unprecedented burden and isolation that physicians have endured, MSDC hosted safe online and in-person events to restore wellbeing. MSDC celebrated healthcare heroes with an online awards ceremony in the spring and offered wellbeing webinars during the year. After healthcare professionals had ample access to the vaccines, MSDC selectively added safe in-person events including a summer rooftop social, outdoor healthy hour, and a hybrid in-person online annual meeting in the fall.
MSDC leveraged new advocacy tools and physician leadership to yield major advocacy wins and lay the groundwork for success in 2022
The Medical Society provided a multi-pronged approach to advocacy with its highly engaged and inclusive physician-led advocacy, innovative self-driven advocacy curriculum, online forums with DC Councilmembers, and multitude of opportunities to testify at DC Council hearings. This broad blend of opportunities yielded major advocacy wins for the DC physician community on women’s health, tobacco product cessation, and temporary licensure, to name a few. It also laid the foundation for further success in 2022 on interstate licensure reciprocity, physician reimbursement, health equity, and other physician advocacy priorities. (Read more about 2021 physician agenda wins)
Physicians continued to lead the way in educating the public about the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and variants and the science of COVID-19 vaccines. There are countless examples all of which demonstrate physicians’ superior public health credentials and extensive training. MSDC is pleased to share the DC and national physicians who contributed to its vaccine literacy series: Dr. Hana Akselrod of The GW Medical Faculty Associates, AMA liaison to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, and Dr. Melissa Clarke.
MSDC’s physician member community grew in size, diversity, and impact despite unprecedented challenges
MSDC’s membership --now nearly 3,200 members--continues to grow in recognition that, truly, physicians are stronger together. Recognizing the importance of diversity in medicine, MSDC reported on the impact of unconscious bias in medicine. The physician leadership, especially MSDC’s Board of Directors, has grown more diverse and representative of the DC physician population.
The membership has seen significant activity in its sections dedicated to early career physicians, women physicians and private practice physicians. MSDC launched a Private Practice Physicians Section to address the challenges of private practice physicians and leverage the support of MSDC’s growing membership. The rebranded Early Career Physicians Section, led by medical student, resident, and early career physician leaders, convened a delegation to advocate at the AMA Special Meeting in November and offered programs to support professional development and personal wellbeing. The Women in Medicine Section continued to provide women with leadership opportunities, online community, and programs to support the needs of women in medicine. Look for a continuation of programs and resources in all of these sections throughout 2022.
MSDC looks forward to 2022
In reviewing the year that has passed, MSDC President Dr. Nevin shares this final thought, “As we enter 2022 with many unanswered questions and uncertainty, one thing you can depend on (as you have since 1817) is MSDC working every day for physicians, medical students, healthcare professionals and the residents of the District.”
Do not hesitate to contact MSDC (at 202-466-1800 or hay@msdc.org) with your concerns and priorities. There are many opportunities to get involved and supported through MSDC’s communities and programs. The leadership and staff look forward to connecting with you in-person and online in the new year.
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