Health Equity
News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues
25th Council session information coming soon.
DC Board of Medicine Meets, Discusses Issues Where MSDC Is Leading
MSDC attended the June 29 meeting of the DC Board of Medicine. As part of its meeting, there was a government affairs report on bills moving through the DC Council which impact the DC Board of Medicine. These include:
- Consent for Vaccinations of Minors Emergency Amendment Act of 2022 (Bill 24-890). This emergency legislation allows certain minors to seek CDC-approved vaccines without consent of a parent or legal guardian if a reasonable attempt is made to obtain such consent. The “reasonable attempt” requirement aims to address challenges from a federal judge who barred enforcement of DC’s existing law allowing minors to obtain vaccines without parental consent. The legislation was crafted using recommendations from the MSDC-led Minor Consent for Treatment Working Group created by the Committee on Health.
- Protecting Health Professionals Providing Reproductive Health Care Amendment Act of 2022 (Bill 24-830). This recently introduced bill would “prohibit disciplinary measures against licensed health professionals solely for providing abortion and reproductive health care services to patients who live in states where the services are illegal.” As introduced, the bill would prevent disciplinary action against a doctor, so long as the physician is acting within scope of practice. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Health. On a related note, see MSDC’s primer on abortion law in the District.
- High Need Health Care Careers Scholarship and Healthcare Loan Repayment Program Emergency Act (B24-852) Legislation passed the Committee of the Whole on emergency basis to establish scholarships and a support program “for the purpose of increasing the number of healthcare workers in high-need healthcare careers in the District by providing supports and services to individuals who agree to serve as such workers in the District.” The emergency legislation is under Mayoral review and permanent legislation to expand the program may be forthcoming.
On a related note, MSDC is a member of the DC Healthcare Workforce Task Force, which makes recommendations to the Mayor on the strategies and investments necessary to address current supply and demand challenges in the healthcare workforce.
The Board Chair indicated that she plans to review Federation of State Medical Boards policy on provider misinformation at a future meeting.
The DC Board of Medicine also reported its current licensees. As of June 2022, there were 12,628 physicians (MD, DO) licensed in the District of Columbia. The complete census is as follows:
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.