We want your prior auth stories

Being a physician in the District in the 21st century means being on the front line of the most pressing public health issues in the world. In our small geographic boundaries, physicians help address issue found in every state all in one area. The issues are too lengthy to list on one webpage but physicians are on the front lines of addressing health issues for all District residents.

News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues

25th Council session information coming soon.

We want your prior auth stories

Jun 30, 2022, 10:39 AM by MSDC staff

Send MSDC your prior auth stories to help us pass the prior authorization reform bill.

The #FixDCPriorAuth campaign continues.

As the summer heat sets into DC, it is more critical than ever to remind the Council, Bowser administration, and public that prior authorizations harm care and real reform can be passed this year. One of the most effective ways to do this is to make it clear that prior authorizations harm all kinds of patient care. Often people have one or two personal experiences with a prior auth, but they may not realize that it touches every part of medicine.

To help make clear how widespread prior auths are, send us your stories about how a prior authorization impacted you, your patient, or your practice.

We will keep you anonymous (or share your name if you want) but we will use these stories to show policymakers, the media, and the public how important of an issue this is. We will also include them on our Prior Auth Reform page.

Below are some examples we have already collected. Send your examples to hay@msdc.org:

My patient was denied access to a particular birth control pill she had been on successfully before, and my office was told she needed to try and fail on 5 different generic pills before she could be approved. - OB/GYN

I spent 90 minutes of time with the prior authorization department and an additional 30 minutes with the pharmacy and the patient all because they changed their formulary and would not "grandfather him in". - Psychiatrist

Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked

Student Access to Treatment Amendment Act (B23-467)

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.

Electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment Registry Amendment Act (B23-261)

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.

Healthy Beverage Choices Amendment Act (B23-495)

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.