Health Equity
News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues
25th Council session information coming soon.
Join the physician letter asking for a prior auth hearing
MSDC is again pushing for the DC Council to hold a hearing on legislation to reform prior authorization, in line with recommendations made by the American Medical Association and other national healthcare groups. Last year, Councilmember Mary Cheh introduced this bill, and we have heard another bill may be introduced soon.
Without a hearing, the prior auth legislation cannot move forward for consideration by the Council. A hearing is also an opportunity by the Council to hear how and why prior auth is a burden to local practices. While MSDC has reams of data on national impact, the local impact moves the needle.
Just like last summer, we are asking you to join a physician sign-on letter asking for a hearing on potential legislation. Our hope is that if the bill drops shortly the letter can be used to show the urgency for a hearing.
Use this link to join our letter - the deadline is Tuesday, February 7.
The letter text is below. If you have any questions about prior auth or how to get involved, contact Robert Hay Jr at hay@msdc.org or 2O2-466-18OO.
February 7, 2023
The Honorable Christina Henderson
Chair, Committee on Health
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20004
Dear Chair Henderson,
We, the undersigned
physicians and healthcare professionals, urge you to hold a hearing on prior authorization legislation before the Council recess this summer.
According to a recent Axios article, 40 states are considering legislation to reform prior authorization
practices. The Mayor’s Healthcare Workforce Task Force includes a draft recommendation to reform the practice to prevent healthcare worker burnout and improve retention. Nationally, the movement is to reform a practice that harms patients and
hinders care, and the District needs to be a part of this movement.
A recent American Medical Association (AMA) physician survey on prior auth showed that 93% of physicians report care delays because of prior authorization. The same survey
showed that physician offices spend 13 hours each week (almost two business days) dedicated to prior auth paperwork.
These delays impact our residents and patients daily, leading many to wait unnecessarily for their treatments or choose
to abandon them altogether.
We ask you to hold a hearing on this bill because you and your colleagues need to hear our stories about how prior authorizations negatively impact physicians across the District. We look forward to continuing
to share our stories and working with your office to pass this legislation in 2023.
Sincerely,
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.