Health Equity
News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues
25th Council session information coming soon.
Join the MSDC Prior Auth Sign-On Letter
MSDC wants to make it clear - a hearing on prior authorization is excellent, but it is not the end. The hearing must lead to meaningful reform via legislation being marked up and sent to the Council.
That's why MSDC is asking physicians, practices, and organizations to join our letter. The letter does two things - it thanks the committee for holding the hearing and urges a quick mark-up of the bill. The sooner the bill works its way through DC's long legislative process, the quicker reform can be enacted.
The text of the letter is below and on the sign-up form.
The deadline to sign the letter is May 19 by 5 PM ET. That will allow us to deliver the letter to the committee before the hearing.
Physicians and supporters are encouraged to testify at the hearing for B25-124 on May 24. Those interested in learning more or seeking assistance from MSDC can contact hay@msdc.org or call 202-466-1800.
Sign on to letter
May 23, 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, thank you for holding a hearing on B25-124, the Prior Authorization Reform Act. At the hearing, you will hear numerous stories of how prior authorization is harming patient care, driving up health care costs,
and burning out physicians and providers. For these reasons, we urge your committee to mark up this legislation as soon as possible and send it to the full Council.
A recent American Medical Association (AMA) physician survey on prior auth
showed that:
• 93% of physicians report care delays because of prior authorization.
• 80% of physicians report that prior authorizations can at least sometimes lead to treatment abandonment.
• 1/3rd of surveyed physicians
report a prior authorization led to a serious adverse event for a patient
• Physicians and staff spend almost 2 business days (14 hours) each week completing prior authorizations.
We thank you for holding a hearing on this bill
because you and your colleagues need to hear our stories about how prior authorizations negatively impact physicians and medical practices across the District. After the hearing, we ask you to work as quickly as possible to markup the bill so DC can
join 40 other states in reforming the prior authorization process.
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.