Advocacy Successes
Physician Advocacy Successes
Good health policy is made with physicians in the discussion.
MSDC, working with its members, partners, and other organizations, has won major policy victories to help its members practice medicine. Below is a sampling of those victories. Do you want to be a vital part of the next policy victory helping improve the health of the District? Contact us today.
Opioid Policy
- MSDC was added to the opioid fund oversight panel by the Council in its legislation authorizing the oversight body
Scope of Practice
- MSDC supported legislation to ban the sale of flavored electronic smoking devices and restrict the sale of electronic smoking devices.
- Working with a coalition, MSDC added funding to the DC budget to support the hiring of more license specialists to help with the delay in processing medical licenses.
Women's Health
- B24-143, to regulate certified midwives, passed the Council with MSDC's support
Health Equity
- Mayor Muriel Bowser signs into law the Electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment Registry Amendment Act of 2019. The eMOST Registry Amendment Act permits the creation of an electronic database of advanced directive wishes for District residents that can be tied into the health information exchange.
- Mayor Bowser signs into law the School Sunscreen Safety Temporary Amendment Act of 2019. The bill permits students to bring and apply sunscreen during the 2019-2020 school year.
- MSDC comments on the importance of funding United Medical Center (UMC) and health facilities in Wards 7 and 8 in the mayor's budget. Those comments are used almost verbatim in CM Trayon White's comments advocating for funding of United Medical Center.
Scope of Practice
- DC Health publishes draft regulations removing the 3 mandatory CME hours for HIV/AIDS awareness and replaces them with a requirement to fulfill 10% of mandatory CME hours with a topic from a public health priority list. DC Health then waived the requirement for 2020.
- The Strengthening Reproductive Health Protections Act of 2020 is signed into law with MSDC support. The bill prohibits government interference in reproductive decisions between a patient and doctor, and prohibits employers from penalizing physicians for practicing reproductive medicine outside of their work hours.
- The Mayor's Commission on Healthcare Systems Transformation releases its final recommendations. One recommendation is for the District to explore options to make providing health care more affordable, including financial relief for higher malpractice insurance rates.
- The Council removes "telephone" from the list of prohibited types of telemedicine to allow physicians and other providers to be reimbursed for telephone telemedicine appointments after MSDC and health community advocacy.
- MSDC worked with the Council to modify onerous language in the Health Care Reporting Amendment Act that potentially would have penalized physicians from seeking help for substance abuse or addiction issues.
Opioid/Drug Policy
- The Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) waives prior authorization for key medication assisted treatments (MAT) treating substance use disorder patients in Medicaid.
- The Mayor signed into law The Access to Biosimilars Amendment Act of 2019, a top MSDC priority as it would help prescribers to prescribe more cost-effective drugs for patients.
Behavioral Health
- The Behavioral Health Parity Act of 2017, a major priority for MSDC and DCPA, officially becomes law. The legislation requires all health benefit plans offered by an insurance carrier to meet the federal requirements of the Wellstone/Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
Health Equity
- The District Council passes B22-1001, The Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Amendment Act of 2018. The bill prohibits the sale of Short Term, Limited Duration health plans and Association Health Plans (AHPs) in the DC Health Benefits Exchange.
Scope of Practice
- DC joins 28 other states in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact with B22-177 becoming law. The IMLC is designed to ease physician licensure in multiple states.
Women's Health
- The Maternal Mortality Review Committee is established by law. The Committee is responsible for finding solutions to maternal health crisis in the District. District physicians are an important part of this vital committee.
- B22-106, The Defending Access to Women's Health Care Services Amendment Act, becomes law. The act requires insurers to cover health care services like breast cancer screening and STI screenings without cost-sharing.
Opioid Policy
- Right before the Council adjourned for the session, it passed B21-32, the Specialty Drug Copayment Limitation Act. The bill limits cost shifting by payers for prescription drugs.
Behavioral Health
- B21-0007 passes the Council. The Behavioral Health Coordination of Care Amendment Act of 2016 permitted the disclosing of mental health information between a mental health facility and the health professional caring for the patient.
Women's Health
- MSDC was proud to have worked on B21-20. The law requires payers to cover up to 12 months of prescription contraception, advancing women's health and equality.
Two Ob/GYNs Selected as Capital Healthcare Honorees
Once again, MSDC is bringing together physicians of all specialties, healthcare leaders and District government officials to celebrate the healthcare community at the Capital Healthcare Honors on Friday evening, May 5, 2023, at the National Press Club. Registration for the uplifting annual DC physician awards celebration is now open at www.msdc.org/CHH.
Among this year’s honorees, two share the specialty of Obstetrics/Gynecology and a dedication to service, but they are unique in their service to the community and the Medical Society.
- Dr. Constance Bohon will be receiving the Dr. Charles H. Epps, III Community Service Award, given in recognition of outstanding public service to the community, for her work on women’s health and maternal health.
- Dr. John Larsen will be recognized posthumously with the Distinguished Service Award, given in recognition of service to the Medical Society, for his mentorship of physician leaders and service to the Medical Society.
Get to know these physicians better below. Don’t forget to register before the early bird deadline!
Constance Bohon, MD, FACOG
Dr. Charles H. Epps, III Community Service Award (in recognition of outstanding public service to the community)
Dr. Constance Bohon is a local and national health leader who has served her community with vigor and compassion. MSDC President Susanne Bathgate, MD, called her “a powerful, steadfast advocate for women and infants, especially in underserved communities.” She is an Ob/Gyn who has not only served numerous patients in the District for more than 25 years, but she has also continuously called for awareness and action on public health issues in service to the community.
Most notably, she marshaled her clinical expertise and advocacy leadership to raise awareness of and demand action on DC’s maternal mortality crisis, leading the District to establish a dedicated work group to evaluate maternal mortality in the District. Dr. Bathgate said, “Her unrelenting concern for health justice and her advocacy expertise were instrumental to the formation of the District’s maternal mortality review committee.”
She has long been advocating for patients in the District and serves as Co-chair of the Legislative and Liability Committee of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In addition to her leadership on maternal mortality, she has worked to ensure maternity care coverage and protect reproductive health. Her public service to the community has bettered the lives of many Washingtonians.
John W. Larsen, MD, FACOG, FACMG
John Larsen, MD (posthumous) – Distinguished Service Award (in recognition of service to the Medical Society)
Dr. John W. Larsen, who served as president of the Medical Society in 2014-2015 and on the MSDC Board of Directors, had “long-lasting affection for the Medical Society and its central role for the DC physician community and physician voice,” according to MSDC President Susanne Bathgate, MD. He was passionate about delivering quality, team-based care for the diverse patients of the District of Columbia.
MSDC President Susanne Bathgate, MD, said that “Dr. John Larsen had a legacy of mentorship and service to the physicians of Washington, D.C. As a mentor to many, myself included, he imparted his love for the profession and his abundant humor and good nature.” He embraced the concept of servant leadership that “you succeed if you help others to succeed.” Dr. Larsen mentored and trained many District physicians, especially Ob/Gyns, through his decades-long tenure at The George Washington University, where he achieved the status of Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
He deeply respected the profession of medicine, which he saw as a calling and a community. During his MSDC Board tenure, he encouraged physicians to take advantage of patient advocacy and leadership opportunities in the Medical Society. At GW Hospital, he is credited with helping to expand access to comprehensive, evidence-based obstetric care. Dr. Larsen is remembered for his spirit of service, community, curiosity, leadership, and good humor.
This award is being given posthumously.
Leave a comment