Behavioral Health
Behavioral health is a major public health issue in the District of Columbia. Sadly, many of the legislative and regulatory initiatives around behavioral health are tied to other public health concerns, such as opioid addiction, maternal mortality, and health equity.
In partnership with the Washington Psychiatric Society, AMA, and American Psychiatric Association (APA), MSDC works to ensure that patients receive appropriate support for behavioral health issues, that the practice of psychiatry is supported in the District, and that psychiatrists are available to patients in the District.
MSDC was a proud supporter of the Behavioral Health Parity Act of 2017, which enshrined into law that all health plans offered by an insurance carrier meet federal requirements of the Wellstone/Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
MSDC Statements and Testimony of Behavioral Health Issues
25th Council period information coming soon
MSDC Board Approves Gender Equity Compensation Survey, Policy
One year after creating a task force to explore the issue, the MSDC Board of Directors approved a plan to further study gender inequality in physician compensation as well as endorse a series of actions to promote gender equality in DC medicine.
Impact: The Board has focused MSDC work over the next year on educating physicians and health systems on ensuring there is equality in compensation and treatment for all physicians.
Background: The task force's report was one agenda item discussed at the Board of Director's first meeting of 2023. Last year, it created a Gender Equity Task Force with the mission to study what data was known about gender inequality in medicine in DC, and how to address it.
The task force found data from national studies but none specifically for the District.
They recommended the following actions, all of which were adopted:
- Extend the task force for another year to complete its work
- Endorse the AMA's policy on Gender Disparities in Physician Income and Advancement
- Endorse legislation in DC promoting gender equality in medicine
- Create a plan to ensure equitable representation in the Society's volunteer leadership
- Develop gender equity training and add to MSDC website
- Conduct a compensation survey with partners to explore inequality in physician compensation.
What else? Last night the Board also approved hiring Global Navigators to conduct its strategic planning sessions. The Board also approved an updated Investment Policy Statement and heard an update from the Membership Committee on its proposed tiered membership.
Sample of Legislation MSDC is Tracking in Behavioral Health
(see the whole list of bills here)
What does it do? The bill requires licensed health providers to complete 2 hours of CME on suicide prevention, assessment, and screening.
MSDC position: MSDC opposes the bill as written as the language does not encourage physician wellbeing or sufficient awareness of suicide prevention.
Current status: The bill had a hearing with the Committee on Health on June 10.