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

Committee on Health Passes Prior Auth Reform Bill

Sep 26, 2023, 13:24 PM by MSDC Staff

Today marks a major step in passing DC's first bill to completely regulate the prior auth process within the District.

On Tuesday, the Committee on Health marked-up and passed B25-124, the Prior Authorization Reform Amendment Act.

B25-124 is MSDC's highest priority and would enact reasonable limits on prior authorization for the first time ever in the District. Today moves the bill one step closer to reality.

Currently the District is one of only nine states without any prior authorization restrictions in law. This bill would, among other things, prevent prior auths for cost alone, set time limits for prior auth considerations, prohibit prior auth for emergency care and medication assisted treatment, and require insurers to publish prior auth guidance publicly.

The marked-up bill makes some changes to the original bill:

Exempt Medicaid plans from the prohibition on prior auth solely due to cost to permit substitutes from drug formularies.
Prohibit prior auth for medication assisted treatment.
Permit DHCF to review prior authorizations at a different schedule than private insurers.
Among others.

The next step is for the Council Chair (Phil Mendelson) to add the bill to the Council's legislative agenda. If the bill is added to the consent agenda, it requires two votes. If the bill is added to the regular agenda, it will require three. The Chair noted today that, despite this bill being circulated since last year, the Department of Behavioral Health and Department of Healthcare Finance have finance concerns that may require appropriations to enact certain provisions.

For more information about the bill and how to be engaged with the process, visit msdc.org/priorauth.

Sample of Legislation MSDC is Tracking in Behavioral Health

(see the whole list of bills here)

Suicide Prevention Continuing Education Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-543)

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.