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

Tech savvy and future focused? MSDC is looking for you

May 22, 2024, 10:30 AM by MSDC Staff

MSDC is seeking help from physicians to plan a future focused, technology based project to fund via a grant.

MSDC is pulling together a working group under the Wellbeing Think Tank to assist with a grant application.

The Society is submitting an application this fall for a grant focused on how technology can drive better healthcare outcomes. The application will include a proposal for new tech that will exist and be available to the larger healthcare workforce for multiple years. Participants in this working group will be able to continue working on the project after/if the grant is accepted; current personal or professional projects could be eligible for consideration for funding through the grant.

Virtual meetings will be held throughout the summer and fall at times convenient to participants. MSDC membership is required to formally participate, but non-MSDC members can serve as guest presenters.

For more information, contact Robert Hay at 2O2-466-18OO or hay@msdc.org.

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.