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 Publishes 25th Council Report Card
Upon the conclusion of this DC Council session, MSDC published a report card of its wins and progress over the last session. DC Council sessions last two years, so the issues covered are from 2023 and 2024.
Highlighting the report is the immense progress physicians have made in improving the care in the District. Most prominently, MSDC members successfully advocated for one of the most patient-focused prior authorization reform laws in the country. Following the initial bill's passage, physicians again successfully advocated for funding the bill to cover Medicaid and the Alliance.
Other issues covered in the report include:
- Passing the MSDC initiated copay accumulated bill
- Initiating a new Physicians Visit the Council Day advocacy opportunity
- Limiting an onerous scope of practice expansion bill
- Preventing new medical license CME requirements
And more. Read the report using the link below, and access MSDC's 26th Council priorities here.
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.
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