DC Health Releases 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment

Being a physician in the District in the 21st century means being on the front line of the most pressing public health issues in the world. In our small geographic boundaries, physicians help address issue found in every state all in one area. The issues are too lengthy to list on one webpage but physicians are on the front lines of addressing health issues for all District residents.

News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues

25th Council session information coming soon.

DC Health Releases 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment

Feb 20, 2020, 08:06 AM by MSDC staff

The DC Health report is a snapshot of the District's overall health through various metrics.

DC Health released its 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) last week which showed that the District is meeting some, but not all, of its public health goals.

The purpose of the CHNA, according to the department, is to comprehensively analyze the overall health status and quality of life for District residents. The assessment "serves as a resource that catalogs the District's existing assets, healthcare services and facilities, public health infrastructure, community partnerships mobilized to address priority needs, promising practices and policies, population health data, and funding opportunities.

Read the executive summary here, the description of the District's population as a whole here, and health outcomes data here.

Some of the top line data that will be of interest to District physicians include:

DC Health considers its Substance Use target as "met", with a 13.6% increase in the proportion of persons with co-occurring SUD and mental disorders receiving treatment for both disorders (target = 12.4%)
Areas with health indicators getting "worse" include mental health and mental disorders, injury and violence prevention, clinical preventative services (focused on patient control of diabetes), and LGBTQ health
Maternal mortality statistics show little or no change towards meeting 2020 goals
The District's overall population has increased by 14% since 2010 and has the third youngest population in the U.S. (median age = 34)
The difference in lief expectancy between a Ward 3 resident and a Ward 8 resident is 16.5 years (86 v. 70.5 years)

Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked

Student Access to Treatment Amendment Act (B23-467)

What does it say? The bill allows for the administration of medicinal marijuana in schools as well as allows students to bring sunscreen to schools and apply it without a prescription.

MSDC position: MSDC supports the language permitting sunscreen application in schools

Current status: A win for DC physicians and public health! The legislation passed the Council in February and was signed by the Mayor. Previous temporary and emergency legislation permitted students to use sunscreen at schools this school year already.

Electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment Registry Amendment Act (B23-261)

What does it say? The bill requires DC Health to establish an electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment registry (eMOST).

MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation to more easily allow patients to make their treatment orders known.

Current status: A win for the physician community and our patients! The Council passed the bill in December and the Mayor signed it into law on January 16, 2020.

Healthy Beverage Choices Amendment Act (B23-495)

What does it say? The bill would implement a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on the distribution of "sugary" beverages. The money collected from the tax would establish a Healthy People, Healthy Places Open Spaces Grant Program.

MSDC position: MSDC sent a letter to Council Chair Mendelson asking for a hearing to discuss all of the issues around a beverage tax.

Current status: The bill was introduced October 8, 2019 and referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Committee of the Whole.