MSDC Board Creates Awards Committee and Formalizes "BYD"

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.

MSDC Board Creates Awards Committee and Formalizes "BYD"

Feb 25, 2020, 08:06 AM by MSDC Staff

In their first meeting of 2020, the MSDC Board created two new ways for members to engage with the Society.

In its first Board of Directors meeting of the year, the MSDC Board formalized new avenues of member involvement in the Society by formally creating a "Bright Young Docs" section and creating an annual awards committee.

The MSDC Board met on Monday night in the ProAssurance "Benjamin A. Harrison" conference room in Washington, DC. The meeting began with a presentation from the DC Department of Health Care Finance. Medicaid Director/Senior Deputy Director Melisa Byrd presented on the department's major initiatives and solicited ideas and assistance from the Medical Society.

As part of its business for the meeting, the Board created a new Awards Committee. The committee's role is selecting nominees for the four annual awards given at the MSDC annual meeting: the Certificate of Meritorious Service, the Dr. Charles H. Epps III Community Service Award, the Distinguished Service Award, and the John Benjamin Nichols Award.

The Board also formally voted to charter the Bright Young Doctors section. The section, which existed informally for the past twelve months, serves those new to the physician profession or early in their careers. Dr. Matthew Lecuyer was approved as the first chair of the section's governance committee. BYD joins Women in Medicine as MSDC's current sections for physicians.

Other business conducted at the Board meeting included:

The approval of the Society's 2020 Investment Policy Statement for its financial reserves
The approval of a new staff handbook to strengthen staff benefits
Signing off on the Women in Medicine proposed activities for the first half of 2020
Hearing a presentation from Immediate Past President Dr. Raymond Tu on reimbursement differences between inpatient admissions and observation
The announcement of MSDC adding a third delegate to its American Medical Association delegation

The next MSDC Board of Directors meeting will be April 27, 2020 at 6:30 PM. The location will be announced prior to the meeting, and any MSDC member interested in attending may contact Robert Hay Jr. for an invitation.

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.