MSDC Sends DC Government Guidance on Vital COVID-19 Issues to Address

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 Sends DC Government Guidance on Vital COVID-19 Issues to Address

Mar 19, 2020, 10:21 AM by MSDC staff

MSDC issued guidance to the DC government on major COVID-19 areas of concerns for physicians.

On Wednesday, March 18, MSDC President J. Desiree Pineda, MD, FACP, sent a letter to DC Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt, MD, MPH. The letter contained a summary of the vigorous outreach MSDC has done to gather feedback and gaps in knowledge physicians are experiencing. The letter also included a guidance document suggesting solutions to the problems and offering MSDC resources in specific areas.

MSDC held two virtual townhalls, created a dedicated COVID-19 site, and held numerous one-on-one conversations with physicians in the past week to identify where the physician community could most use resources and information.

You can read the letter here and guidance document here.

The gaps identified and solutions proposed include:

Providing guidance for physician offices to treat patients without unnecessarily exposing other patients and staff to COVID-19
Expanding telemedicine regulations to keep patients out of health care facilities
Coordinating independent testing facilities so physician offices and hospitals struggling to procure PPE do not need to test patients

In the coming days MSDC will be sharing new resources and partnerships designed to help physicians during the COVID-19 emergency. Please contact MSDC staff with questions, concerns, or suggestions through our COVID-19 page or email.

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.