Health Equity

Home / Advocacy / Important Issues / Health Equity
HUwhitecoats
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 Quarantine List Now Up To 42 States

Nov 2, 2020, 07:25 AM by MSDC Staff
DC Health updated its quarantine list by adding California, Oregon, and New Jersey.


On Monday, DC Health published its up-to-date list of states requiring a quarantine for individuals (1) visiting from the states or (2) District residents who had traveled to the states. With national numbers spiking and the U.S. setting records for daily infections, it is no surprise that three states were added to the quarantine list and none were removed:

  • California
  • New Jersey
  • Oregon

This means anyone visiting or visiting from those states must quarantine for 2 weeks when coming into the District. Now 42 of eligible 48 states are on the list. Maryland and Virginia are exempt from the quarantine list.

DC Health defines “high-risk areas” as locations where the seven (7)-day moving average daily new COVID-19 case rate is ten (10) or more per one hundred thousand (100,000) persons.

An updated list will be published Monday, November 16.

Currently, the following are states that DO NOT require a visitor to quarantine for 14 days:

Hawaii
New Hampshire
New York
Maine
Maryland
Vermont
Virginia
Washington

    Load more comments
    avatar
    New code

    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.