Opioid Policies

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Much like the rest of the United States, residents of the District of Columbia are struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) rate increases and high rates of opioid-related deaths. Unfortunately, these are multi-faceted issues that require year-long initiatives and systematic programs to address the myriad causes of addiction.

MSDC stands as a partner to the District government and private entities to help arrest the rates of opioid and substance abuse in the District. Through our advocacy for better prescribing practices, education on addiction, and even helping our own community through our Physician Health Program, MSDC is working to make DC a leader in reducing SUD, OUD, and addiction.

On a related note, MSDC is passionate about helping patients make prescriptions and medication more affordable. Whether expanding access to biosimilars or advocating for more affordable co-pays, MSDC wants to help our patients afford the medications they need.

MSDC Statement and Testimony on Opioid and Prescription Issues

25th Council information coming soon

Over 120 Physicians Sign Letter Asking for Prior Auth Hearing

Jun 15, 2022, 09:15 AM by MSDC Staff

The letter asks the Chair to add the prior auth reform bill to the June 27 hearing agenda.

MSDC sent a letter to Committee on Health Chair Vincent Gray on June 14 asking for a hearing on B24-655 before the summer recess. Signing the letter were over 120 DC physicians and healthcare providers representing 21 different zip codes.

The letter was sent because the committee announced a hearing on June 27 to consider four different bills. One of them is MSDC-endorsed B24-557, the Copay Accumulator Amendment Act, on which MSDC and a number of other organizations will be testifying for. As of now, the prior authorization bill is not on the agenda, despite an overwhelming desire from the community for a hearing on this important issue.

B24-655 would enact a number of commonsense reforms adopted by numerous other states when it comes to prior auths. The bill would require a medical reason for the prior auth, ensuring appropriate medical professionals are doing the utilization reviews, set a standard time for insurers to honor the issued prior auths, and more. The bill is modeled after American Medical Association (AMA) model language and has been reviewed by MSDC and numerous other medical associations. The legislation would be the most positively impactful bill for medicine in years.

Physicians, healthcare providers, and patients interested in getting involved can visit msdc.org/priorauth to learn more. MSDC encourages everyone interested to testify on behalf of B24-557 on June 27 and, if it is added, B24-655.

The text of the letter is below:

June 14, 2022

The Honorable Vincent Gray

Chair, Committee on Health

Council of the District of Columbia

1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington DC 20004

Dear Chair Gray,

We, the undersigned physicians and healthcare professionals, urge you to hold a hearing before the Council summer recess on B24-655, the Prior Authorization Reform Amendment Act.

The Prior Authorization Reform Amendment Act aligns DC with other states in regulating a practice that severely harms our ability to treat our patients.

The recent American Medical Association (AMA) physician survey on prior auth showed that 93% of physicians report care delays because of prior authorization. The same survey showed that physician offices spend 13 hours each week (almost two business days) dedicated to prior auth paperwork.

These delays impact our residents and patients daily, leading many to wait unnecessarily for their treatments or choose to abandon them altogether.

We ask you to hold a hearing on this bill because you and your colleagues need to hear our stories about how prior authorizations negatively impact physicians across the District. We look forward to continuing to share our stories and working with your office to pass this legislation in 2022.

Sincerely

Alan W Stone

Alicia R. G. Khan

Allison Jackson

Aminah Jones, MD MPH, FAAFP

Amir Meiri, MD MPH

Andrea Hulse-Johnson, DO

Andres Barkil

Anirban Ganguli

Anjali Malik, MD

Ann Medinger MD, FACP

Anna BuAbbud

Anne Siegel

Anthony Scialli, M.D.

Ashesh D. Patel, MD FACP

Barry Fisher, MD

Barry J Landau. M. D.

Bhumika Gandhi MD

Brian Epling

Caren Palese, MD

Caroline Wing Wohlgemuth MD

Carolyn Wakeman, MD

Catherine Chow

Catherine S May, MD

Celina Brunson

Chan Dang-Vu, MD

Cheryl Iglesia MD

Christian Moser, MD

Colin Stewart, MD

Constance E. Dunlap MD

Dale Isaacson MD

Dana Mueller

Daniel W. Hicks

DeAndra Jamerson

Deborah Abramsky, CNM, MPH

Dianne Reynolds, M.D.

Dr J Kupersmith

Dr Poonam Maru

Dr. Adam Miramon

Earl H. Harley, M.D.

Ebony Hoskins

Eduardo Fox, MD

Elizabeth Hoge

Evelyn M Karson PhDMD

Fatemeh Milani, MD

Feseha Woldu

Francis Chucker MD

Frederick Jacobsen, MD

Gelane Workneh MD

H Jeffry Kim

Harshkumar Patel

Helain J. Landy, MD

Hojin Lee

Insiya Nasrulla

J Desiree Pineda MD

James A. Simon, MD

James Cobey, MD

James F. Loomis, MD

Jason Wexler

Jaya Kasaraneni

Jeff Bostic

Jessica Schroeder MD, MPH

Jillian G. Evans

John M Stewart

Joseph M Houston, M.D.

JULIAN CRAIG

Justen Ahmad, MD

Karen Anderson

KAREN B MAZIE

Karen R Myers MD FACP

Kenneth C. Ullman, MD.,D.L.F.A.P.A.,P.C.

Kirstiaan Nevin

Kristina Andersson

Leslie Goransson, MD

Luis Dominguez

Madhumathi Rao

Mani Yavi, M.D.

Mansi Kotwal

Mark J. Smith M.D.

Mark M Sklar

Matthew Lecuyer

Mayada Akil MD

Megan M. Lockwood, MD

Meghan Schott

Melissa Loughney, M.D.

Melvin W Williams MD

Michael Goldstein

Michael Morse MD

Michael Nidel

MOHAMMED Kabir Abubakar

Ndidi Obichere

Neal D. Barnard, MD, FACC

Nehal S Naik, MD

Nicholas Hazen

Nicole Chappell

Nora Galil MD

Paul Doherty, MD

Pauline Tsai, MD

Punam Thakkar

Raihanahmed Chowdhury

Randi Rubovits-Seitz

Richard A Ratner, MD

Richard A. Chefetz, M.D.

Richard D. Zorowitz, M.D.

Ritika Gadodia

robert keisling M.D.

Ronald M. Costell, M.D.

Sara L Imershein MD MPH

Sean Kenmore, MD, MS

Sean Pustilnik, M.D.

Seiji Hayashi, MD, MPH

Shaitalya Vellanki, MD

Shalini Sitzmann DO

Siva Subramanian

Sonia D. Silinsky Krupnikova

Stephanie Kubala

STEPHANY A MCGANN

Stephen M Weissman

Susan D Stein, MD

Susanne Bathgate MD

Sylvia R. Medley, MD, MPH

Tara Palmore, M.D.

Tiffany Wilson

Walter P. Bland, M.D., LFAPA

William Cohen, M.D.

William Smith

Xiaoxi Ouyang

Sample of Legislation MSDC Tracked on Opioid and Prescription Policy

Access to Biosimilars Amendment Act (B23-430)

What does it do? The bill authorizes licensed pahrmacists to dispense interchangeable biological products and requires notifications to physicians when such interchangeables are dispensed.

MSDC position: MSDC has a position of priority support on this legislation, identifying its passage as one of its highest legislative priorities.

Current status: SUCCESS. The bill was passed by the Council and signed by the Mayor.

Opioid Labeling Amendment Act (B23-535)

What does it do? The bill requires prescription opioid medications to include a statement that the drug is an opioid and opioids may cause dependence, addiction, or overdoes.

MSDC position: MSDC supports the legislation.

Current status: The bill had a hearing before the Committee on Health on July 29, 2020. MSDC leader Dr. Sam Kareff testified for the Medical Society. It passed the Council on November 10 and was signed by the Mayor December 7.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Insurance Discrimination Amendment Act (B23-36)

What does it do? The bill prohibits insurance companies from factoring the use of PreP in decisions related to disability, life, or long-term care policies.

MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation

Current status: The bill was introduced on January 8, 2019 and assigned to the Committee on Business and Economic Development.