DC Board of Medicine’s Final 2022 Meeting Focuses on Public Health and Licensure December 15, 2022

MSDC attended the DC Board of Medicine’s final open session meeting of 2022 on December 14. The meeting started with a public health reminder that the District still faces multiple public health concerns.  The District continues to monitor COVID-19, RSV, and other emerging and existing threats.  Board of Medicine Chair Dr. Andrea Anderson stressed the importance of staying up-to-date on COVID-19 and other vaccines, even if they are not required, to protect both the public and the health care workforce. COVID-19 testing and resources remain available to the public.

The 2022 physician license renewal cycle is well underway and the December 31, 2022 deadline is just weeks away (See MSDC’s Physician License Renewal Info Center for need-to-know information). MSDC raised a concern to the Board of Medicine that physicians are experiencing delays in receiving their controlled substance (CS) license renewals, which are reviewed individually. Physicians are concerned at the possibility that their licenses will expire and impact their ability to treat patients effective January 1, 2023.  Board of Medicine Executive Director Aisha Nixon indicated that there will be a 60-day grace period for physicians who submit their renewal application by the December 31, 2022, deadline. 

The Board also indicated that it is continuing to move forward with the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and interstate reciprocity.  DC Health expects these initiatives to go live in the District in the 2nd quarter of 2023. MSDC has advocated for streamlined licensure through regional reciprocity and the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

The DC Board of Medicine reported its current licensees. As of December 2022, there were 13,198 physicians (MD, DO) licensed in the District of Columbia. The complete census is as follows: