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On Wednesday, MSDC President Dr. Dock Winston testified in favor of B25-948. The bill would improve the certificate of need process by, among other things, exempting small practices and changes practices made that do not significantly expand their office. The legislation builds off of advocacy done by MSDC members after multiple small practices complained to MSDC that they received certificate of need process notifications for making changes as simple as staff hiring and office changes.

Below is the testimony from Dr. Winston and co-signed by MSDC President Dr. Ashesh Patel.

October 9, 2024
 
Councilmember Christina Henderson
Chair, Committee on Health
1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004
 
Dear Chair Henderson,
 
The Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) is the largest medical organization representing metropolitan Washington physicians in the District. We advocate on behalf of all 11,000 plus licensed physicians in the District and seek to make the District the nation’s model for patient care and physician practice.

We appreciate the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the Society in favor of B25-948, the Certificate of Need Improvement Amendment Act. First, we want to thank the Committee for holding a hearing on this issue and for Councilmembers Henderson, Lewis George, Bonds, Allen, and Parker for introducing the bill. We also want to commend DC Health and Director Terri Thompson’s office for engaging with the Medical Society on this issue even in areas where we have disagreed.

The Society has been concerned with the interpretation of the statute governing certificate of need and its impact on DC medical practices. MSDC has heard instances of independent practices receiving certificate of need inquiries for basic changes such as replacing a physician or altering an exam room, which is well beyond the usual scope of a certificate of need. While the District has a robust, vibrant, and innovative healthcare system, our small geography means the District needs to constantly ensure its statutes and regulations are competitive with Maryland and Virginia. Asking practices to hire an attorney and spend thousands of dollars to see if they need to undergo the certificate of need process makes it easier to decide to relocate your practice a few miles over the border.

In particular, we want to highlight the bill’s definitions which exempt practices of certain sizes and patient care types from the certificate of need processes. Equating building a new hospital with redoing a waiting room is preposterous, and exempting smaller practices allows them to innovate and improve patient care without worrying about added paperwork and expense.

Please reach out to the MSDC office if our membership can be of assistance on this or any issue. We look forward to working with you and the Committee to make the District the nation’s model for patient care and physician practice.

Sincerely,

Ashesh D. Patel, MD, FACP
President, Medical Society of DC

Dock Winston, MD
President-Elect, Medical Society of DC