Kevin Chavous
Medical Society of the District of Columbia Political Action Committee (DOCPAC) questionnaire

I was a proud co-sponsor, along with Councilmember Allen, of this legislation. I support additional amendments that would address other consumer and patient protection issues that would strengthen this bill — which in effect ultimately is the D.C. Healthcare Bill of Rights.

I support the President’s Consumer Bill of Rights and favor having some of the consumer and patient protections which are a part of the President’s bill included in the D.C. Healthcare Bill of Rights.

2. In Council Period XI, the Council enacted legislation to regulate HMO’s (Law 11-235). The Department of Insurance and Securities Regulation is currently drafting regulations to implement the law. Do you have any comments regarding issues that should be covered by these regulations?

Although the Insurance Commission has not yet promulgated regulations to enforce the act, the various issues I feel need to be covered by the regulations are as follows: ensure that there are quality assurance mechanisms in the medicinal and administrative operations of HMO’s; options should be made available to HMO patients with regard to expanding access and choice to health care; and the regulations governing HMO’s should effect the appeals and grievance procedures for patients with the D.C. Department of Health administering the appeals and grievance procedure process.

3. There are many parts of the city that are currently considered underserved by physicians. Do you have a plan for attracting and retaining physicians to the District of Columbia and more specifically to these underserved areas?

I believe that in order to make the District population healthier than it is today, District residents must have greater access to health care services. Greater access will only happen if the services are available where they are needed. This will occur if the physicians and other providers are physically located where the patients are or can get to. Service providers will be more willing to come to some of these underserved areas if they are assured of receiving some level of satisfactory compensation for the services provided. It is important for District officials to understand that to improve outcomes, you must expand access and coverage at the same time.

I believe that health care access can be improved with the utilization of an integrated delivery system. A truly effective one will involve the use the neighborhood-based facilitates. There must also be some kind of “draw.” One has to create a system whereby residents have to utilize the facility. For such to happen, these health centers must provide other services — such as comprehensive health care (family practice, geriatric, dental, optometry, etc.).

4. What do you think needs to be done to ensure a viable future for the Public Benefit Corporation, including the hospital and its community clinics?

I believe that a concerted effort must be made to ensure that the Public Benefits Corporation is successful. As a traditional safety-net facility, it is still a critical piece of the total effort aimed at improving the health of District residents. As we try to change the mindset of the population to make them more preventive-oriented, the District must continue to provide key “crisis-oriented” services to our underserved population. The safety-net facilitates, which include non-profit clinics and federally funded clinics, must be supported.

I also support all efforts to make sure that the District of Columbia keeps D.C. General and other hospitals open. Supporting them with adequate continuing medical education, medical training programs and attractive compensation packages are key to all survival efforts.

5. Do you support legislation to implement medical liability reform? Do you support limits on recover of non-economic damages? Please elaborate as to your reasons why.

I support medical liability reform and I hold HMO’s liable for patient negligence and malpractice.

6. In your opinion, what are the biggest issues facing the physician community today?

In my opinion, two (2) of the biggest issues facing physicians today include the following:

• Impact of managed care to provide quality health care for patients.
• Fee rate per encounter for Medicare, Medicaid, and third-party insurance plans are not sufficient to cover the cost of providing quality health care to patients.

7. What message would you deliver to organized medicine in the District?

As a profession dedicated to providing quality health care and also advocating preventive health care, I support and want to work with you to:

• increase access to needed health care specialists, emergency rooms and other needed care.
• restore doctor-patient relationships.
• hold insurance plans accountable for medical decisions.
• ensure continuity in patient care.

8. If elected, what would be your top five (5) priorities?

My priorities will focus on the fact that all of the neighborhoods and communities of Washington, D.C., must be stabilized, protected, served and enhanced. Our neighborhoods and the people who live there are the heart and soul of the District of Columbia. Residents are our single largest source of revenue. It is important that all of the neighborhoods and communities of Washington, D.C., be brought together with the goal of working together for the common good.

Therefore, my priorities will be multi-faceted in that policies, budgets and programs will focus and take off on several tracks simultaneously in order to begin the process of guaranteeing quality health care that meets the health care needs of citizens of the District of Columbia; re-establishing good schools and libraries with good teachers and administrators; retaining and attracting businesses that serve residents and create jobs; ensuring efficient and well managed District government agencies; creating safe and secure public streets and public spaces; and spearheading pro-active economic development that makes sense for all communities and neighborhoods in the District.