[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6649691,"mediaKeyId","2519193-73f5e1eeb37fb564768d57571ac3f8a0","parentId",2519193,"title","Council hearing reviews four licensing boards' FY24–FY25 performance and HORA implementation","audioSeconds",556,"startMs",2487000,"endMs",3043000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519193-73f5e1eeb37fb564768d57571ac3f8a0&start=2487&end=3043","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519193-73f5e1eeb37fb564768d57571ac3f8a0/thumbnail_2487000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6649691/Council-hearing-reviews-four-licensing-boards-FY24FY25-performance-and-HORA-implementation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649691-6e9ea7d9851407ef40962e982345fbe7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448431&Signature=W2QH-32CVyC6bv-YYxOEGkr6-SugZj-afFO6th9xlPUF86ffHAp7O~tQEn4B4aLJoV14TO7Bcv-GQM3KAhFm~7fFwNpMFoNWFTLVRjMJWNzBljnMgRA-t9WosJcq-Epw13ArJ~p-GOMjaqplb0iu2Sd89OxH59gpMhMAygEqbuiFdCi8Cr6lMdj45MWUCx2aM8WifhpLhTMIKMXC5RiOZh6NQltqciDPU~uAhEwWc7L~fD4E7d2648w8BTjfKelZiIba0IATBna-POuSrVOnDAr0whg8KqGXUqAOzk-eP0fRdBdnBRUy~-hd2xrmEwBk5PedaDaXYmvKfSLfBW6WFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","District of Columbia (Health)","date","2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Committee on Health convened a hybrid hearing March 5 to review fiscal-year performance and ongoing implementation work from four District licensing boards: Pharmacy, Medicine, Psychology and Dentistry. Each board chair summarized licensure counts, complaint and enforcement activity, and rulemaking priorities tied to the Health Occupations Revision/General Amendment Acts.

Highlights from each board:

- Board of Pharmacy (Chair Dr. Lisonbee Hill): As of Feb. 6, 2025, the board licensed 4,984 pharmacy professionals. The board completed a migration to a date-of-birth renewal model intended to stagger renewals and reduce administrative backlog. Dr. Hill said the board finalized patient-education materials for pharmacists prescribing hormonal contraceptives and is working to strengthen pharmacy technician rules and workplace protections after a workforce survey. Board staff reported they have reduced pharmacist-licensure processing times (13 days average in FY25 vs. 57 days prior year) by delegating certain approvals to staff.

- Board of Medicine (Chair Dr. Andrea Anderson): The board’s licensure census totaled 16,481 licensees as of Feb. 21, 2025, including physicians and physician assistants. Dr. Anderson said the board approved several regulation updates, migrated to the DOB renewal model and implemented licensing pathways for doulas, professional midwives and an emeritus licensure pathway. The board noted three vacancies (one physician and two physician assistants) and said applications are under review with the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments (MOTA).

- Board of Psychology (Chair Dr. Anthony Jimenez): The board oversees about 1,600 psychologists and 285 psychology associates (Feb. 2025). It has suspended reliance on the two-part EPPP2 exam and currently requires EPPP1 while national testing organizations revise and possibly integrate the exam. The board also will implement licensure categories added by recent legislation, including behavioral analysts, and is forming subcommittees to draft regulations.

- Board of Dentistry (Chair Dr. Michelle La Tortue): As of Feb. 19, 2025, the board’s census included 1,255 dentists and about 522 dental hygienists. The board reported 27 complaints in FY24 and six in FY25 to date; FY24 enforcement produced 35 fines totaling $75,000. The board implemented scope expansions from the Health Occupations Revision act, including a level-3 dental assistant category and expanded hygienist duties, and is pursuing regulatory updates and a second amnesty for unregistered dental assistants (Jan. 1–April 30, 2025).

Across the boards, committee members discussed vacancies (boards reported several openings and staff said MOTA is working on appointments), the migration to the date-of-birth renewal model, telehealth guidance and alignment of professional scope-of-practice with neighboring jurisdictions to ease workforce recruitment. Committee Chair Christina Henderson asked boards to use open-session meetings to surface policy problems that may require legislative fixes and said the committee will follow up with DHCF and other agencies on issues raised during public testimony.

Ending: The hearing identified near-term follow-ups for DHCF and board staff, including data on complaints/fines, timelines for draft regulations for new licensure categories and continued attention to workforce pipeline issues and telehealth guidance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","District of Columbia (Health) - Committee on Health, Performance Oversight Hearing, Christina Henderson, Chairperson - Mar 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Committee on Health convened on March 5 to review FY24 performance and FY25 activities from the chairs of the Boards of Pharmacy, Medicine, Psychology and Dentistry, including implementation of health occupation statute changes, licensure processing times, board vacancies and rulemaking priorities.","taxTitle","Committee on Health, Committees, Legislative, District of Columbia","taxId",16182,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6649696,"Provider group says remote patient monitoring can cut ER visits; DC Medicaid not reimbursing service",235,514000,749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519193-73f5e1eeb37fb564768d57571ac3f8a0&start=514&end=749","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519193-73f5e1eeb37fb564768d57571ac3f8a0/thumbnail_514000.jpg","/articles/6649696/Provider-group-says-remote-patient-monitoring-can-cut-ER-visits-DC-Medicaid-not-reimbursing-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649696-b32509c913ffc40a0029d98f89b7712e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448431&Signature=YDjdsESMTqdwBY1yLAJQizXtUT21wlkFEjN6G-~GoNat~HtIKGz6qcRXz~T1Eo2mCLBZ~MBNtbLT0ipmD1PayF1chy5b25k6D4oRGxdGAE7d9iHo6h2s3rNsl1NAisqWJh76LilR0hnAyJsDiclc0XkMqdcnVp4uDcg1OUJ9oQPS23VI4mVCEPNF9A8G9xPWUk3llUGyz6gns-9BQPc200f9w8Voa7q2pe1RyKtkHvRHWvpzIxxeVEzGcARIcm7XsoXWajG67PCX1xtwf1ztL8-mWV9KSqbw6tGt4DgGUQ-RcXughW8NQ9W~ihNjdL3mciYadPaC1Su37ViDK2qMTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A remote patient monitoring (RPM) pilot funded by the District’s Health Care Finance Administration (DHCF) demonstrated strong patient engagement and potential to reduce costly emergency department visits, a witness told the Committee on Health — but he said DC Medicaid does not currently reimburse for RPM services.

\"We received a grant from the DC Health Care Finance Administration in 2022 to demonstrate the power of remote patient monitoring as a strategy for reducing health disparities, but also as a strategy for reducing costs by keeping people out of the emergency room,\" said George McFarland, president and founder of McFarland and Associates. McFarland said his organization worked with Medicaid beneficiaries in Wards 6, 7 and 8 and that participants who provided the program’s required biometric readings were more likely to avoid high-cost emergency care.

McFarland described the monitoring devices as Wi‑Fi enabled, transmitting blood pressure and glucose readings in real time and triggering alerts to the care team, which then calls the patient to triage and coordinate care. He cited high emergency-room costs for the District and lengthy wait times at some hospitals, and said Medicare reimburses for RPM but DC Medicaid does not. \"Medicare provides reimbursement for this service, but DC Medicaid does not,\" he told the committee.

McFarland and other witnesses suggested the committee consider whether Medicaid could adopt reimbursement pathways for RPM or otherwise support wider adoption of the technology, paired with multidisciplinary care teams that can act on the data. Committee Chair Christina Henderson asked staff to follow up with DHCF, given the FY25 Medicaid budget and ongoing affordability concerns for the city.

Ending: Witnesses urged the committee to examine reimbursement policy for RPM in the District Medicaid program so the model can scale and potentially reduce emergency department utilization and costs.","A Medicaid-focused remote patient monitoring pilot funded by DC Health Care Finance Administration showed promising engagement and potential cost savings, witnesses said, but DC Medicaid currently does not reimburse for the service — a gap providers urged the committee to address.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6649701,"Dentists warn Medicaid rates and staffing shortages are reducing access to oral health care",2190,1760000,3950000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519193-73f5e1eeb37fb564768d57571ac3f8a0&start=1760&end=3950","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519193-73f5e1eeb37fb564768d57571ac3f8a0/thumbnail_1760000.jpg","/articles/6649701/Dentists-warn-Medicaid-rates-and-staffing-shortages-are-reducing-access-to-oral-health-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649701-8d30a20d77db6ff34a7360b9f08f4077/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448431&Signature=CCYU46FWWBVLN9Gz8K1LLe6ACNiDOjHDjdfCET1mOaSsIRcmn-xqAEsy8VlXTd3RziIeUuRTMby~sqVc8g46LK-1u2pRMeqHg9bxmuLEiB197iox0iPhYqc5JTNOyAhSBH6ekwsM6H3bjvw2BxZZk8kqGn7xGt43VDWIuR8NL5PndDuLC8Ntmvd7ks-TAawpT64AIXs1g7dqIucyMvDRRHS2npz0Mn0e5nRgiyCmnBO7yiOUlTa9pI5zTROZUB4pendIURcEmCDXhByey6G3oOxcrXriEspGJ0bBh5K9Jd5vYG9DMAaSWVKXFwkBQ4zqxD92qiS4adHz-LHH-0ZB1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dentists, dental society leaders and Board of Dentistry officials testified March 5 that the District is facing a shortage of dental providers, an outdated Medicaid fee schedule and workforce pipeline problems that together threaten access to care — particularly in Wards 7 and 8.

Dr. Albert Coombs, a practicing dentist and Medicaid provider, said reimbursement rates are frequently far below private insurance or the cost of delivering care. He told the committee a typical Medicaid payment for an anterior root canal is about $370, compared with roughly $1,000 from private insurance and up to $1,500–$1,600 out-of-pocket. \"There are instances where we have 60% pay cuts on these procedures,\" Coombs said, adding that insufficient reimbursement drives providers out of the Medicaid network and forces patients to seek care in emergency rooms.

Kurt Gallagher, executive director of the DC Dental Society, cited workforce constraints as a core problem. He said hygiene and dental assistant shortages are nationwide but that some District policies make recruitment harder. Gallagher noted that Howard University recently shifted its hygienist program from a two-year to a four-year model, which has paused enrollment and reduced the pipeline. He also told the committee that DC requires registration of all dental assistants, while neighboring Maryland and Virginia require registration only for assistants performing expanded functions — a mismatch he said disadvantages District practices.

Board of Dentistry Chair Dr. Michelle La Tortue described several regulatory and administrative steps the board is taking to expand capacity. The board approved a level-3 dental assistant classification in regulations (and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education has approved at least one training provider), and the board is planning a second amnesty period (Jan. 1 to April 30, 2025) permitting unregistered dental assistants to register without large penalties. La Tortue also said the board issued 35 fines totaling $75,000 in FY24 and has collected prior-year fines; staff said they can provide the breakdown of fines and the reasons for disciplinary actions.

La Tortue and other witnesses warned that many shortage-designated dental health professional shortage areas in the District are in Wards 7 and 8, where access needs are greatest. Committee Chair Christina Henderson said she will continue follow-up with the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) about updating Medicaid reimbursement schedules and asked the boards to flag issues that require legislative fixes.

Ending: Dentists urged the committee to review Medicaid fee adequacy and to support pipeline development for hygienists and assistants, including targeted training partnerships and adjustments to registration requirements that mirror neighboring jurisdictions.","Dental society leaders and practicing dentists told the Committee on Health that stagnant Medicaid fee schedules, long-standing workforce shortages (especially dental hygienists and assistants) and administrative barriers are limiting dental access in the District, increasing emergency-room visits and lengthening waits for care.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":90,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6649706,"Independent pharmacies warn Medicaid reimbursements are unsustainable, urge PBM transparency",319000,2509000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519193-73f5e1eeb37fb564768d57571ac3f8a0&start=319&end=2509","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519193-73f5e1eeb37fb564768d57571ac3f8a0/thumbnail_319000.jpg","/articles/6649706/Independent-pharmacies-warn-Medicaid-reimbursements-are-unsustainable-urge-PBM-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649706-8d5c216174bb096d5d4c83cbc0d19aee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448431&Signature=UuRsFjnc6zRSi-4nhXPec8SAmk363IviIpcY8dRpZW743a25VFpFPF5ncXHBKy-amTZqRdNStqXbXHpAuIc~lUCb5kT9XwfVqnrRARG-nGds0Y~UxCcrqEEJofd1S86C26b70JrATMMGivAimS6hDpBSBEzstFrCOnuEAMx8r3Ik4xqP1RLi4P6hhngjN20x6YDugyCaLwVm2LDaTT3IVncVlzCvY85Y3Z-Br~IuyEEK42SCD4G7~FuNGJrLRtPXSicAOal1pxpQ3n~S07FL2BFubMGe9hZz7V3izDnG~HMfP8aSV9SSE7Pww8SDDe2jJ9G9gE~-90bHer4hAzSOvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Independent pharmacy owners and pharmacy advocates told the District’s Committee on Health on March 5 that low Medicaid and managed-care reimbursements and opaque pharmacy benefit manager contracts are driving neighborhood pharmacies out of business, reducing access for residents in Wards 7 and 8 and other underserved areas.

\"In Q4 of 2024, my pharmacy alone lost over $43,000 in negative reimbursement just due to billing the MCOs and the district and DC Medicaid,\" said William Fadel, owner and CEO of Grubbs Pharmacy Southeast in Anacostia. Fadel told the committee that three independent pharmacies in his immediate area closed in recent months and that one nearby pharmacy on Capitol Hill stopped accepting Medicaid and MCO plans on Oct. 1, 2024.

The Washington DC Pharmacy Association’s executive director, Carolyn Rochelle Price, said district-level data show a longer-term trend of closures. \"District specific data reports that between March of 2014 and July of 2024, 36 independent and chain pharmacies in the district have closed,\" Price said. She added that most closures are tied to a payment methodology that leaves pharmacies reimbursed below acquisition cost.

Witnesses described how the combination of MCO-contracted PBMs and prevailing reimbursement formulas create a repeated loss for commonly dispensed medications. Fadel offered an itemized example: \"If we take an asthma inhaler, let's say, I pay $54, I get paid $32. If it's a generic, I pay $19, I get paid $6.\" He said that the top 400 most-utilized drugs fall into the latter category — routine maintenance medicines that pharmacies dispense daily.

Speakers proposed several remedies. Fadel and Price urged the Council to consider carving pharmacy benefits out of Medicaid managed care and administering them through fee-for-service, to require MCOs and PBMs to reimburse at a transparent fee-for-service rate, or to increase regulatory oversight of PBMs in the Medicaid managed-care program. Price said many other states have enacted legislative reforms and offered to provide state-by-state examples to the committee.

The Board of Pharmacy chair, Dr. Lisonbee Hill, told the committee the board is aware of workforce and payment concerns and described administrative steps the board has taken to improve licensing processes and scope-of-practice updates. In her testimony, Dr. Hill said the board licenses 4,984 pharmacy professionals (as of Feb. 6, 2025) and has implemented a date-of-birth renewal model to stagger renewals. The board has also finalized patient education materials for pharmacists who will prescribe hormonal contraceptives and is working on pharmacy technician regulation changes.

Committee Chair Christina Henderson said the Council is in conversation with the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) and that staff have arranged follow-up meetings with DHCF leadership to address reimbursement and network adequacy. Henderson asked the board to use open sessions to surface issues that may need legislative attention, including PBM transparency and reimbursement adequacy.

No formal action or vote was taken at the hearing. Committee staff said written testimony will be accepted through March 19, 2025 at 5 p.m.

Ending: The witnesses asked the Council to pursue statutory and regulatory fixes to preserve neighborhood pharmacies, protect pharmacy jobs and prevent further pharmacy deserts in the District. Several witnesses offered to provide state policy examples to the committee.","Independent pharmacy owners and the Washington DC Pharmacy Association told the Committee on Health that low Medicaid and managed-care reimbursements — amplified by pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices — are forcing neighborhood pharmacies to close and reducing access in the District’s most vulnerable communities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hearing reviews four licensing boards' FY24–FY25 performance and HORA implementation

Provider group says remote patient monitoring can cut ER visits; DC Medicaid not reimbursing service

Dentists warn Medicaid rates and staffing shortages are reducing access to oral health care

Independent pharmacies warn Medicaid reimbursements are unsustainable, urge PBM transparency