[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6641651,"mediaKeyId","3745640-32ba3df838f0f333f24978e6019679e6","parentId",3745640,"title","Deputy Mayor Turnage and DMHHS brief council on shelters, encampment protocol and Interagency Council on Homelessness cuts","audioSeconds",589,"startMs",8002000,"endMs",8591000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3745640-32ba3df838f0f333f24978e6019679e6&start=8002&end=8591","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3745640-32ba3df838f0f333f24978e6019679e6/thumbnail_8002000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641651/Deputy-Mayor-Turnage-and-DMHHS-brief-council-on-shelters-encampment-protocol-and-Interagency-Council-on-Homelessness-cuts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641651-ace3050047719df98404d3cbc52ea8c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776604535&Signature=amJX1b4PIGk90SraU4WbgveuzWDkuaeQuk4eVYX~AFWpInVQpo9F2TqFEZvsuOKFrIP6TXsofB-5rmrHK3tLjCG0SknxAT5ev2F57RX-zX5~DZgK5PwINMEXQoZ3kCw1rlEE~bB1WndMkejJfc~HjdUJFK4v0frB5PpZ43YNxaWcZrLIl3iDWCsPzpyamp2zDOu3f4eLRlwQOny1v7FWr3cdNnQVIfViJGnTfCFiWEJ3ocF3QrCEvXTnGcGmnGP00ofa3XxUBByqaSEXifDCRYvRUaTYTNB~zFEqwNtEE0uuRAuR-sA2Wwfo2zjEUgrnw6EIMowiR0sOiYCjZ8E7dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","District of Columbia (Health)","date","2025-06-09T00:00:00Z","article","Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage provided a brief opening statement for the Committee on Health's June 9 hearing and described the deputy mayor's office responsibilities for policy coordination and encampment response. Committee questions focused on the city's encampment clearance protocol, the new Ashton stabilization center, and staffing for the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH).

Encampment notice period and shelter offers

DMHHS said it changed the standard encampment notice period from 14 days to seven days; officials said the 7‑day protocol is posted and that staff may still adjust schedules if additional time is needed for specific situations. DMHHS said its practice is to offer shelter beds when closing encampments, but officials acknowledged shelter capacity is constrained and that only a small percentage of people historically accept offered shelter placements. The agency said it is working to increase shelter bed capacity and expedite lease‑up and voucher use to reduce pressure on emergency shelter.

New shelter and program openings

Turnage and DMHHS staff said the Ashton stabilization center and other recent additions (the Aston and other facilities) are operating and that the Ashton had an initial census with a majority of residents coming from unsheltered encampments. The deputy mayor said Ashton residents had an average length of stay of about 72 days and a high rate of voucher matching among residents entering from the street.

Interagency Council on Homelessness staffing and budget

DMHHS said the FY26 proposal reduces contract funding for the ICH by about $110,000 and removes one FTE from the office. DMHHS explained the decision as a reallocation of some operating costs into personal services to create an internal DHMHS data capability and to onboard several new ICH staff; the agency said it also deferred consumer stipends until the office is fully staffed and able to administer them.

Concerns and next steps

Committee members pressed the deputy mayor on whether those changes might create access problems for people who work shifts or for residents who may feel unsafe waiting in lines at service centers. Turnage said he would follow up with agency leaders and the city administrator on operational details and staffing plans. The committee requested data on how many shelter vouchers in other agency portfolios remain unused and asked DMHHS to coordinate with partners to accelerate voucher lease‑up.

Speakers quoted in this report are identified in the meeting record and were sworn for testimony.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","District of Columbia (Health) - Committee on Health, Budget Oversight Hearing, Christina Henderson, Chairperson - Jun 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage provided a brief opening statement for the Committee on Health's June 9 hearing and described the deputy mayor's office responsibilities for policy coordination and encampment response.","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},6641656,"DHCF outlines eligibility cuts, provider changes and Alliance enrollment cap in FY26 budget testimony",1524,1310000,2834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3745640-32ba3df838f0f333f24978e6019679e6&start=1310&end=2834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3745640-32ba3df838f0f333f24978e6019679e6/thumbnail_1310000.jpg","/articles/6641656/DHCF-outlines-eligibility-cuts-provider-changes-and-Alliance-enrollment-cap-in-FY26-budget-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641656-bda944b5d90618c7bf671e13162b7e19/orig.mp4?Expires=1776604535&Signature=Y8TuFfnxjZTN77KI1Lh73LJSzrEU6dFrh63UUD94~R7scDdX1pEgayFkNovUof3tfoaJynbAboaYHm4EeZkgU91lL6NE9xL5j1kjPt7QMsrp-gyQ-E3EYJeikZBb0bY~2PHWb7s325HMVuAN~HUK5Xq2VfhmlU8xafAAwgu9G1NpZGM3cOAnvFJmI0KpJaXs37I6sfyxn0053jF0Mq8RrD86ZzEVH38-yAMHaybT7~knjPKP9dzJ23u0gsqJqvQA4IFXG-MjynlfD1PoH24mmHKYVQvju57RwJzWT7cSbFh26KpwMX4u7z3UQEgh4SxT2gjqwHgU2plIgGs-QYPLoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage and DHCF officials presented the mayor's proposed fiscal‑year 2026 budget to the Committee on Health on June 9, framing the proposal as a response to steep projected revenue declines and rapid growth in local spending for Medicaid and the Alliance program.

Turnage described three \"foundational pillars\" for Medicaid cost containment — eligibility, benefits and provider rates — and said the administration's package of changes would produce $332,000,000 in local fund savings for Medicaid and Alliance combined, of which $142,000,000 would be reinvested and the net local savings would be $191,000,000. \"The largest reductions were made in eligibility,\" he said, adding that about 88% of the local savings in the proposal came from eligibility changes.

Major elements described by DHCF

- Eligibility reductions: DHCF plans to reduce eligibility thresholds for certain optional populations and focus on beneficiaries at the higher end of eligibility ranges. Turnage and DHCF officials said these changes target groups such as childless adults and parent/caretaker relatives within specific income bands; DHCF estimated a point‑in‑time population of about 25,575 beneficiaries affected and roughly $42,800,000 in savings associated with some eligibility changes. Program eligibility was proposed to be reduced to 134% of the federal poverty level effective Oct. 1.

- Basic Health Plan option: DHCF officials coordinated with HBX on the BHP as an alternative coverage path for people who would lose Medicaid eligibility; DHCF said the BHP and qualified commercial coverage were central to decisions about who would move off Medicaid.

- Alliance program redesign: DHCF proposes moving Alliance beneficiaries who currently receive care through managed care plans to fee‑for‑service reimbursement and to set a hard enrollment cap effective Aug. 1. The cap is set at a forecast enrollment of 28,000 members (the agency said actual cap will be the enrollment on that date). DHCF said beneficiaries currently enrolled at the time of the cap could remain for FY26 but new entrants and returning members who left would not be admitted while the cap is in effect. The agency also proposed recertification every six months and face‑to‑face interviews for Alliance eligibility.

- Provider rates and program efficiencies: DHCF presented a mix of targeted provider rate changes and efficiencies. The budget includes $14.5 million in targeted enhancements (for example, dental and one‑time DSP wage enhancement for home health), but pauses or delays in rebasing for FQHCs and smaller reductions to some provider payments were also proposed. DHCF said it planned a $5,000,000 up‑front withhold from MCO capitation to drive performance improvements and estimated additional savings from maximizing drug rebates and shifting certain Medicare‑eligible costs to Medicare.

Rationale and risks

Turnage linked the package to a projection of nearly $1 billion in revenue loss over the four‑year financial plan and a 15% projected growth in Medicaid and Alliance spending without intervention. He acknowledged the changes would be controversial and said the administration tried to minimize impacts on access to care, including inviting all MCOs to participate in the BHP to preserve continuity where possible. \"Should the council pass the mayor's budget ... there's much work to be done to ensure its effective implementation,\" he said.

Concerns raised in committee

Committee members asked how the changes would affect behavioral health services, long‑term care, and people in permanent supportive housing. DHCF said behavioral health for Alliance is largely provided through the Department of Behavioral Health and that roughly 2,000 individuals had used mental health rehabilitation services in FY24 among the populations under discussion; DHCF said it will provide data matches for populations in permanent supportive housing and follow up on gaps.

On long‑term care and durable medical equipment, DHCF said it was conducting a rate and program study and exploring bundled payment approaches to align services with needs and reduce improper utilization; officials said changes target waste and coding issues rather than intended service denials.

Next steps

DHCF officials said they expect intensive implementation work if the council approves the budget, including IT readiness and coordination with HBX for transfers to the BHP and with other agencies for recertification procedures. Several committee members asked DHCF to provide additional data on the numbers affected, behavioral health utilization and impacts on specific provider groups; DHCF committed to follow‑up analyses.

Speakers quoted in this report are identified in the meeting record and were sworn for testimony.","Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage and Department of Healthcare Finance officials told the Committee on Health that the mayor's FY26 proposal relies on eligibility reductions, program design changes and provider rate adjustments to slow Medicaid and Alliance cost growth amid an estimated $1 billion revenue shortfall for the city.",{"_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},6641661,"Council hearing: District officials outline plan to create Basic Health Plan for low‑income residents",4583,692000,5275000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3745640-32ba3df838f0f333f24978e6019679e6&start=692&end=5275","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3745640-32ba3df838f0f333f24978e6019679e6/thumbnail_692000.jpg","/articles/6641661/Council-hearing-District-officials-outline-plan-to-create-Basic-Health-Plan-for-lowincome-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641661-e7dbab66418b4befd5f5d75c37182b1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776604535&Signature=oLlXTJ7QQmfFQy1NDcdT16U4Zj7pZOAwCD-vIEmSVnaQ4BwsyLu1jOVSjQveNVMnrshRvZIRx6AJBZDqB15XJvRXYopw2nBiZucKjp4juuHT9slOJHGOvHUVpCgkoQkzt1aqMetlWw3ciN3p1VBjMu7ZczGA5C~OXPali-FevnNhQ-PVxWDpwfbtoO74QbO0bf~sWtgSNBvLTQLmmT-iE7brVKzzVZv16hOXth58sjbtXgceskahZP1L8k5LeBgcKLc4dxHvPzSVZ9tYhSWkZmboNK5XPuohfEbtGVZwYphQGYGtnlp66tJYp3KPwx9V4GCUCXW57FYWv~HYrhOUjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chair Christina Henderson opened the Committee on Health hearing on June 9, saying the session would focus on the Health Benefit Exchange, the Department of Healthcare Finance and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services.

Mila Kauffman, director of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority (HBX), told the committee that HBX and its federal partners plan to implement a Basic Health Plan (BHP) under the Affordable Care Act to cover lower‑income residents who would otherwise buy commercial coverage through DC Health Link. \"Our goal is continuity of coverage and continuity of care for residents,\" Kauffman said.

Kauffman said the federal option under ACA Section 1331 allows states to design a BHP that can be financed largely with federal funds: federal rules provide 95% of the value of premium tax credits for the eligible population but do not fund state administrative and operational costs. HBX has convened advisory councils and working groups — carrier, IT and operations — and hired actuaries to model benefit designs and costs.

Why it matters: city leaders presented the BHP as a way to avoid shifting substantial out‑of‑pocket costs to residents who would lose Medicaid eligibility under the mayor's budget proposals. Kauffman said actuarial modeling showed a BHP designed with the ACA commercial benefit structure could offer no premiums and no cost sharing for medical care for the target population — though she stressed that final benefit details will depend on the federal funding available and on federal approval of the city's blueprint.

Key provisions and constraints

- Eligibility: Kauffman described the proposed population as residents not eligible for Medicaid but with incomes from just above Medicaid thresholds up to about 200% of the federal poverty level. Lawfully present residents who are barred from Medicaid by the federal five‑year rule (sometimes called the \"5‑year bar\") would be eligible; undocumented residents would not, she said. Pregnant people who qualify for Medicaid would continue to receive coverage through Medicaid, because federal rules prohibit BHP payments for pregnant people who are Medicaid‑eligible.

- Benefits: Kauffman said a BHP based on the ACA commercial benefit design would cover hospitalization, primary and specialty care, lab work and most behavioral health services, but would not include certain Medicaid benefits. She noted adult dental, adult vision and non‑emergency transportation typically are not included under the ACA commercial benefit design. \"Behavioral health is covered differently than under Medicaid,\" she said.

- Networks and continuity: HBX invited all managed care organizations (Amerigroup, AmeriHealth, MedStar Family Choice) and major insurers (CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente) to participate so enrollees could remain with their existing MCO when feasible. Kauffman emphasized the goal of minimizing disruption: \"If MCOs that currently cover DC's Medicaid population choose to participate in the BHP, then enrollees will be able to stay with the same MCO as they have now.\" She said the Exchange is testing data transfers to allow automatic account creation for affected enrollees.

- Cost modeling: Kauffman and HBX said actuarial work assumes enhanced premium tax credits are not extended — a conservative assumption — and still found a path to a BHP with no premiums and no medical cost sharing using an ACA benefit structure. She said adopting Medicaid‑style benefits (capitated Medicaid rates and hospital payments) would require an estimated near $60,000,000 in additional local funding.

Timeline and federal approvals

HBX officials said they plan to have IT and operational work completed by October 1 to allow open enrollment processes to proceed, with the staff‑level BHP blueprint to be posted for 30 days of public comment and then submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval. Kauffman said HBX has begun early federal engagement and expected weekly working‑group meetings through the summer to finalize the blueprint.

Limits and uncertainties

Both HBX and committee members repeatedly emphasized that the federal funding decision and federal approvals will determine whether the BHP can include adult dental, vision or other enhancements. Kauffman said: \"The amount of federal dollars will determine what the BHP can do for residents.\" Committee members expressed concern about potential coverage gaps and differences between Medicaid and BHP commercial benefits, particularly for long‑term care, non‑emergency transportation and dental.

What to watch next: HBX will post a draft blueprint for public comment and continue weekly technical working groups with carriers and IT vendors. The committee requested follow‑up on behavioral health differences between Medicaid and a BHP, and on how pregnancy and postpartum coverage would be handled during transitions.

Speakers quoted in this report are identified in the meeting record and were sworn for testimony.","At a June 9 Committee on Health hearing, the DC Health Benefit Exchange and the Department of Healthcare Finance described steps to create a Basic Health Plan (BHP) to cover low‑income residents moving off Medicaid, and said they expect federal funding to determine final benefits and cost sharing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Deputy Mayor Turnage and DMHHS brief council on shelters, encampment protocol and Interagency Council on Homelessness cuts

DHCF outlines eligibility cuts, provider changes and Alliance enrollment cap in FY26 budget testimony

Council hearing: District officials outline plan to create Basic Health Plan for low‑income residents