Committee on Health approves nomination of Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt to Health Benefit Exchange board

The Committee on Health voted unanimously Thursday to advance PR26-240, a nomination of Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt to serve as a voting member of the Health Benefit Exchange Authority Executive Board, filling the seat formerly held by Ramon Richards and serving the remainder of a term ending July 6, 2028.

The nomination matters because the executive board oversees the District's insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act, a mechanism intended to expand consumer choice and affordability in health plans. The board has seven voting members appointed by the mayor and four nonvoting ex officio members; voting members must show expertise in at least two areas such as plan administration, finance, public health programs or consumer advocacy.

Councilmember Christina Henderson, chair of the Committee on Health, summarized Nesbitt's background, saying Nesbitt is a board-certified family physician with experience in population health leadership. Henderson noted Nesbitt served as director of DC Health from 2015 to 2022, led the District's COVID-19 response, served as interim director of the Department of Behavioral Health, directed the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness earlier in her career, and currently holds senior academic roles at George Washington University, where she directs the Center for Population Health Sciences and Health Equity.

Henderson moved "the draft report in print of PR 26-240 and block with leave for staff to make any technical changes." After the motion, Councilmember Zachary Parker said, "I would just say Doctor. Nesbitt has given so much [to the] district and I was excited when I saw this nomination. I know she has served as an ex officio member, and it's great that she will be able to use her expertise and perspective to be a voting member. And so I look forward to supporting this nomination." Henderson called for the ayes, stating, "Let the record reflect that the ayes have it and the measures passed unanimously." The motion passed with all committee members present voting in favor.

During the meeting Henderson also put on the record a clarification about consumer members on health professional licensing boards, explaining those boards regulate scopes of practice, licensing approvals and disciplinary complaints. She said that although statute requires only residency for consumer members, the committee has historically looked for consumer members with lived experience or some professional familiarity with the regulated profession given the licensing boards' duties.

Henderson closed by noting the committee will meet next on Tuesday, Sept. 30, for an oversight hearing examining operations, service delivery and accountability for the District's managed-care organizations that administer Medicaid benefits.

Details recorded at the meeting were limited to the nomination, Nesbitt's résumé as summarized by committee staff and members, the unanimous committee vote to advance the nomination, the remaining term end date, and Henderson's clarification about licensing-board consumer-member practice. No additional conditions or second were recorded on the motion in the transcript provided.