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Long-term care coalition urges implementation funding for CNA wage law and workforce training
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Summary
The DC Coalition on Long Term Care told the Committee on Health that the Certified Nursing Assistant wage increase required by the 2024 law must be implemented and that training capacity and a long-term care coordinator role need funding to avert workforce collapse.
Advocates for long-term care workforce stability urged the Committee on Health to fund implementation of the Certified Nursing Assistant wage requirements and to invest in training infrastructure to avert a broader care crisis.
Neil Richardson, coordinator of the DC Coalition on Long Term Care, said the law enacted in 2024 requires CNAs be paid 120 percent of the District's minimum wage and that the fiscal impact statement estimates roughly $90 million over three years to implement the law. "This law has already been enacted. It's got to be implemented though," he said, calling the workforce shortage "a public health emergency happening in slow motion."
Richardson asked the Council to prioritize a long-term care coordinator position and to restore or allocate funds to build training capacity in the city, pointing specifically to cuts at the University of the District of Columbia that reduced continuing education and training seats.
The coalition recommended using a return-on-investment analysis to compare long-term care needs and potential budget offsets, noting the relatively small share of the city's total budget such an investment would represent.
Ending: The committee acknowledged the long-term care coalition's request and indicated staff will coordinate with the Department of Health and the Workforce Investment Council to assess training gaps and possible funding sources.
