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Advocates, clinicians urge D.C. Council to restore Alliance coverage and activate $21 million contingency
Summary
Dozens of public witnesses at the Committee on Health’s Jan. 27 oversight hearing pressed the Department of Health Care Finance to use a CFO-certified $21,000,000 contingency allocation to restore DC Health Care Alliance benefits, reverse income and age cuts, and fix formulary limits that advocates say have harmed patients.
Chair Christina Henderson opened the Committee on Health’s virtual public-witness session and said the hearing was focused on the performance of the deputy mayor for health and human services and the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF).
Multiple advocates and clinicians told the committee that programmatic and eligibility changes that took effect Oct. 1, 2025, have already left residents without needed care. "Many of the Mayor's most devastating cuts to the Alliance program went into effect on 10/01/2025 resulting in thousands of District residents losing their only access to health insurance," said Andrew Patterson, senior counsel with legal ADC, who urged the Council to restore pre‑10/01/2025 Alliance services and eligibility thresholds.
Health‑care advocates and providers repeatedly asked the Council to ensure the DHCF implements contingency funding the Council placed on the FY26 budget contingency list. "The 21,000,000 restored by the council represents thousands of appointments that patients could have access to care they need," testified Elizabeth Falcon, executive director of DC Jobs with Justice. Witnesses said DHCF has not publicly told providers or patients when the certified funds will translate into restored benefits.
Clinicians and policy groups described service gaps: missing dental and vision coverage, narrower formularies, and tighter income limits and age caps that have already forced some patients to seek emergency care. Dr. Kate Sugarman, a family physician at Unity Healthcare, described patients who lost diabetic eye care and specialty medications and urged restoring Alliance coverage to 215% of the federal poverty level and removing the adult age cap.
Witnesses asked the committee for specific oversight steps: compel DHCF to publish timelines for restoring services, convene the advisory council DHCF promised, and require clear communication to patients and providers about when restored services will be available. Chair Henderson noted the Council is "awaiting to hear from the mayor's office about the $21,000,000 in contingency funding for the Alliance program," and said the committee will press for clarity at the government‑witness session on Jan. 29.
The committee did not take a vote; the hearing concluded with a reminder that government witnesses, including Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage, will appear at the next session.
