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Union and provider groups fault DBH for grants management failures, payment delays and oversized provider network
Summary
Union leaders and provider associations told the committee that DBH’s grants management and certification processes have failed: probationary terminations, unpaid local dollar purchase orders, a stalled automated grants system and an oversized certified provider network were cited as risks to service continuity and potential sources of fraud or waste.
Union leaders and provider associations told the Committee that systemic mismanagement at DBH is impairing services. Greg Kaufman of AFGE described terminations of probationary grants staff, claimed the agency failed to provide documented supervision and said one case led to roughly $95,000 in legal costs after a premature termination. Kaufman urged the council to audit DBH's independent personnel authority and performance management.
Mark Loboda of the District of Columbia Behavioral Health Association warned that DBH’s certification of roughly 87 provider organizations — and plans to certify more — stretches oversight capacity and contributes to inconsistent service quality, delayed payments and potential fraud. Multiple CBO witnesses reported unpaid local dollar purchase orders for services rendered since October; Hillcrest testified it still awaited payments for MHRS local dollars. The Committee asked DBH for follow‑up and said it would probe grants management, payment pipelines and certification policies in upcoming oversight.
