2 days ago
DC Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services discusses cuts to Medicaid
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — With a reduced budget from the federal government, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and her administration were forced to make drastic cuts to the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026.
As a result, Medicaid in the District may have new eligibility requirements that would essentially kick more than 25,000 residents off the state-federal health care.
'We have a … fairly robust plan,' said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Wayne Turnage. 'We identified several goals when we were approaching the need to cut — actually $182 million — out of the budget on the Medicaid side. And one of those goals was to reduce eligibility by focusing on those on the highest eligibility income thresholds and those who have options for alternative coverage on the exchange.'
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Knowing cuts were imminent, Turnage said there were three main things they looked at: eligibility, benefits, structure and provider rates.
'If you have to make significant reductions in Medicaid, you have to do it by touching some combination of those three,' he said.
However, the District said it plans to assist those losing access to Medicaid. One such method, available to around 90% of individuals impacted, includes a Basic Health Plan, which is being developed by the D.C. Health Exchange.
'This will allow people … whose income is between 100-200% of federal poverty to access a program that they will design to mimic Medicaid,' Turnage said.
The remaining 10% of impacted individuals will be asked to consider health insurance on the health exchange.
Turnage said this was a 'very very difficult budget.' In years prior, the District has seen large revenue growth and surpluses, but projections for the next four years show negative growth, he noted.
'In Fiscal Year 2026, growth will be negligible,' Turnage said. 'I think less than 1% — negative — it'll be -0.5%.'
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