MEDICAID/MEDICARE: Mayor Bowser’s proposed budget would result in about 25,000 DC residents without Medicaid coverage, but adults without children and adult caregivers between 138%-200% of the federal poverty level would be moved to D.C. Health Benefits Exchange. Officials estimate the exchange will help 90% of the people losing access to Medicaid under currently proposed eligibility changes. However, with U.S. senators aiming to vote on the proposed controversial budget bill by tomorrow, June 27, Medicaid and Medicare advocates are still pushing hard to convince U.S. Republican senators not to make the estimated $715 billion in cuts to Medicaid and $500 billion over 10 years to Medicare these critical programs. Medicaid serves nearly one in five DC residents, especially youth, older adults, and people with disabilities. An overview article, “Threats to Medicaid and Medicare: Potential Impacts on Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations,” by NASW Senior Policy Advisor Mel Wilson, LCSW, MBA, breaks down what’s at risk. 

MEDICAID: If your clients at risk of losing Medicaid coverage are confused about qualifying for the DC Health Benefits Exchange, DC Exchange has a hotline at (855) 532-5465 available Monday through Friday to address questions.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT: DC, which launched its heat emergency plan Tuesday, is trying to keep residents safe in the triple-digit temperatures by operating 128 cooling centers such as pools, spray parks, and senior and recreation centers. Please share this map of cooling centers with clients in need. For people experiencing homelessness, free, accessible transportation to a cooling center is available by calling the 202-399-7093 or 311 hotline.

NASW PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES: NASW’s 2025 Blueprint of Public Policy Priorities outlines a bold federal strategy grounded in social work values. From increasing reimbursement rates to protecting Medicaid, the Blueprint is our roadmap to stronger protections, fair pay, and support for the challenges social workers face every day. Learn more about this important document and our policy priorities.
 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: In a Tuesday ruling that at least temporarily protects public lands in DC and nationwide, the U.S. Senate parliamentarian stripped the Senate Republicans’ controversial budget bill of provisions that would allow the sale of 120 million to 258 million acres of national forests and parks, recreation areas, trails, wilderness areas, and other federal lands for logging, mining, energy development, and privately profitable activities. Nearly 25% of DC land is federally owned. The parliamentarian declared the provision outside of the legally allowed scope of the bill. Also scrapped was language that would have nullified “lengthy environmental reviews for offshore oil and gas projects” and imposed fees on renewable energy projects on federal land. However, to date, severe cuts to climate change prevention and research remain in the bill, despite 2024 being the hottest year on record globally.