(Week of Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2025)  

• Military Members Hit Hard as Federal Government Shuts, Scolded for Obesity and “Woke Culture”

• New Medicaid Income Limits Announced

• Changes to Name and Maximum Income Kick In as Overhaul of Alliance for Immigrant Children Program Begins

• DC Hospice Reimbursement Rates Adjust as of October 1

• Oct. 18 No Kings 2.0 Protests Give DC Social Workers a Chance to Amplify Pro-Democracy, Pro-Medicaid/Medicare Messages

FEDERAL SHUTDOWN: Social workers with military clients can ensure their clients are aware that USAA and other companies are stepping up to provide short-term, zero-interest loans to active-duty members worried about a missed paycheck during a federal government shutdown. Thousands of military workers may be among consumers hardest hit if Congress and President Trump continue to clash over a budget extension deal, much of which focuses on healthcare access and costs. Meanwhile, some congressional members are drafting legislation to guarantee military pay regardless of the shutdown. The non-military general public will see immediate impacts of a shutdown, too, including the likely closure of federal public lands in DC, closed or limited-hour museums and federal buildings, unmanned agency helplines, and potentially delayed tax refunds and checks. In addition, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the “end of woke culture” in the military Tuesday and chided top leadership gathered in Virginia about the need for “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for weight and fitness.

DC clients on Medicaid should have received notification in the past two weeks of new Medicaid income limits by the DC Department of Health Care Finance. Parent/caretaker relatives and childless adults whose income exceeds 138% of the federal poverty limit will lose Medicaid December 31. Letters alerting recipients of this loss should be received in November. Social workers and clients can join the department’s beneficiary and stakeholders meeting every other week by clicking this WebEx link. More than 200,000 District residents may lose Medicaid benefits completely if the Republicans’ “Big Beautiful Bill” goes into effect as passed by Congress.  

Widescale changes to DC’s Alliance and Immigrant Children’s Program (ICP) have now kicked in, and recipients should be aware that it has changed names as of October 1 to the DC Health Care Alliance and has stopped new enrollments for individuals 26 and older. Also, the program’s income limit changed for individuals 21 and older has dropped from 215% to 138% of the federal poverty limit. Since 2001, the program has served as a vital safety net for DC residents outside of the scope of federal health programs to ensure they still have access to essential health services, regardless of immigration status. Due to budget tightening and policy shifts by Mayor Bowser, the phased overhaul will impact benefits, eligibility, and enrollment processes during the next two years. Learn more here.

Effective October 1, the Medicaid payment rates for hospice care for the coming year have been updated in accordance with section 1814(i)(1)(C)(ii)(VII) of the Social Security Act. While the act gives an annual increase in payment rates for hospice care, rates are calculated based on the annual hospice rates established by Medicare and are adjusted to reflect the Medicare Hospice Wage Index for the DC Metropolitan Core Based Statistical Area.

CALL TO ACTION: Get loud, get outside, get together! Join fellow social workers and others for a “No Kings 2.0” demonstration October 18 in your local area. See which location [LINK] is nearest you and bring a sign to stand up for democracy, voting rights, full funding for Medicaid/Medicare, federal jobs for social workers, continued mental health programs in schools and communities, independent scientific research, and many more issues on which NASW has taken a stance. Learn more about this national movement and get engaged!