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September News Update

Next Scheduled Meetings:
  • Coalition Monthly Meeting: Second Wednesday of every month - 1:00pm – 2:30

Welcome back, Coalition members and partners!

We have a lot to share after our August recess, from workforce updates and inspiring presentations to urgent advocacy on the Direct Care Worker Amendment Act and ongoing healthcare challenges in the District. Please enjoy an overview of our recent monthly Coalition meeting and other updates. As an addendum, I have included notes from our recent Workforce Committee meeting at the end.

Coalition & Workforce Updates

We are excited to welcome new and continuing leadership within our Coalition:

  • Kristin Ewing – Workforce Committee Chair
  • Jibran Eubanks – SEIU
  • Nishant Keerikatte – AARP
  • Makeda Vanderpuije – LeadingAge
  • Eric Behna – Home Care Partners

We also heard a great presentation from Nakeisha Neal Jones, Executive Director of Black Women Thriving East of the River. https://thrivingeotr.org/  Their work focuses on improving health outcomes for Black women and creating pathways into healthcare sector jobs. Ms. Neal Jones previously led Public Allies, served in the office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development managing the New Communities initiative.

Policy & Advocacy Updates

  • Council Returns from Recess Next Week
    • AG Brian Schwalb has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the legitimacy of National Guard deployment in the District.
    • Chairman Phil Mendelson is testifying before the House Committee against riders from Congressional Republicans—including proposals to eliminate D.C.’s elected Attorney General and replace the position with a presidential appointee.
  • Threat to Home Care Workers
    September 2 marked the close of public comments on a proposed U.S. Department of Labor rule that would strip minimum wage and overtime protections from home care workers by reinstating the outdated FLSA exemption.  This rule will have little impact on DC or Maryland workers.
  • Direct Care Worker Amendment Act of 2023
    The Coalition continues to advocate for this groundbreaking legislation introduced by eight members of the D.C. Council to tackle the District’s direct care workforce crisis.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

    • Wages: Establishes a wage floor at 120% of the D.C. minimum wage, with Medicaid reimbursements raised accordingly.
    • Universal Credentialing: Creates a single recognized credential for home health aides and nursing assistants, allowing flexibility across settings.
    • Training Access: Requires the District to remove barriers to apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
    • Regional Reciprocity: Allows Maryland and Virginia direct care workers to practice in D.C.
    • Create a Long Term Care Coordinator: Convene the constellation of DC agencies together to address long term care issues.

While the bill does not solve every challenge, it is among the strongest proposals in the nation and would set a model for other states. We urge all members to testify, reach out to Council members, and share stories that highlight the need for this law.

  • Healthcare Access in Jeopardy
    Policy shifts and budget cuts to Medicaid and the D.C. Healthcare Alliance—alongside pharmacy closures—threaten care for thousands of residents, particularly in Wards 7 and 8. Cuts could strip Medicaid from 25,000 D.C. residents while reducing reimbursements to providers. This comes as community pharmacies, like the CVS on Pennsylvania Avenue SE, close their doors, leaving whole neighborhoods without access.

Our Coalition joined healthcare workers, leaders, and advocates at Council to push for protecting access and exploring revenue solutions. We continue to stress that healthcare access is not optional—it is essential to the health and stability of our communities.

  • ICE Issues

Please keep me updated if the immigration crackdown is impacting you or people you  work with.

I have attended three conferences recently:

Alliance Health Policy at the Rayburn Building on The Future of Aging in America –  https://www.allhealthpolicy.org/news/the-alliance-for-health-policy-releases-final-report-from-2025-signature-series-on-aging-in-america

The Washington Home Workforce Vocation Convening –  https://www.thewashingtonhome.org/

KFF Seminar on How Will States Implement Work Requirements –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCYbcUUrb6I

Looking Ahead

  • Coalition Membership Letters
    In the coming weeks, we’ll be sending out sign-on letters confirming organizational and individual membership. There is no fee—this is simply to clarify our Coalition’s membership base.
  • Legislative Priorities
    We will also be requesting input from members on upcoming advocacy priorities. Our Steering Committee is actively developing a policy agenda, and your insight will be critical to shaping the Coalition’s work.
  • New Website Launching in October
    We are excited to announce that a refreshed Coalition website will go live in October—stay tuned!

Together, we are building a stronger, fairer long-term care system in the District. Thank you for your continued advocacy and commitment.

For more information or to share ideas, please contact Neil Richardson at ltccoalition@homecarepartners.org

2025

Addendum

Workforce Committee Update

Kristin Ewing: Chair, DC Coalition on Long Term Care Workforce Committee

Thank you to everyone who attended Tuesday’s meeting. I appreciate the robust discussion and insights into some of the most pressing issues in the LTC workforce space right now, especially as we identify priorities for the Committee and Coalition for the coming year.

If you could not attend Tuesday, you can catch up via the Agenda and Notes document. A few announcements and helpful resources are below.

Announcements

  • From Black Women Thriving East of the River:
    • We are accepting applications for the next cohort of Black Women Thriving East of the River’s Healthcare Career Pathways Fellowship through September 15.  This experience provides career coaching, tuition assistance of up to $10,000, expanded networks and wraparound supports for underrepresented women who are pursuing a health-related credential and live in Ward 7 and 8.  A flyer with more information is here.  Applicants can apply online here.  More information is also available at www.thrivingeotr.org.  Questions can be directed to workforce@thrivingeotr.org. 
  • SEIU & Caring Across Maryland Coalition are hosting a Medicaid 60th Anniversary Celebration on the evening of September 25th.
    • Use the link above for more information and to sign up for the event.
    • SEIU is providing a shuttle bus from DC to the event in Hyattsville.
      • More information and sign up is HERE.
    • Reach out to Jibran Eubanks with any questions: jibran.eubanks@1199.org
  • The next Coalition meeting is October 8th at 1 PM.
  • The next Workforce Committee meeting is October 14th at 10 AM.

Resources

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, thoughts, or suggestions. I hope to see you at the next meeting on October 14th!