Washington, D.C. – Today, Councilmember David Catania (At-Large) chaired a roundtable on recent developments at the Whitman Walker Clinic (WWC) in the District. WWC was founded in 1973 to provide specialized HIV/AIDS and other health services to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered (GLBT) community. Despite substantial assistance from the District Government, Whitman Walker recently undertook several structural changes that included the closing of its Northern Virginia based clinic; the selling of its offices on 14th and S Streets, NW; the laying off of long-time employees; and the reduction of services and programs for gays and lesbians. Catania said that under his tenure as Chairman of the Health Committee, WWC has benefited from significant increases in funding, including over $6 million over the last three years.
“I believe very strongly in the mission of Whitman Walker Clinic and want to see its services maintained. The provision of health care to the GLBT community is absolutely essential to our residents. And this is why the District Government, and the Health Committee in particular, has been very generous to the Whitman Walker Clinic,” said Catania. “So I find it very troubling when the clinic’s services are eliminated and its mission changed without any real notice or discussion.”
Catania further criticized the management of WWC for not adequately seeking all sources of potential revenue, including Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) wrap-around payments.
“At a minimum, Whitman Walker’s management should have explored all funding options before 45 employees were laid off during the middle of the December holidays with virtually no notice and no severance,” explained Catania. “Many of these employees were responsible for making Whitman Walker the premier health clinic for the GLBT community.”
Finally, Catania expressed his reservations that WWC’s management is intent on shifting the clinic’s core focus away from the GLBT community.
“My biggest fear is that, on its current trajectory, Whitman Walker’s days of providing health care to the gay community are numbered,” said Catania.
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