Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins is urging state and federal leaders to conduct expedited audits of Virginia’s readiness to implement new federal requirements affecting Medicaid and food assistance programs.
In letters sent this week to Alexandria’s congressional delegation and General Assembly representatives, Gaskins requested reviews by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the state’s preparedness for mandates in the recently enacted federal legislation known as H.R. 1, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The legislation places new conditions on programs, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with some changes already taking effect and others phasing in through 2028.
Local impact
The changes could have a significant impact on Alexandria residents who rely on these programs. According to the mayor’s letters:
- Nearly 30,000 Alexandria residents rely on Medicaid for health care services as of June 2025, including 6,641 through Medicaid expansion
- More than 14,000 residents depend on SNAP benefits, including 8,076 children under 18 and 1,795 seniors
Key concerns
In her letter to the General Assembly delegation, Gaskins emphasized the need for Virginia to “assess fiscal exposure, update outdated legacy IT systems and processes, and strengthen local safety nets” before the new requirements fully take effect.
The mayor highlighted specific concerns about Virginia’s preparedness:
Medicaid changes: New requirements include shifting from annual to twice-yearly eligibility redeterminations, community engagement and work reporting requirements for Medicaid expansion adults by January 2027, and cost-sharing obligations for certain expansion recipients beginning in October 2028.
SNAP error rates: Virginia’s fiscal 2024 SNAP error rate of 11.5% nearly doubles the new federal threshold of 6%. States exceeding this threshold by late 2027 could face penalties estimated at $270 million in lost benefits for Virginia, or roughly 15% of the state’s total SNAP budget.
IT infrastructure: The mayor warned that “Virginia’s Medicaid Enterprise System and eligibility platforms are not designed for or prepared to support continuous work-status reporting for all beneficiaries.”
Requested reviews
Gaskins called for comprehensive audits examining:
- Current IT infrastructure effectiveness
- System readiness for new reporting requirements
- Safeguards to prevent wrongful terminations of benefits
- Best practices from other states
- Resource needs for compliance
“The residents of Alexandria cannot bear the brunt of federal penalties tied to systemic challenges beyond their control,” Gaskins wrote to U.S. Rep. Donald Beyer.
The mayor’s office indicated that Alexandria stands ready to provide data, case studies and resident testimony to support the audit efforts.
Read the full letters:
- Letter to Alexandria General Assembly Delegation
- Letter to U.S. Rep. Beyer
- Letter to U.S. Sens. Warner and Kaine
All policy letters from the mayor and City Council are available at alexandriava.gov/go/7276.
