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Home→Agencies→Medicaid Estate Recovery→District of Columbia→When someone dies

Medicaid Estate Recovery in District of Columbia: when someone dies

A 4-step process for DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) after a death in District of Columbia.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Medicaid Recovery

District of Columbia

dhcf.dc.gov→

Administering agency

DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF)

Phone202-442-5988
WebsiteVisit website →

Authority

D.C. Code 4-214.01 (District claims against estates of public-assistance recipients); 42 U.S.C. 1396p(b) (federal Medicaid estate-recovery requirement)

Verified May 2026

Steps to take

  1. Determine whether the deceased received DC Medicaid long-term care services, or received any DC Medicaid services at age 55 or older.
  2. Contact the DC Department of Health Care Finance to ask whether an estate-recovery claim applies and to request the claim amount in writing.
  3. Treat any confirmed claim as a debt of the estate and address it before distributing assets to heirs.
  4. Ask DHCF for the hardship-waiver application if recovery would deprive heirs of a sole means of support, such as an income-limited family business or the family home occupied by a low-income heir.

DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF)

Phone: 202-442-5988

Visit the agency website →

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The District of Columbia, through the DC Department of Health Care Finance, follows the federal Medicaid estate-recovery requirement at 42 U.S.C. 1396p(b). At a minimum, DC recovers nursing facility, home and community-based, and related hospital and prescription drug costs paid for Medicaid recipients who were 55 or older when the services were provided.

Contact the DC Department of Health Care Finance at 202-442-5988 (the DHCF main line) or by email at dhcf@dc.gov. DHCF is the single state Medicaid agency for the District of Columbia and handles estate-recovery questions.

Medicaid Recovery

District of Columbia

dhcf.dc.gov→

Administering agency

DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF)

Phone202-442-5988
WebsiteVisit website →

Authority

D.C. Code 4-214.01 (District claims against estates of public-assistance recipients); 42 U.S.C. 1396p(b) (federal Medicaid estate-recovery requirement)

Verified May 2026