DC lifts Potomac River recreational advisory; Medicaid billing transition notices; measles surpasses 1,000 cases nationwide

ByWeence

Washington, DC – March 4, 2026 – Potomac River recreational advisory lifted; DC Medicaid portal warns of payment delays; measles cases rise nationwide.

Washington health officials and major local providers posted several updates over the past week, led by a change to the Districts Potomac River guidance after the January wastewater release.

Potomac River: DC Health lifts recreational advisory

DC Health said March 2 that it has lifted the recreational advisory for the Potomac River within Washington, DC, effective immediately. The advisory had been issued after the January 19, 2026 collapse of a section of the Potomac Interceptor, which released untreated wastewater into the river.

According to DC Health, ongoing water-quality monitoring showed bacteria levels have returned to safe ranges for recreation contact, with recent testing confirming E. coli levels in the Districts portion of the Potomac meet federal recreational standards and have stayed within the typical local range for 21 days since the last overflow. The agency noted that E. coli levels can fluctuate with rain or snowmelt due to stormwater runoff carrying bacteria into waterways.

DC Health also emphasized that the Districts drinking water was not affected because the water intake is upstream of the break. While the recreational advisory was lifted, DC noted that swimming in the rivers without a permit is not allowed in the District, and residents should follow guidance from neighboring jurisdictions outside DC boundaries.

Health insurance and billing: DC Medicaid portal posts transition alerts

On the DC Medicaid Online Portal, officials posted multiple operational notices tied to the Medicaid Management Information System transition. The portal states that providers will not receive payment on March 6, 2026, and that payments from the new Gainwell MMIS are expected to begin March 13, 2026.

The portal also warned personal care assistants relying on electronic visit verification documentation for home-visit claims that claim-processing anomalies may temporarily cause incorrect denials, with an update expected by the end of day March 4.

Healthcare education: Howard University shares accreditation update

Howard University said February 27 that its College of Medicine received notification from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education that it has been granted full accreditation and will remain fully accredited. The university said the designation includes probationary status, meaning close monitoring, until the next review period in February 2028.

Outbreak watch: Measles milestone as cases accelerate nationally

Nationally, measles case totals continued to climb. Scientific American reported February 27 that CDC data show 1,136 confirmed measles cases in the United States as of February 26, 2026. Local officials typically urge residents to rely on timely public health alerts, especially when illness trends shift quickly across states and travel corridors.

Sources

https://dpr.dc.gov/release/department-health-lifts-potomac-river-recreational-advisory-washington-dc
https://medicaid.dc.gov/
https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/howard-university-statement-regarding-college-medicine-accreditation-status
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-officially-surpasses-1-000-cases-of-measles-in-2026/

If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.

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