For Immediate Release
October 5, 2026
Sierra Wallace, Communications Director
(202) 355-8431
swallace@dccouncil.gov

Councilmember Henderson Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Accountability, Oversight, and Patient Safety at Saint Elizabeths Hospital

Washington, DC — Today, Councilmember Henderson introduced the Saint Elizabeths Hospital Independence and Governance Amendment Act of 2026 to establish Saint Elizabeths Hospital as an independent District agency governed by a dedicated Board of Directors. This bill is designed to strengthen accountability and oversight, improve clinical outcomes and patient safety at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, and give the Hospital focused leadership necessary for its improvement and growth.  

“Saint Elizabeths serves residents with some of the District’s most complex behavioral health needs, and its patients and staff deserve a hospital equipped to meet them,” stated Councilmember Henderson. “This legislation establishes dedicated leadership and oversight, clear expectations for performance, and stronger protections for patients while supporting the workforce responsible for their care.”

Saint Elizabeths provides inpatient psychiatric treatment, forensic services, and competency restoration for residents with complex behavioral health needs. The legislation responds to persistent concerns involving staffing, safety, clinical quality, discharge delays, and regulatory compliance by creating a governance structure focused specifically on the Hospital.

Specifically, this legislation would:

• Establish a dedicated 13-member governing board, consisting of 11 voting members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council, with the Hospital’s CEO and Chief Medical Officer serving as nonvoting members. The Board would appoint and evaluate the CEO, oversee finances and institutional performance, and require corrective action when necessary.

• Create a 9-member Quality, Safety, and Patient Rights Committee with a majority of members from outside the Board, which would review serious incidents, staffing, clinical outcomes, grievances, and discharge delays.  

• Strengthen protections for patients by requiring an accessible patient bill of rights, independent advocacy, confidential reporting, and protection against retaliation.

• Increase financial accountability and transparency by establishing a non-lapsing Hospital Fund, independent audits and reviews, public performance reporting, and procurement and corrective-action requirements.

• Protect transferred employees by retaining their pay, leave, benefits, seniority, collective-bargaining protections, and other accrued rights.

This bill was co-introduced with Councilmembers Zachary Parker and Trayon White, Sr.

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