From DC is Justice in Getting older’s weekly roundup of nationwide information and sources about points impacting older adults. To obtain From DC in your inbox as quickly as its printed, join our mailing checklist.
Right here’s what we’re watching in Washington:
Congress Passes Quick Time period Funding Invoice to Reopen the Authorities
The federal authorities reopened following Congress’s passage of a funding invoice on Wednesday. The package deal features a persevering with decision that expires January 30, 2026, in addition to full-year appropriations for the Division of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and Congressional operations. Full Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) advantages ought to resume in all states and be in place by September 2026, even when one other shutdown happens.
The package deal doesn’t embrace extension of Reasonably priced Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credit (ePTCs). As AARP experiences, 92% of older adults ages 50 to 64 enrolled in Market protection are projected to pay greater premiums in 2026 if the ePTCs aren’t prolonged.
Use this toolkit from Households USA and Neighborhood Catalyst to induce Congress to make ePTCs everlasting and reverse cuts to Medicaid and Medicare.
Social Safety 2026 COLA Improve
The Social Safety Administration not too long ago introduced a 2.8% enhance for the 2026 Value of Residing Adjustment (COLA). Whereas this enhance is welcome and wanted for older adults and folks with disabilities residing on mounted incomes, it nonetheless falls in need of maintaining tempo with the rising prices they face for housing, meals, well being care, and different necessities.
Study extra in our situation transient: Social Safety is Important to People Nationwide.
Most States Undertaking Medicaid Price range Shortfalls in 2026
Of their annual Medicaid enrollment and spending progress evaluation, KFF experiences that extra states are going through Medicaid price range uncertainty than final 12 months, due partly to the Medicaid and different well being care cuts enacted by the price range reconciliation legislation (H.R. 1). Almost two-thirds of responding states reported the possibility of a 2026 Medicaid price range shortfall was “50-50”, “doubtless”, or “virtually sure.”
A couple of states are implementing Medicaid spending cuts, significantly to supplier charges. As American Rescue Plan Act funding is expiring, 24 states are planning to extend home- and community-based companies (HCBS) supplier charges in fiscal 12 months 2026, down from 34 in 2025 and 39 in 2024.
Three states are lowering their HCBS supplier charges (ID, NC, WY). Extra states will doubtless goal HCBS for cuts in response to H.R. 1. For instance, Colorado’s governor has proposed lowering dwelling care hours and reducing supplier reimbursement charges.
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