From DC is Justice in Ageing’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:
Want for Advocacy Nonetheless Pressing Regardless of HUD’s Pause of Overhaul to Homelessness Funding
This previous Monday, shortly earlier than a court docket listening to on its plan to overtake the Continuum of Care (CoC) homeless help program, the Division of Housing and City Growth (HUD) withdrew its plan to “make applicable revisions.”
HUD’s lately launched Fiscal 12 months (FY) 2025 CoC Discover of Funding Alternative (NOFO) had outlined its intent to defund everlasting supportive housing (PSH) and enact different unprecedented modifications round homelessness funding. Two lawsuits had been filed to problem the NOFO, and litigation stays ongoing regardless of HUD’s newest motion.
HUD has introduced it is going to launch an up to date FY25 CoC NOFO with “technical corrections.” Congressional advocacy stays essential, because the late timing alone of a brand new FY25 NOFO would lead to main funding delays and gaps for CoC-funded tasks, which might result in individuals shedding their housing and providers. Congress can act now by renewing present CoC grants for an additional 12 months.
Learn extra about how threats to PSH and the CoC program would hurt older adults, and urge Congress at the moment to guard PSH and CoC funding.
Senate Fails to Prolong Enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credit
Because the December 31 expiration of the Inexpensive Care Act Market enhanced premium tax credit (ePTCs) approaches, the Senate voted on two well being care payments on Thursday. Neither obtained the 60 votes wanted to go.
The Decrease Well being Care Prices Act (S. 3385) launched by Senator Schumer (D-NY) would lengthen ePTCs for 3 years. The invoice failed by a vote of 51 to 48, with 4 Republicans becoming a member of all Democrats in voting sure.
The Well being Care Freedom for Sufferers Act of 2025 (S. 3386), launched by Senators Cassidy (R-LA) and Crapo (R-ID), additionally failed by a vote of 51 to 48, with no Democrats voting sure. This invoice wouldn’t lengthen the ePTCs however as a substitute present well being financial savings account funding to individuals with revenue under 700% of the federal poverty stage who buy high-deductible well being plans.
The invoice additionally contains cuts to Medicaid and well being care that had been taken out of H.R. 1 as a result of they violated price range reconciliation course of guidelines. These embrace chopping federal Medicaid enlargement funding for states that use their very own funds to cowl well being take care of immigrants from 90% to 80%; ending the requirement that states present Medicaid candidates with a 90-day affordable alternative interval to confirm their citizenship or immigration standing; and prohibiting the usage of federal Medicaid funding for gender transition providers and excluding them as a vital well being profit for ACA Market plans.
DOJ Rolls Again Title VI Anti-Discrimination Guidelines
This week, the Division of Justice (DOJ) ended long-standing rules beneath Title VI that prohibited “any program or exercise receiving Federal monetary help” from having insurance policies or practices that disproportionately discriminate towards individuals based mostly on their “race, shade, or nationwide origin.”
The Division issued this remaining rule with out public enter by means of discover and remark. The Supreme Court docket had beforehand discovered no personal explanation for motion for disparate impression claims beneath Title VI and restricted enforcement of these claims to the DOJ.
This new rule will finish federal Title VI enforcement towards seemingly impartial insurance policies or practices which have a discriminatory impact, or “disparate impression,” on protected teams. In different phrases, disparate impression will now not be grounds for discrimination claims beneath Title VI.
The Division’s actions take away essential protections that guarantee non-discriminatory entry to numerous federally funded packages relied upon by older adults. Whereas the flexibility to deliver claims of intentional discrimination beneath Title VI nonetheless exists, it is going to be more and more tough to deal with disparate impression discrimination.
DOJ and the assorted Places of work of Civil Rights inside federal businesses will now not examine disparate impression claims involving federally funded packages.
2026 Monetary Eligibility Requirements for Medicaid SSI, Spousal Impoverishment, MSPs, and LIS
The Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies (CMS) printed up to date 2026 monetary eligibility requirements for Supplemental Safety Revenue (SSI), spousal impoverishment protections, and Medicare Financial savings Applications (MSPs).
As of January 1, 2026, the minimal useful resource restrict for 3 MSPs (Certified Medicare Beneficiary, Specified Low-Revenue Medicare Beneficiary, and Qualifying Particular person) can be $9,950 (single) and $14,910 (married). Fifteen states and the District of Columbia at present have extra beneficiant useful resource requirements for MSPs.
In 2026, the 300% SSI revenue restrict (particular revenue rule) can be $2,982 per 30 days, whereas the SSI useful resource restrict stays at $2,000 for a person. The bulletin additionally gives the 2026 spousal impoverishment requirements, together with the month-to-month upkeep wants allowance, group partner housing allowance and useful resource requirements, and residential fairness limits.
CMS additionally up to date the Medicare Half D Low-Revenue Subsidy Useful resource and Price-Sharing Limits. For 2026, the Low-Revenue Subsidy (LIS or Further Assist) useful resource limits are $16,590 (single) and $33,100 (married), and cost-sharing limits vary from $0 to $12.65 per treatment.
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