From DC is Justice in Aging's weekly roundup of national news and resources about issues impacting older adults. To receive From DC in your inbox as soon as its published, sign up for our mailing list.
Here’s what we’re watching in Washington:
HUD Proposes Rolling Back Equal Access Protections
This week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a proposed rule to weaken the agency’s Equal Access Rule, which ensures equal access to HUD programs regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
HUD’s proposal seeks to remove references to “gender identity,” “gender,” and “actual or perceived sexual orientation” throughout HUD’s regulations. It would also allow service providers who operate single-sex facilities, such as shelters, to deny access to transgender individuals.
Comments on HUD’s proposed rule are due June 29, 2026. Advocates can find more information at the Equal Access Rule Advocacy Hub. Justice in Aging will also share more resources in the coming weeks, including template comments for aging and disability organizations.
Audit Finds SSA Erroneously Charging Medicare Enrollees Part B Premium Penalties
A recent Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General audit found that thousands of Medicare enrollees are likely being over-charged for incorrectly assessed Part B late enrollment penalties.
Late enrollment penalties can be assessed when a person enrolls in Medicare after they are initially eligible. These penalties can be avoided in certain circumstances, including when a person enrolls in a Medicare Savings Program or enrolls in Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period.
The audit found a number of errors in SSA’s processing of Medicare applications, including the treatment of Special Enrollment Periods and immigrants’ lawful presence and residency status.
The audit also found that enrollees were not given adequate notice of the penalties or their enrollment options. Medicare enrollees can challenge their premium penalty and access financial support through Medicaid, including Medicare Savings Programs.
New Justice in Aging Resources
- Issue Brief: Policy Reforms to Better Connect Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities to SSI and Other Benefits (4/24)
- Comment Letter: Justice in Aging’s Comments on HUD’s Proposed Rule to Revoke the 30-Day Notice Rule (4/24)
- Issue Brief: Access to Home- and Community-Based Services for People with Disabilities Leaving Incarceration: Barriers and Policy Priorities (4/22)
- Comment Letter: Justice in Aging’s Comments on HUD’s Proposed Rule on Mixed-Status Households (4/21)
- Fact Sheet: FAQ: Adding a Dental Benefit to Medicare Part B (4/20)
- Blog: The Future of Aging Policy: Defending What Exists While Preparing for What Comes Next (4/16)
- Issue Brief: Equity in Aging: Public Benefits and the Realities of Black Older Adults (4/14)
- Alert: Take Action to Stop Harmful HUD Proposals (4/9)
- Fact Sheet: H.R. 1 Reduces Medicaid Retroactive Eligibility Starting in 2027 (4/9)
- Fact Sheet: H.R. 1 Imposes New Limit on Home Equity for Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports Effective 2028 (4/9)
- Fact Sheet: How Medicare and Medi-Cal Work Together for Older Adults (4/6)
- Toolkit: Provider Network Protections for D-SNP State Medicaid Agency Contracts (3/31)
Upcoming Justice in Aging Webinars
- Understanding California's Eviction Process: A Primer for Advocates (5/12)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Basics (5/20)
