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Washington Update - August 2026

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Washington Update - August 2026

Part D premium stabilization program to end

Trump administration announces end to Biden-era Medicare Part D premium stabilization program: The Part D Stabilization Demonstration went into effect in 2025 and included a $15 uniform cut to the Part D base beneficiary premium, with a year-over-year increase limit of $35 and narrowed risk corridors. Two weeks ago, the Trump administration announced it was ending the demonstration as it was no longer necessary, after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said its analysis suggest insurers now have “sufficient experience under the redesigned Part D benefit” to develop Part D plan bids moving forward. Access the CMS Fact Sheet and read more at The Hill and Healthcare Dive.

Senate committee holds hearing with Fauci

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee members grill former COVID czar Anthony Fauci, M.D. over handling of COVID-19 pandemic: During the contentious hearing, several committee members, including Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Senator Rand Paul, M.D. (R-KY) decried Fauci’s handling of COVID-19 policies, including shutdowns, masking, and social distancing. Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right and declined to answer several questions over the course of the hearing, saying they were a ‘perjury trap’. Democrats defended Fauci and accused Republicans of using the hearing as a distraction from the party’s ‘disastrous’ health policies. Read more from Politico, The Hill, and Inside Health Policy.

HHS rescinds Title VI disparate-impact liability regulations

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) publishes final rule removing disparate-impact liability provisions from regulations implementing Title VI: OCR quietly released the final rule on July 23, removing sections of the regulation implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that imposed or exemplified liability based on disparate impact. OCR published the rule in accordance with Executive Order 14281, which aims to eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in all contexts—it went into effect immediately. Access the HHS press release and read more from LeadingAge and McKnight’s Senior Living.