Kaimuki Chapter 1518 News Update                                                      August  2026

FEHB Privacy: What OPM’s New Data Rule Means for You  [myfederalretirement.com]  

 A fight that began quietly in December has turned into one of the most closely watched privacy disputes in the federal benefits world. OPM wants far more detailed health claims data on the roughly 8 million people covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) programs. Lawmakers, unions, and retiree groups say the plan is legally shaky and dangerously broad.  OPM’s Case: Fraud, Not Surveillance and will use pseudonymization to hide identity.  NARFE’s Response: "Pseudonymized Is Not De-Identified"

NARFE Says OPM Could Match ‘Anonymous’ Medical Records   [fedweek.com]   

NARFE “continues to have serious issues” with OPM’s plan to gain more detailed access to medical records of persons covered by FEHB/PSHB, despite the agency’s promises for privacy protection.  NARFE: "A hashed member ID is only as protective as the separation between the entity holding the hash and the entity holding the roster that the hash was derived from" - in both cases OPM.

Trump administration to end Medicare Part D subsidy program in 2027.   [abcnews.com]    

The Trump administration is ending a key health insurance subsidy program that aimed to keep premiums for seniors' prescription drug plans in check.  About half of enrollees will either see a premium increase of less than $10/month or a premium decrease and most will have plans available at $10 or less, according to a Trump administration official.

Trump plans high generic-drug tariffs in 2028 to spur U.S. production.   Generic drug manufacturers must move production to the US or face a 100% import duty from August 2028, President Donald Trump said, threatening the supply of low-cost medicines that millions of Americans rely on.  Generic drugs imported into the U.S. will face zero tariffs for two years starting August 1, before a 100% levy takes effect in August 2028 and rises to 200% a year later. Nearly 50% of all generic medicines consumed in America come from India. The U.S. accounts for about a third of India’s pharma exports, mostly cheaper versions of popular drugs. Chinese firms dominate the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as amoxicillin and heparin.

OPM Replaces Retirement Services Email Address With Support Center Link  [narfe.org]   If you have previously used retire@opm.gov,  this has been replaced by the OPM Support Center. To contact OPM, members should use the OPM Retirement Services online. Go to  https://www.opm.gov/support/retirement/contact/.  

Army speeds firing process for civilian employees  [federalnewsnetwork.com]    The new policy puts the Army’s 188,000 or so civilian workers on unsteady footing as the service continues cutting jobs.  A recent memo speeds up the process of firing civilians while giving them less time to defend their work.  The changes follow Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s  directive to fire unsuccessful employees “with speed and conviction”. 

Medicare Advantage payment debate targets quality ratings.  [axios.com]   Challenges with the Medicare Advantage quality rating system are colliding with a broader reckoning over how much the federal government pays Medicare Advantage plans.  Medicare Advantage insurers get a bonus for contracts that earn at least four stars.  The rating system, which governs billions of dollars in Medicare Advantage bonus payments, could be ripe for an overhaul as policymakers question how much the privatized Medicare program should cost taxpayers.

Trump wants to require NDAs for federal workers, worrying advocates  [Marketplace]   

 The federal government is proposing a rule allowing its agencies to require that their workers sign nondisclosure agreements. That rule has yet to be finalized. But another rule, which is final, said workers could be fired for refusing to sign an NDA or violating one after signing it.

 Trump’s attacks on mail balloting and concerns over delays turn midterms spotlight on Postal Service  [apnews.com]  President Donald Trump is seeking greater control over mail balloting through an executive order while a change to how the agency processes mail is leading to criticism that it’s failing to deliver ballots on time.  Trump seeks to create a national voter list to guide the Postal Service in deciding who gets a mail ballot. 

‘A big win’: Hawaii Medicare reimbursements to increase by nearly $17 million per year  [Hawaii news now]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have begun the process of increasing the amount that Hawaii hospitals can be reimbursed by Medicare Senator Brian Schatz announced   When the process is finalized, Hawaii is set to receive around $17 million per year in additional Medicare funding. The additional funds will go toward reimbursing hospitals for outpatient care for enrolled seniors.

Employee groups revive lawsuit to block Schedule F.  [govexec.com]   A coalition of labor unions and other

employee advocacy groups say President Trump’s plan to convert around 50,000 federal workers to at-will employees violates federal law, the Constitution and threatens to upend the merit-based civil service.

New OPM Delivery Method for 1099-R Form

Matthew January 6, 2026

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has updated its delivery policy for the 1099-R form. Annuitants who have provided an email address will receive their 1099-R forms electronically, unless they opt to receive them by mail through their OPM online account. Individuals without internet or computer access should contact OPM’s Retirement Services to request a mailed copy of their 1099-R forms. Annuitants can change their delivery preference by visiting their Retirement Services Online account at www.opm.gov/rso or by calling the Retirement Services hotline at 1-888-767-6738 to request a mailed copy.