AAHD Disability and Public Health News is focused on the organization, financing, and delivery of health and health related services and supports to persons with disabilities.
Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS) – Senate Legislation – Expanded HCBS as a Mandatory Medicaid Benefit
Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS) – Senate Legislation – Expanded HCBS as a Mandatory Medicaid Benefit – AAHD – AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 27 national endorsing organizations supporting Senate legislation to authorize an expanded HCBS program as a mandatory Medicaid benefit. The legislation is sponsored by Senators Lujan (NM) and Kaine (VA) and 15 Senate co-sponsors. Senators Lujan and Kaine introductory statement summarizes the legislation and lists the 17 Senators and the 27 endorsing organizations. Available: Senators Lujan-Kaine introductory statement, section-by-section summary, and legislative text.
Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS): States Are Using Creative Strategies Supporting Independent Living
State Strategies Help Older Adults Live Independently | Commonwealth Fund – Commonwealth Fund report – July 15.
Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS): Preparing for the Medicaid Access Rule
ATI_Preparing for the Medicaid Access Rule’s HCBS Provisions – ATI Advisory and ADvancing States webinar slides – August 4.
Medicare At Home Legislation (Personal Care Benefit) – HR 10020 and S. 5270
Dingell, Kim Introduce Bill to Include Long-Term Care as Part of Medicare | Congresswoman Debbie Dingell – Legislation to add a personal care benefit to Medicare – Rep. Dingell (MI) and Senator Kim (NJ) – August 10.
Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements: CMS Interim Final Rules – Coming To a State Near You
August 7, 2026 | National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative – AAHD NDNRC August 7 news summary; includes link to submission of the American Disability and Aging Alliance comments to CMS.
Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements: CMS Interim Final Rules – Outreach Requirements and State Plans
Medicaid Work Requirements: Federal Outreach Requirements and State Plans | KFF – Kaiser Family Foundation blog – July 24.
Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements: CMS Interim Final Rules – Entire House Democratic Caucus Letter To CMS on “Serious Health Care Needs”
Neguse, Wasserman-Schultz Lead Entire Democratic Caucus in Demanding CMS Reverse Course on Rule Threatening Medicaid Access for Cancer Patients | Congressman Joe Neguse – Entire House Democratic Caucus letter to CMS, led by Representatives Neguse (CO) and Wasserman-Schultz on the “undue burden for beneficiaries with serious health care needs” – July 20.
Medicaid Reconciliation Law (HR 1): Work and Community Engagement Requirements: CMS Interim Final Rules – Defending the CMS Rules by Paragon Health Institute
PUBLIC COMMENT — Medicaid Program: Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals – The Paragon CEO and founder was the first Trump Administration White House health policy staff. He is a close advisor to the current HHS and CMS. NOTE: These comments are included in this newsletter to provide a possible explanation for CMS’s rationale. Their inclusion in this newsletter is in no way an endorsement of the position stated in the comment letter.
Medicaid Provider Tax – CMS Proposed Rule – Implications for Mental Health and SUD Organizations
Provider-Tax-Hold-Harmless-Rule-Fact-Sheet-and-Recommendations.pdf – National Council for Mental Wellness analysis – July 24.
Medicaid State-Directed Payments and Provider Taxes: HHS ASPE History and Potential Effects
State Directed Payments Report Draft_7_8_2026 FINAL.pdf – HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation report – August 12.
Integrating Physical and Behavioral Health: Persons with Co-Occurring MH-SUD with Chronic Physical Illnesses
Integrating Physical and Behavioral Health: Addressing Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders with Chronic Physical Illnesses | SAMHSA Library – SAMHSA publication – August 11.
Understanding Health Care Affordability
August 7, 2026 | National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative – AAHD NDNR August 7 overview.
Care Matters: Report Card on Care Affordability and Access
Care Matters: A 2026 State Report Card on Care Affordability and Access – The Century Foundation and Caring Across Generations report card – July 30.
Peer Support Strengthens Pathways To Sustain Community Living for Disabled People of Color
Peer Support Strengthens Pathways that Sustain Community Living for Disabled People of Color: A Case Study – Community Living Equity Center | The Heller School – Brandeis Community Living Policy Center case study – August 5.
Expanding Access To Care in Rural Communities – People with Complex Health and Social Needs
Expanding Access to Care in Rural Communities: Strategies to Better Serve People with Complex Health and Social Needs – Center for Health Care Strategies – Center for Health Care Strategies webinar slides – July 29.
Administration Ends Medicare Part D Medications Premium Stabilization Demonstration
Administration Ends Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration – Center for Medicare Advocacy – Center for Medicare Advocacy summary – August 6. The July 28 CMS announcement is here: Medicare Part D 2027 National Average Monthly Bid Amount Information | CMS
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule – CMS Fact Sheet
Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (CMS-1848-P) — Medicare Shared Savings Program Proposals | CMS – CMS fact sheet – July 14.
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule – Community Health Centers Summary
8_4_26_NACHC CY27 PFS Office Hour Deck Draft – National Association of Community Health Centers summary – webinar slides – August 5.
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule – Bold Steps Forward for Primary Care
Proposed 2027 Medicare Part B Payment Rule Takes Bold Steps Forward for Primary Care – PCC – Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) initial statement – July 14.
Medicaid: Access To Preventive Services (part 2)
OneDrive – Families USA webinar slides – August 3. Our last week’s news (August 11) shared on the webinar – George Washington University backgrounder for stakeholders.
NIDILRR Grant Funding Delays – Disability Research Concerns
NIDILRR Grant Funding Delays – Disability Research Concerns – AAHD – AAHD, as a steering committee member, has joined the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC) letter to ACL (Administration for Community Living) expressing concerns with the grant funding delays with Congressionally appropriated NIDILRR research funding – August 10.
AHRQ Grant Cancellations – Analysis and Explanation
The Reasons Behind the AHRQ Grant Cancellations Fail to Meet the Agency’s Own Standards – Academy Health situation report on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) grant cancellations – August 11.
Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Quality Measures – HEDIS Updates
HEDIS® MY 2027 Volume 2 Release for Long-Term Services and Supports – NCQA – NCQA HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set) technical and editing updates – August 3.
Using Quality Measures To Promote Wellness and Prevention
PRMR MSR Strategic Meeting Final Summary – Battelle for HHS and CMS Partnership for Quality Measures June 23-24 meeting summary; August 6 shared July 21 meeting summary.