AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a broad coalition of 450 disability, education, civil rights, and related organizations opposing and denouncing the Administration announced transfer of the Department of Education special education and civil rights programs to other executive agencies, removed from education. Read the June 18 coalition statement. […]
Policy Updates
The American Association on Health and Disability plays an important role in disability policy and advocacy at the national level. AAHD strives to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities receive attention and respect on the national legislative agenda. AAHD is involved in numerous disability coalitions and networks that address the needs of people with disabilities. Please visit the Policy site to learn more about our activities in this area. AAHD staff maintain an active role in Washington, DC to ensure that health promotion and wellness for people with disabilities is on the disability and healthcare agenda. AAHD staff have positions on the APHA, Disability Section, Executive Council; the CDC, NCBDDD, Executive Committee; Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities-CCD and serve on the National Health Council; Coalition for Health Funding; Disability Rehabilitation and Research Coaltion; Coalition for Whole Health, Patient Care Primary Care Collaborative; and other coalitions advocating for policy that works towards reducing health disparities between people with disabilities and the general population and reducing the incidence of secondary conditions in children and adults with disabilities.
Medicare and Managed Care Prior Authorization – Patient Protections and Access
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Medicare Access for Patient Rx (MAPRx) coalition comments to CMS on interoperability and prior authorization, emphasizing needed patient protections. The June 15 MAPRx letter is here: PDF. […]
Streamlining Wheelchair Repairs for Medicare Advantage Enrollees
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have endorsed legislation to streamline wheelchair repairs for Medicare Advantage enrollees. The June 17 Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA) on co-sponsors, endorsing organizations, and text summary are here: Stakeholder Toolkit and press release with text summary. […]
Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS) – Quality Measures – Caregiving Including Respite (part 3)
Available here are the submitted comments to CMS on proposed 2028 HCBS quality measures by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the ARCH National Respite Network, and the ARCH submitted second document on recommended common data elements. We previously posted comments to CMS by AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation; Brandeis Community Living Policy Center; NHeLP; […]
CMS Interoperability of Medical-Behavioral Health Data Exchange
AAHD, the Lakeshore Foundation, and six partners have joined No Health without Mental Health (NHMH) submission to CMS RFI on interoperability of medical-behavioral health data exchange in integrated health care. The June 5 submission is here: PDF. […]
AAHD Joins 13 Organizations Led by Not Dead Yet in Submitting Comments to CMS
AAHD has joined 13 organizations led by Not Dead Yet in submitting comments to CMS in response to their Request for Information on Medicare payments for hospice and palliative care, specifically addressing concerns around Medical Aid in Dying (MAID). The June 1 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS) – Quality Measures – Advocate CMS Submissions (part 2)
May 18 we web posted AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation submitted comments to CMS on proposed 2028 HCBS quality measures. The May 18 posting included AAHD-Lakeshore submission and the April 27 CMS Federal Register proposal for public comment. Available here are: (1) AAHD-Lakeshore submission; (2) Brandeis Community Living Policy Center submission; (3) NHeLP submission; and […]
Lifespan Respite Care Programs– Appropriations Request
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 98 organizations led by the National Respite Coalition appropriations request to Congress for the Lifespan Respite Care programs. The June 2 letter is here: PDF. […]
NIH All Of Us Research Program– Appropriations Request
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 52 organizations led by Vanderbilt Health appropriations request to Congress for the NIH All Of Us Research program. The June 1 letter is here: PDF. […]
Advocates to Congress: Rescind CMS Limits on Medicare Low Vision Aids
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition asking Congress to rescind CMS limits on Medicare low vision aids. The May 21 ITEM letter is here: PDF. […]