AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Clinical Social Work Association and International Society for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing in a No Health without Mental Health (NHMH) led response to a Commonwealth Fund blog. At issue: advocating one evidence-based model for integration (CW Fund) or recognizing the three existing evidence-based models (NHMH led letter). […]
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.
Raise the SSI Asset Limit – S. 2767 and H.R. 5408
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined an Arc led over 300 organizations support for legislation (S. 2767 and H.R. 5408) that would raise the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) asset limit, last raised in 1989. Much of the Arc work has been through the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Task Force on Social Security. […]
Medicare Low-Income Outreach and Enrollment Assistance – Funding Advocacy
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a National Council on Aging coalition led request to the House of Representatives to continue funding for the Medicare low-income outreach and assistance program. The August 29 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rules (4) – Health-Related Social Needs
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a Partnership To Align Social Needs led coalition submission to CMS supporting the Physician Fee Schedule proposed payment for health-related social needs. The September 11 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rules (3) – Caregiver Training Services
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined an AARP led coalition submission to CMS supporting the Physician Fee Schedule proposed payment for caregiver training services. The September 11 letter is here: PDF. […]
Dental Surgery and Medicare Hospital Outpatient Payment
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Task Force on Health writing CMS on dental surgery services. The Sept 11 letter is herePDF: PDF. […]
Reducing Short-Term, Limited Duration Health Insurance (STLDI) – Focus on Rehabilitation and Habilitation Services
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Habilitation Benefits (HAB) Coalition supporting the Administration’s reduction in STLDI and reminding the Administration of the importance of rehabilitation and habitation services, as well as laboratory services, when discussing “essential health benefits” (EHB). The Sept 11 letter to the Departments of HHS, Labor, and Treasury is here: […]
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rules (2) – AAHD and Lakeshore Foundation Submission
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have submitted comments to CMS on proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rules. Our focus was on health-related social needs and the variety of important community-based workers. On August 29, our public policy updates posted our joining a No Health without Mental Health (NHMH) led collaboration on the integration of behavioral […]
Disability as a Recognized Health Disparity Population in NIH Research – 175 Organizations; 1,290 Researchers
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 175 organizations, led by former U.S. Representative and Partnership To Improve Patient Care (PIPC) founder Tony Coelho writing the HHS Secretary objecting to a NIH committee recommendation to “not” recognize disability as a health disparity population. On August 3, we posted on our public policy updates page AAHD […]
House Committee Reports – Prohibiting Use of Disability Discriminatory QALYs in Federal Programs (HR 485)
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has reported legislation (HR 485) prohibiting the use of Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) metrics and calculations in federal programs. AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined two coalitions – CCD and PIPC – advocating such legislation. The CCD letter was posted August 1 and the PIPC letter was […]