Four U.S. Senators – Hassan (NH), Blackburn (TN), Casey (PA), and Duckworth (IL) have written CMS asking for improved Medicare coverage of “in-home” mobility equipment. This was an initiative led by United Spinal. The September 7 Senate letter is here: MedicareMobilityEquipmentCoverage-In-HomeRequirement-4-US enatorstoCMS_09072023. […]
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.
Recognizing/Elevating the Role of MH/SU Peer Support Specialists – Senate Legislation
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a coalition of Mental Health Liaison Group members and others, supporting Senators Kaine (VA) and Braun (IN) introduced legislation recognizing and elevating the roles of MH and SU Peer Support Specialists. Available here are the Sept 7 Senators statement, one page legislative overview, and leg text. […]
Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) – S. 1332
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined an ANCOR led coalition, writing the U.S. Senate, supporting S. 1332 – recognizing the role of DSPs. The Sept 6 letter is here: PDF. […]
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) – Proposed Rules Comment Portal
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined NAMI and eight national organizations creating a comment portal for submitting comments on the Administration’s proposed health insurance MHPAEA rules. The portal is here: NAMI | Mental Health is Health (quorum.us) […]
Expanding SAMHSA Peer Recovery TA Centers for Both SUD and Mental Health
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a PCMMH and MHA led letter to the Senate HELP Committee asking that the SUPPORT Act reauthorization expand the SUD peer recovery TA centers to also include mental health. The September 5 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Home Health Payment and Coverage of Orthotic Braces
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the ITEM (Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid) Coalition letter to CMS on Medicare coverage of orthotic braces in the Medicare home health program. The August 29 ITEM letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rules – Integration of Behavioral Health, General Health, and Primary Care
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the No Health without Mental Health (NHMH) led collaboration with Clinical Social Work Association, International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses, and Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health submitting comments to CMS on proposed Physician Fee Schedule rules and the integration of behavioral health. The August 29 letter […]
Medicare Coverage of Durable Medical Equipment and Emerging Technologies
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the ITEM (Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid) Coalition letter to CMS on Medicare coverage of DMEPOS (Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies) which are and are not “breakthrough” technologies. The August 28 ITEM letter is here: PDF. […]
Disability as a Recognized Health Disparity Population in NIH Research
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC) requesting NIH NIMHD and AHRQ to recognize and implement the December 9, 2022 Advisory Committee Workgroup on Diversity to the NIH Director recommendation that people with disability be a health disparity population for NIH and AHRQ research. The August 2 DRRC […]
Reinforcing Parental Consent When Medicaid Helps to Fund IDEA Services and Supports
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Task Forces on Education and Health co-chairs comment letter to/on Department of Education proposed IDEA rules. CCD reinforces, and opposes reducing, parental consent when Medicaid helps to fund IDEA services and supports. The August 1 CCD letter to ED (cc HHS […]