AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have endorsed with numerous national disability organizations – legislation (HR 883) to eliminate the 5 months waiting period after an individual is found eligible for SSDI. Rep Lloyd Doggett (TX) is the lead House sponsor with Rep Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) and Senator Bob Casey (PA) is the lead Senate sponsor. […]
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 Part D Medications – Improving the Low Income Assistance Program
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 70 organizations, led by the National Council on Aging and the PAN Foundation, submitting comments to CMS on improving the Medicare Part D medications low income assistance program. The February 7 coalition letter is here: PDF. […]
House Hearing and Legislation To Prohibit QALYs – Quality Adjusted Life Years Calculations
On February 1, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health, conducted a public hearing on prohibiting the use of QALYs in calculating the benefits of health services. The subcommittee hearing details are here: PDF. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Available here are the committee and subcommittee leadership legislative text, posted on the […]
Coordinating and Integrating General Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Patient Records
To increase whole-person health and wellness, AAHD is a member of the Partnership To Amend 42 CFR Part 2. Available here are the January 31 Partnership press release and Partnership comments to HHS on proposed rules to enhance the care coordination and integration of general health and SUD patient records. […]
6 U.S. Senators – Improving Care for Persons Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid – RFI Response (2)
On January 17, we posted the AAHD-Lakeshore Foundation submission in response to six U.S. Senators RFI on serving persons dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Available here are the submissions of the state Medicaid directors association and a leading expert advocate – Justice in Aging. […]
Clarification of Generic and Brand-Name Medications Payment To Increase Access
AAHD has joined an accessible medications coalition comments to CMS on an ACA “Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters” (NBPP) proposed rule, joining organizations asking for clarification of payment for generic and brand-name medications. The January 30 letter is here: PDF. […]
Strengthening Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Through Worker Supports – Senate Legislation
Senators Casey (PA), Wyden (OR), Duckworth (IL), Hassan (NH), and Brown (OH) have introduced from the last Congress, the “Better Care Better Jobs Act.” The legislation would federally enhance HCBS worker wages and benefits. Here are the January 27 fact sheet and legislative text. […]
Health Equity – Patient Advocacy Consensus Statement
AAHD, a National Health Council (NHC) member, has joined NHC member patient advocacy organizations issuing a consensus statement on health equity. The January 26 shared NHC statement is here: PDF. […]
6 U.S. Senators – Improving Care for Persons Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid – RFI Response
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have responded to a six U.S. Senators RFI on persons dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Available here are: (1) the AAHD-Lakeshore submission; (2) the November 22 Senate RFI; and (3) an AAHD summary of the major studies prepared in 2022. […]
Integrating Behavioral Health-General Health-Primary Care – Enacted Into Law
The Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act has authorized and greatly strengthened the federal government’s support for the integration of behavioral health, general health, and primary care. AAHD has worked with a No Health without Mental Health (NHMH) led partnership that includes our colleague Lakeshore Foundation. Available here are the following: (1) NHMH summary of the legislation, […]