AAHD has joined a No Health without Mental Health led, AAHD, Clinical Social Work Association, International Society for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses, and Lakeshore Foundation submission to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) responding to the AHRQ RFI. The November 14 statement, focused on the TEAMcare intervention for integrating behavioral health and chronic […]
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.
CDC Funding – Appropriations Advocacy
AAHD has joined the CDC Coalition asking Congress to complete CDC appropriations for 2022-2023. The November 9 CDC letter is here: PDF. […]
Senate Committee on Finance Publicly Releases Mental Health Care Integration Legislation – for Discussion
On November 10, the Senate Committee on Finance publicly released their discussion draft mental health integration legislation. Available here are the Committee’s summary and the draft legislative text. […]
Continuing Medicaid Protections After the End of Public Health Emergency Declaration
AAHD has joined the Disability and Aging Collaborative (DAC) asking the White House and Administration health leaders to continue Medicaid protections after the end of the PH Emergency declaration. The DAC also asked for more than 60 days advance notice before termination. The November 10 DAC letter is here: PDF. […]
Legislating Support of Behavioral Health Peer Support Workers /Peer Specialists
AAHD has joined the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) Peer Support Workgroup submitting comments to the Senate Committee on Finance latest legislative proposals. The October 28 bipartisan discussion draft was previously posted in an AAHD public policy update on integrating BH and primary care. The November 9 MHLG letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment – Disability Community Comments to CMS
AAHD has joined the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) comments to CMS on Medicaid eligibility and enrollment proposed rules. The letter addresses areas of recent years AAHD focus: (1) relationship of SSI and low income Medicare persons (QMBs); (2) subsidies for low income Medicare Part D medication persons; and (3) expense calculations for Medicaid […]
Legislating the Promotion and Support of the Integration of Behavioral Health and Primary Care
AAHD has joined lead No Health without Mental Health; and Clinical Social Workers Association, the Lakeshore Foundation, and International Society for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses – submitting comments to the Senate Committee on Finance latest legislative discussion draft on the integration of behavioral health and general health/primary care. Available here are the November 4 letter […]
Funding the Social Security Administration (SSA) To Meet Public Service Requests
AAHD has joined the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) writing Congress asking for adequate SSA funding to meet public service requests. Available here are the November 3 CCD letter and a one page fact sheet. […]
Implementing Prescription Medication Protections in the Inflation Reduction Act
AAHD has joined the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CDC) (EFA led) writing HHS on implementing new IRA prescription medication protections. The October 25 CCD letter is here: PDF. […]
Continuous Medicaid Coverage During Public Health Emergencies
AAHD has joined a NHeLP-Justice in Aging led coalition letter to CMS supporting rescinding the previous Administration interim final rule reducing Medicaid enrollee continuous coverage during public health emergencies. The October 25 letter is here: PDF. […]