AAHD has joined the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) thanking Congress for including behavioral health initiatives in the recently enacted Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Substantive details of the Act are included in the AAHD June 23 public policy update. Available here is the July 21 MHLG letter: PDF. […]
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.
Addressing Opioid-Related Outcomes Among Individuals with Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Conditions
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have submitted comments to the National Quality Forum on their behavioral health co-occurring conditions draft report for public comment. Available here are the June 7 NQF draft report and the July 17 AAHD-Lakeshore Fd comments. […]
Reauthorizing SAMHSA Training Program – MH Crisis and Living with MH Disorders (S. 4461)
AAHD has joined an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) led, through the Mental Health Liaison Group, support of legislation (S. 4461) that would reauthorize SAMHSA’s mental health training program with an emphasis on mental health crisis services and living with mental health disorders. S. 4461 is co-sponsored by Senators Rosen (NV) and Cassidy (LA). […]
Granting DOL Enhanced Enforcement Authority of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)
AAHD has joined a Kennedy Forum led, through the Mental Health Liaison Group, letter requesting the Senate pass legislation granting the Department of Labor civil monetary penalty authority for health plans not implementing MHPAEA. The July 13 letter is here: PDF. […]
Disability Pride Month – July – Congressional Resolution Work
AAHD has joined 20 organizations, mostly national organizations, led by Gillette Children’s Hospital of St. Paul, MN supporting a draft Congressional resolution, by Senator Klobuchar and Rep McCollum, both of Minnesota – July as Disability Pride Month. The July 5 support letter is here: PDF. […]
Patient-Reported Outcomes-Performance Measures (PRO-PMs) Applied To Inpatient Mental Health Settings – AHRQ RFI
In response to an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) RFI, AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have submitted comments to AHRQ, Here are the May 2 AHRQ RFI and the June 30 AAHD-Lakeshore comments. […]
Medicare – Mental Health and Addiction Parity and Services
AAHD has joined 245 organizations, led by the Legal Action Center through the Coalition for Whole Health, asking Congress to include mental health and addiction insurance parity and services and supports in Medicare. The June 29 letter is here: PDF. […]
Improving Prior Authorization Process and Transparency in Medicare Advantage (HR 3173/S. 3018)
AAHD has joined the Coalition To Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR) writing the House of Representatives supporting the “improving Seniors’ Timely Access To Care Act.” The June 27 CPR letter on Medicare Advantage prior authorization is here: PDF. […]
Section 504 Non-Discrimination Protections – HHS on Updating Rules
Available here is the June 22 HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) response to the April 26 Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) letter to OCR requesting updated regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act; both letters are here: June 22 HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) response; April 26 Consortium for Constituents with […]
Safer Communities Senate Bipartisan
AAHD has joined over 100 organizations, led by Sandy Hook Promise through the Mental Health Liaison Group, supporting the Senate bipartisan safer communities legislation. Available here are the June 23 coalition support letter , the Senate one pager, SCBO summary, and legislative text. […]