AAHD has endorsed legislation by Senators Tina Smith (MN) and Jerry Moran (KS) supporting the integration of behavioral health into primary care. Senators Smith and Moran are the bi-partisan Senate Committee on HELP leads on this issue. AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation worked closely with No Health without Mental Health (NHMH) and APA-psychology and the […]
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.
Funding the Assistive Technology Act Programs
AAHD has joined the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) requesting funding for assistive technology act programs. The May 23 letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are here: House; Senate. […]
Raising the SSI Assets Limit for the First Time in 30 Years – S. 4102
AAHD has joined a Disability and Aging Collaborative (DAC) led effort supporting Senators Brown and Portman, both Ohio, proposed legislation to raise the SSI assets/resources limit. The May 24 support letter is here: PDF. […]
Prohibiting Use of QALYs (Quality Adjusted Life Years) – HR 7634
Representative McMorris-Rodgers (WA) and several other Reps have introduced legislation (HR 7634) to prohibit the use of QALYs in federal health programs. Availalbe here are the legislative text and sponsors’ press release. […]
Medicaid HCBS – Keeping Strengthening Program in Next Congressional Legislative Package
AAHD has joined 69 national organizations and 137 state and local organizations asking the U.S. Senate to include Medicaid home-and-community-based services (HCBS) strengthening in the next U.S. Senate legislative package. The House has previously passed a $150 billion HCBS strengthening. The May 18 Disability and Aging Collaborative (DAC) led letter is here: PDF. […]
Behavioral Health Party in Insurance Coverage – Stopping State and Local Government Health Plans from Opt Outs (HR 7666, Section 321)
AAHD has joined a Kennedy Forum led letter supporting House Energy and Commerce Committee health chair markup legislative text which would prohibit state and local government health plans opt outs from MHPAEA requirements. The May 10 coalition letter supporting Section 321, HR 7666 is here: PDF. […]
Integrating Behavioral Health-General Health-Primary Care (HR 7666; Section 301)
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the American Psychological Association (APA-psychology) and No Health without Mental Health(NHMH) proposing alternative amendments to the Subcommittee on Health, House Energy and Commerce Committee, May 11 health chair markup legislative text. Available here are: May 11 APA-NHMH-AAHD-LS letter for the markup record; the health chair’s Section 301 leg […]
Use of QALY in Medicare Medicine Coverage and Payment
Available here is the Partnership To Improve Patient Care (PIPC) May 5 letter to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommending that QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Years) never be used in Medicare medicine coverage and payment: PDF. […]
Senators Introduce Legislation (S. 4102) To Increase SSI Resources/Assets Limit
Ohio Senators Brown and Portman have introduced legislation (S. 4102) increasing the existing and long practiced SSI resources/assets limit from $2,000 to $10,000. Available here is the Justice in Aging alert on S. 4102: PDF. […]
45 House Members Ask for Increased SAMHSA Appropriations
45 House members have written the House Appropriations Committee asking for highest possible SAMHSA funding; the April 27 letter is here: PDF. […]