AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 174 organizations led by the Disability and Aging Collaborative (DAC) and the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) encouraging Congress to not cut Medicaid funding as the Congress considers federal spending and federal tax cuts – now and during the coming year. The DAC-CCD statement is an early […]
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.
Prior Authorization Transparency in Medicare Advantage (S. 4532 and HR 8702)
Despite a majority of both the House and Senate as cosponsors, and despite being endorsed by 500 organizations, including AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation, Congress failed to include prior authorization transparency in Medicare Advantage legislation (S. 4532 and H.R. 8702) in the end of the year package. Available here is the December 17 statement of […]
State HCBS and Related Caregiving Options – Centralized Website Resource (HR 670)
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD), Task Force on LTSS, encouraging the Senate to pass December 17 House passed legislation (HR 670) that would establish a centralized website listing state home-and-community-based services (HCBS) and related caregiving options. The December 18 letter to the Senate is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Part D Medications – Guardrails Against Utilization Management Including Prior Authorization
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a coalition, led by the Alliance for Aging Research, asking CMS to establish greater guardrails against utilization management (UM) including prior authorization (PA) in the Medicare Part D medications program. The December 12 letter to CMS is here: PDF. […]
Extending ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 70 organizations, led by Families USA, asking Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. Available here are the December 9 FUSA coalition letter to Congress and the December 5 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) statement on the Effects of Not Extending Expanded Premium Tax […]
Medicare Low-Income Beneficiary Outreach and Enrollment – Continued Congressional Funding
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 95 organizations, led by the National Council on Aging, asking the House of Representatives to continue Congressional funding, during the Congressional “Lame Duck” 2024 session – for the Medicare Low-Income Beneficiary Outreach and Enrollment program. The December 5 letter to the House is here: PDF. […]
Behavioral Health Insurance Parity (MHPAEA) in Medicaid and CHIP
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 67 organizations, led by the LAC, reinforcing with suggestions CMS guidance on the application of MHPAEA (Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act) to Medicaid and CHIP. The December 2 letter to CMS is here: PDF. […]
FDA Ban of Electric Skin Shock Devices
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 195 organizations, led by ASAN, asking the FDA to issue a final rule to ban electric skin shock devices used in a few disability programs. The November 25 letter to the FDA/HHS/OMB is here: PDF. […]
Prosthetics for Veterans To Participate in Sports and Recreation (HR 9478)
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition supporting legislation (HR 9478) funding prosthetics for veterans to participate in sports and recreation. The November 19 ITEM letter is here: PDF. […]
NIH Programs – Congressional Appropriations Request – All of Us Research and BRAIN Initiative
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 146 organizations, led by the Friends of the All of Us Research and the American Brain Coalition requesting appropriate Congressional appropriations for two National Institutes of Health (NIH) programs. The November 21 letter on the All of Us Research and BRAIN Initiative programs is here: PDF. […]