The House Committee on Ways and Means voted to prohibit HHS and CMS from ever requiring federal staffing standards for nursing homes (HR 7513). Available here is the November 6, 2023 Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Task Force on LTSS, including AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation, support of CMS standards: PDF. Also available are […]
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.
Updating the ACA Essential Health Benefits (EHB)
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 20 organizations supporting a House of Representatives members letter to HHS and CMS requesting that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Essential Health Benefits (EHB) be updated. The letter was led by Representatives Barragan (CA) and Craig (MN). Available here are the March 29 Rep Barragan and Criag statement […]
NCHS Appropriations Request – Advocates To Congress
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 60 organizations of the Friends of NCHS requesting National Center on Health Statistics appropriations for the next federal fiscal year. The March 28 letter is here: PDF. […]
CDC Appropriations Request – Advocates To Congress
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 117 organizations of the CDC Coalition requesting CDC appropriations for the next federal fiscal year. The March 26 letter is here: PDF. […]
Census – American Community Survey (ACS) – Disability Questions – Disability Community Inclusion
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 83 organizations, led by the National Partnership for Women and Families, asking the Census Bureau to include the disability community, at every stage, before any further substantive work is done, in revising the ACS disability questions. The March 21 letter is here: PDF. […]
Increasing Federal Medicaid Payment Rate for Mental Health and Behavioral Health Services
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have endorsed legislation to increase the federal Medicaid payment rate (FFP-federal financial participation) for mental health and behavioral health services. The legislation is sponsored by Senators Smith (MN) and Stabenow (MI) and Representatives Tonko (NY), Fitzpatrick (PA), and Trone (MD). The Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG), which endorsed in 2021 […]
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Guidance (2)
AAHD is a National Health Council (NHC) member and the NHC has submitted comments to CMS on proposed Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Guidance. Earlier we posted AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation joining the Medicare Access for Patient Rx (MAPRx) coalition comments. The March 15 NHC letter is here: PDF […]
9-8-8 Crisis Service Calls– Geocoding Routing
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a NAMI led letter to HHS and FCC asking that 9-8-8 crisis calls use geocoding routing. The March 20 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Guidance
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Medicare Access for Patient Rx (MAPRx) coalition submitting comments to CMS on the proposed Medicare prescription payment plan guidance. The comments focus on Medicare beneficiary education, accessible and understandable information, notifications, and outreach. The March 15 letter is here: PDF. […]
Persons Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid – Legislation Requiring States To Develop Integrated Health Plans
Six U.S. Senators, led by Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA) with Senators Carper (DE), Cornyn (TX), Warner (VA), Scott (SC), and Menendez (NJ) have introduced legislation to require states to develop integrated care plans for persons dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. This is a tremendous initiative with serious study and thinking. AAHD and the Lakeshore […]