AAHD has joined a Trust for America’s Health proposal, sponsored by U.S. Representatives Frankel (CA), Bilirakis (FL), and Dingell (MI), to establish a new CDC program to promote healthy aging public health programs. AAHD is particularly supportive of legislative text items: Page 3 (2) – health outcome disparities in older adults including differences by disability […]
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.
9 Health Priorities in the Build Back Better Legislation
AAHD has joined a Families USA, Community Catalyst, and others led coalition statement to the House and Senate requesting that the final Senate passed Build Back Better legislation include nine areas, including Medicaid home-and-community-based services (HCBS) and Medicaid coverage. The letter includes two areas that AAHD has not previously addressed: federal and state government negotiation […]
Alleviate Barriers To Access Evidence-Based Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder (2) – State and County Officials
In response to the Senate Committee on Finance RFI on barriers to treatment, on November 18 we posted statements by AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation; AAHD & Lakeshore joined 8 national organizations led by No Health without Mental Health (NHMH); and AAHD. a Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) member joined 54 MHLG members. Available here […]
CDC Funding Advocacy with Congress
AAHD has joined 140 members of the CDC Coalition asking the House and Senate appropriations leaders to include the House passed $10.5 billion CDC appropriation in the final HHS appropriations legislation. The November 30 coalition letter is here: PDF. […]
Leveraging Integrated Networks in Communities (LINC) To Address Social Needs – H.R. 6072 and S. 509
House members have introduced the LINC Act (HR 6072), accompanying a previously introduced Senate bill (S. 509). AAHD and our partner Lakeshore Foundation have endorsed both the House and Senate legislation; see Aligning for Health list of supporting organizations: LINC to Address Social Needs Act – Aligning for Health. The new House legislation is sponsored […]
Alleviate Barriers To Access Evidence-Based Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder
In response to the Senate Committee on Finance RFI on barriers to treatment, AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have submitted comments. AAHD & Lakeshore joined 8 national organizations led by No Health without Mental Health (NHMH). AAHD, a Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) member, joined 54 MHLG members submitting comments. The AAHD & Lakeshore letter […]
Dept of HHS – Draft Strategic Plan – Disability Community Comments
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) draft strategic plan. The AAHD and Lakeshore comments endorse, excerpt, and expand upon the submitted comments by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) health and LTSS co-chairs. AAHD was engaged in drafting the CCD comments. AAHD is […]
The HHS COVID Health Equity Report – Disability Community Response
The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC) has responded to the Dept of HHS, Office of Minority Health, final COVID Health Equity Task Force report. AAHD is a DRRC member. The November 1 DRRC response is here: PDF. […]
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) – State Oversite Role
The nation’s leading behavioral health organizations have written the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) requesting immediate strengthening of guidance implementing MHAPAE in health insurance. The November 3 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicaid Health Homes – Proposed Core Quality Measures
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have commented on the Mathematica for CMS proposed Medicaid health homes core quality measures. We also endorsed comments submitted by Dr. Harold Pincus of Columbia University and No Health without Mental Health. available here are the draft Mathematica reportand the November AAHD-Lakeshore comments. […]