AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 202 organizations, led by the NACHW and Partners in Health-US, supporting Senator Bob Casey (PA) legislation enhancing the recognition and support of community health workers. Available here are: Sen Casey one page overview; Sen Casey March 7 statement; the legislative text; and a list of the 202 organizations […]
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.
Medicare Part D Medications: Affordable Access, Transparency, Utilization Management (2)
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Medicare Access for Patients Rx (MAPRx) Coalition letter to CMS on Medicare Part D payment and rate issues. The letter advocates exclusion of charitable donations of medication co-pays and advocates guardrails, transparency, and disclosure in the use of utilization management in both Part D and Medicare Advantage. […]
Medicare Expanded Coverage of Lower Limb Protheses
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) comments to CMS medical coverage contractors supporting the proposed expansion of lower limb protheses. The March 1 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Medications: Affordable Access, Transparency, Utilization Management
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined an Alliance for Aging Research led letter to CMS on Medicare Advantage and Part D payment and rate issues. The letter focuses on utilization management guardrails, transparency, disclosure, and payment education. The March 1 letter is here: PDF. […]
Family Caregiving – Federal Income Tax Credit – (S. 3702 and H.R. 7165)
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined an AARP led coalition endorsement of legislation to establish a federal income tax credit for family caregiving (S. 3702 and H.R. 715). The February 29 letter is here: PDF. […]
Funding AHRQ – Advocates Congressional Request
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Friends of AHRQ requesting Congressional funding of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The February 26 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Appeal Rights – Hospitals
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined a Center for Medicare Advocacy and Justice in Aging led coalition writing CMS affirming proposed strengthened appeal rights, including when persons are changed by hospitals from “inpatient” status to “observation” status. The February 26 letter is here: PDF. […]
Supporting Veterans with Spinal Cord Injuries (H.R. 6373)
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the ITEM (Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid) Coalition supporting legislation (H.R. 6373) to support the health of veterans with spinal cord injuries. The February 23 letter is here: PDF. […]
Quality Measurement Gaps – AAHD/Lakeshore To NCQA
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation submitted issues of priorities to the February 22 National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) meeting. Available here is the AAHD-Lakeshore outline. The submission includes a number of quality measures not yet accepted by CMS and its contractors. Available here are the measures: Community-Based Mental Health After […]
Accessibility of Medical Diagnostic Equipment of State-and-Local Government Entities (2)
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) submitting comments to the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division on ADA Title II accessibility of medical diagnostic equipment. We posted Feb 13 our joining the CPR and ITEM coalition joint comments to DOJ. The February 12 CCD comments are here: […]