The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC) submitted comments to the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. AAHD is a DRRC member. The November 1 submission is here:PDF. […]
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.
Integrated Behavioral Health and Primary Care – Submission To The Senate Committee on Finance
AAHD has joined 6 national mental health organizations supporting a No Health without Mental Health (NHMH) submission to the Senate Committee on Finance in reply to the Committee’s RFI for ideas for strengthening the nation’s behavioral health system. Available here are: (1) the November 1 NHMH led letter; (2) May coalition legislative recommendations as a […]
Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) – Build Back Better Inclusion
AAHD has joined a coalition of almost 60 organizations requesting the White House and Congressional leaders to keep Medicaid NEMT in the Build Back Better legislation. The October 26 coalition request is here: PDF. […]
Streamlining “Prior Authorization” in Medicare Advantage Plans – S. 3018/HR 3173
29 US Senators have written CMS supporting the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access To Care Act” (S. 3018 and HR 3173) – effort to streamline Medicare Advantage prior authorization. AAHD is one of 300 organizations supporting a coalition endorsing this legislation. Available here are the October 28 Senators letter to CMS, the October 20 coalition statement […]
Promoting Behavioral Health Integration Into Transformed Primary Care
AAHD has joined No Health without Mental Health (NHMH), Lakeshore Foundation, and 3 psychiatric professional societies reinforcing and offering ideas to expand National Academy of Medicine and Bipartisan Policy Center primary care reports with behavioral health integration. AAHD was actively engaged in the letter drafting focusing on persons with chronic conditions and persons dually eligible […]
Senators Introduce Social Determinants of Health Legislation
AAHD has joined Aligning for Health endorsing the Senate introduction of the Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Act. Senators Stabenow (MI) and Young (IN) are the Senate sponsors. AAHD and Aligning for Health previously endorsed the House version (HR 2503), sponsored by Reps Bustos (IL), Cole (OK), McGovern (MA), and Mullin (OK). It takes some […]
SSI & SSDI Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) – Burdensome Process and Documents on Beneficiaries; Need for Long Term SSI Improvements
AAHD has joined the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Task Force on Social Security, commenting to SSA on the SSI-SSDI CDR process. The CCD Social Security co-chairs wrote Congress repeating the need for long term improvements in the SSI program, re-sharing the July 26 and May 12 letters signed by AAHD. The October 18 […]
Removing the Medicare Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Lifetime Limit
AAHD has joined the Mental Health Liaison Groutp (MHLG) advocating enactment of legislation to remove the 190 day lifetime Medicare limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital treatment. Available here are he October 18 letters to House and Senate. […]
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots – Disability Community Seeks Further CDC Guidance
AAHD has joined the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Task Force on Health, seeking additional CDC guidance on COVID-19 vaccine boosters and persons with disabilities. The October 19 letter is here: PDF. […]
AAHD Discusses Medicaid and Medicare Issues with the CMS Administrator and Leadership Team
AAHD was invited and participated in a disability issue discussion with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and a dozen members of her leadership team. Each invited organization was invited to discuss 3-to-5 issues. The October 19 AAHD list and description of 5 issues is here: PDF. […]