AAHD has joined a Kennedy Forum led letter supporting House Energy and Commerce Committee health chair markup legislative text which would prohibit state and local government health plans opt outs from MHPAEA requirements. The May 10 coalition letter supporting Section 321, HR 7666 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.
Integrating Behavioral Health-General Health-Primary Care (HR 7666; Section 301)
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the American Psychological Association (APA-psychology) and No Health without Mental Health(NHMH) proposing alternative amendments to the Subcommittee on Health, House Energy and Commerce Committee, May 11 health chair markup legislative text. Available here are: May 11 APA-NHMH-AAHD-LS letter for the markup record; the health chair’s Section 301 leg […]
Use of QALY in Medicare Medicine Coverage and Payment
Available here is the Partnership To Improve Patient Care (PIPC) May 5 letter to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommending that QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Years) never be used in Medicare medicine coverage and payment: PDF. […]
Senators Introduce Legislation (S. 4102) To Increase SSI Resources/Assets Limit
Ohio Senators Brown and Portman have introduced legislation (S. 4102) increasing the existing and long practiced SSI resources/assets limit from $2,000 to $10,000. Available here is the Justice in Aging alert on S. 4102: PDF. […]
45 House Members Ask for Increased SAMHSA Appropriations
45 House members have written the House Appropriations Committee asking for highest possible SAMHSA funding; the April 27 letter is here: PDF. […]
White House Recommendations For Advancing Use of Equitable Data – Includes Disability Status
Available here is the April 22 White House recommendations for advancing use of equitable data report. Disability status is discussed in the report, pages 2, 6, and 7. Chronic health conditions and mental health status are discussed page 6. […]
NIH on Designation of Persons with Disabilities as a Health Disparity Population
AAHD is a member of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC). Available here is the May 2 NIH response and April 7 DRRC letter to NIH on the designation of persons with disabilities as a health disparity population. […]
Funding Consumer Assistance Programs (CAP) Helping with Health Insurance Coverage
AAHD has joined 88 organizations, led by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, requesting appropriations funding for CAP programs. The May 3 letter to Congressional appropriations committees is here: PDF. […]
Funding the Social Security Administration (SSA) To Better Serve Persons with Disabilities
AAHD is a member of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Task Force on Social Security. Available here is the May 3 CCD one page fact sheet, prepared for Congress, on funding the SSA: PDF. […]
Access To Care for People Enrolled in Medicaid – Response to CMS RFI (3)
On April 26 we posted the AAHD-Lakeshore Fd response to CMS; April 28 we posted NAMD comments. Available here are the re-named Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Task Force on Health co-chairs submission to CMS: PDF. […]