AAHD has joined the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG), as a member, endorsing the COMPLETE Care Act – legislation incentivizing primary care to include integrated behavioral health care. The May 27 MHLG letter to Congress on S. 931 and HR 2509 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.
Maternal and Child Health Block Grant – Appropriations Request
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the Friends of the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant (MCHBG), led by AMCHP, requesting Congressional appropriations committee sustained funding of the MCHBG. The May 22 letter is here: PDF. […]
Family Caregiver Supports Legislation – Co-Sponsors Sought
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation support Rep Dingell (MI) legislation to establish reginal centers of excellence and fund state and local public health agencies to support Family Caregiver Partnerships. Rep. Dingell is seeking legislative co-sponsors. Available here are the one pager and the leg text. […]
CDC Public Health Data Modernization – Appropriations Request
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined the leading public health associations requesting Congressional appropriations committees to continue the CDC public health data modernization initiative. The May 23 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Advantage (MA) Prior Authorization Transparency – S.1816 and H.R. 3514
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have endorsed reintroduced legislation to standardize and require transparency in Medicare Advantage prior authorization. The Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC) is in the process of updating the organizational endorsements for 2025. We endorsed on May 12 and we share here: (1) RRC May 20 press release; (2) June 11, 2024 list […]
Medicaid Reconciliation – House Committee Reports Cuts – Disability and Aging Communities Opposition Shared with the House
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have joined 160 national organizations and over 550 state and local organizations, led by the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) and Disability and Aging Collaborative (DAC), opposing House committee Medicaid cuts, and communicated to the entire House of Representatives as a Reconciliation floor vote approaches. The May 20 CCD-DAC […]
HHS Reorganization and Funding Cuts – National Health Council Statements to Congress
AAHD is a National Health Council (NHC) member. NHC issued two statements to Congressional committees on concerns with HHS reorganization and funding cuts. The two NHC letters are here: May 14 to the Senate Committee on HELP; and May 14 to the House Committee on Appropriations. […]
Medicaid Reconciliation Cuts by House Energy and Commerce Committee – National Health Council Statements
AAHD is a National Health Council (NHC) member. NHC submitted two statements on Reconciliation Medicaid cuts to the House Energy and Commerce Committee: May 13 focused on persons with chronic conditions and disabilities; and, May 12 as part of the Partnership To Protect Coverage. The two NHC letters are here: PDF-1; PDF-2. […]
Reinforcing the Importance of Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
AAHD has joined 54 consumer oriented organizations reinforcing to CMS the importance of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) as a Medicaid benefit. The letter opposes Georgia’s Medicaid waiver proposal to exempt coverage of NEMT. The May 16 coalition letter is here:PDF. […]
Medicaid Reconciliation : House Committee Reports Cuts – Summaries
On May 14, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce reported, by party line vote, Reconciliation Medicaid cuts. We earlier posted the committee legislative text and section-by-section summary and the Disability and Aging communities statement. Available here are initial legislative summaries by: Harvard CHLPI; FUSA on harmful impacts; and FUSA on key takeaways for advocates. […]