AAHD has joined the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Task Force on LTSS, asking Congress to recognize the important role of DSPs, including regular data collection by the DOL/BLS. The April 28 letter 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.
Federal Study and Encouragement of Assistive Technology – HR 2461 and S. 1089
AAHD has joined the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition supporting proposed legislation (HR 2461 and S. 1089) supporting the use of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. The April 30 letters are here: Letter for S. 1089; Letter for HR 2461. […]
CDC Public Health Data Modernization Initiative
AAHD joined a coalition encouraging the House and Senate Appropriations committees to adequately fund the CDC PH data modernization initiative. The April 27 letter is here: PDF. […]
Habilitation Services and Supports as ACA Essential Health Benefits
AAHD has joined the Habilitation Benefits (HAB) Coalition issuing a 2021 toolkit for states as they consider designing and regulating Affordable Care Act (ACA) “essential health benefits.” The toolkit is here: PDF […]
Consumer Assistance Programs (CAPs) in Health Coverage – Congressional Funding
AAHD has joined 113 organizations, led by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and FUSA, requesting Congressional funding of the previously authorized CAPs. Page 3, Footnote 6, explains the distinction of the CAPs and the ACA Navigators programs. The April 26 coalition letter is here: PDF. […]
Primary Care and Chronic Illness – NQF Quality Measures
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have submitted comments to the National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsing the patient-reported experiences measure set and two sickle cell disease measures. Available here are the April 27 AAHD-Lakeshore comments and March 30 NQF draft primary care and chronic illness reportfor public comment. […]
Medicaid Home-and-Community-Based Services (HCBS) Access Act
AAHD has submitted comments to the Senate Special Committee on Aging (Senators Casey-PA; Brown-OH; and Hassan-NH) and Representative Dingell (MI) on their previously publicly announced Medicaid HCBS legislation discussion draft. [See March 18 AAHD public policy updates.] AAHD was actively engaged in the drafting workgroups of the Disability and Aging Collaborative (DAC) and Consortium for […]
Virtual Behavioral Health Peer Support Groups Act
AAHD has joined a coalition, led by DBSA, endorsing legislation authorizing SAMHSA grants for virtual peer support groups. Reps Lee (NV) and Upton (MI) plan to introduce the legislation on April 29. The House bill is identical to the previously introduced S. 157 by Senators Mastro and Rosen (both of Nevada). Available here are the […]
Funding CDC’s Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Program
AAHD has joined a coalition, led by TFAH, requesting the House Appropriations Committee to adequately fund the CDC NCCDPH new SDOH program. The April 26 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology
The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition steering committee has wriiten CMS suggesting Medicare coverage of technology supports for persons with disabilities, such as DME enhancements. AAHD is an ITEM Coalition member. The April 16 letter is here: PDF. […]