In response to the Senate Committee on Finance RFI on barriers to treatment, AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have submitted comments. AAHD & Lakeshore joined 8 national organizations led by No Health without Mental Health (NHMH). AAHD, a Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) member, joined 54 MHLG members submitting comments. The AAHD & Lakeshore letter […]
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.
Dept of HHS – Draft Strategic Plan – Disability Community Comments
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) draft strategic plan. The AAHD and Lakeshore comments endorse, excerpt, and expand upon the submitted comments by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) health and LTSS co-chairs. AAHD was engaged in drafting the CCD comments. AAHD is […]
The HHS COVID Health Equity Report – Disability Community Response
The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC) has responded to the Dept of HHS, Office of Minority Health, final COVID Health Equity Task Force report. AAHD is a DRRC member. The November 1 DRRC response is here: PDF. […]
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) – State Oversite Role
The nation’s leading behavioral health organizations have written the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) requesting immediate strengthening of guidance implementing MHAPAE in health insurance. The November 3 letter is here: PDF. […]
Medicaid Health Homes – Proposed Core Quality Measures
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have commented on the Mathematica for CMS proposed Medicaid health homes core quality measures. We also endorsed comments submitted by Dr. Harold Pincus of Columbia University and No Health without Mental Health. available here are the draft Mathematica reportand the November AAHD-Lakeshore comments. […]
HHS COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force – Disability Community Comments
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. […]
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 […]