AAHD has joined the Coalition To Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR) submitting comments to CMS on proposed Medicare home health payment rules. The August 27 CPR 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.
PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) – Comments on PCORI Proposed Priorities
PIPC (Partnership To Improve Patient Outcomes), a network that AAHD collaborates with, submitted comments to PCORI on PCORI’s proposed. The PCORI funded Disability Equity Collaborative issued a paper on outcomes priorities. Available here are the August 27 PIPC letter and August DEC paper. […]
Evaluating Disparities and Outcomes of Telehealth During COVID-19 (HR 4770)
AAHD has joined a Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) initiated letter supporting HR 4770 – telehealth disparities and outcomes. The August 23 letter to Congress is here: PDF. […]
NQF Final Interim Report on Patient-Reported Outcome Performance Measures (PRO-PMs) Respond to Disability Organizations
The National Quality Forum (NQF) publicly shared August 19 its final interim report on PRO-PMs. The report is intended to provide a step-by-step guide for measure developers. The focus is on PRO-PMs in CMS programs. A theme of the report – problematic to many in the HCBS field – is the focus on a “foundation” […]
NQF Behavioral Health Committee Discusses AAHD Submitted Comments on Domains for Quality Measurement
At its August 18 meeting, the National Quality Forum (NQF) Committee on Opioids and Behavioral Health considered the American Association on Health and Disability-Lakeshore Foundation-No Health without Mental Health July 27 submitted comments. Pages 35-38 of the meeting slides outline committee discussion questions around the AAHD comments, focused entirely on domains and subdomains (pages 21-27 […]
Health Insurance – Public Option – Access to Health Providers and Services by Persons with Disabilities
AAHD has joined the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) submitting comments to the Chairs of the Senate HELP and House Energy and Commerce Committees ideas on a “public option” in the ACA health insurance design. These comments focus on the needs for persons with disabilities to health providers and services. The July 30 HAB […]
Senators Introduce Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Legislation
Available here are the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term Care summary and the Senate sponsors section-by-section legislation outline for the introduced Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act. […]
Opposing “Quality-Adjusted Life Years” (QALYs) as a Discriminatory Metric
Maryland-located AAHD has joined a coalition led by the Partnership To Improve Patient Care (PIPC) opposing use of QALYs in the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board considerations and analysis. The August 3 PIPC led letter to Maryland is hPDFere: PDF. […]
Health Insurance – Public Option – Essential Including Habilitation Benefits
AAHD has joined the Habilitation Benefits Coalition submitting comments to the Chairs of the Senate HELP and House Energy and Commerce Committees ideas on a “public option” in the ACA health insurance design. These comments focus on “essential” benefits, including “habilitation.” The July 30 HAB Coalition comments are here: PDF. […]
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – Give It a Permanent Legal Authority
AAHD has joined a First Focus campaign asking Congress to make the CHIP program permanent. The July 22 letter to Congress is here: PDF. […]