Members of Congress have written the Administration requesting immediate COVID-19 payments to persons on SSI and VA, who do not file federal income tax returns; the April 14 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.
COVID-19 – Testing and Safety of Health Care and Essential Businesses Workers
AAHD has joined the National Safety Council requesting the Administration to give priority for COVID-19 testing to health care workers and essential business workers. The April 14 letter is here: PDF. […]
Emergency Department Use as a Possible Quality Measure for Integrated Physical Health-Behavioral Health Care
AAHD and the Lakeshore Foundation have supported the thrust and theme of comments by No Health Without Mental Health submitted to the National Quality Forum on behavioral health draft quality measures. The April 12 & 13 AAHD-Lakeshore-and NHMH comments are here: Lakeshore; NHMH. […]
COVID-19 – Avoiding Aging, Disability and Other Forms of Discrimination
AAHD has joined a coalition led by the Alliance for Aging Research asking HHS and the HHS OCR to more proactively avoid discrimination in COVID-19 responses. The April 13 letter is here: PDF. […]
Evaluation Framework For Crisis Standards of Care Plans – Disability Advocates and COVID-19
Four leading national disability organizations have released an evaluation framework related to disability discrimination and COVID-19 crisis of care; the framework is here: PDF. […]
COVID-19: Requesting the President to Use the Defense Production Act for Personal Protective Equipment and Medical Supplies
AAHD has joined 70 organizations, led by the Human Rights Campaign, asking President Trump to use the DPA to produce and distribute needed PPE and medical supplies. The April 9 letter is here: PDF. […]
Persons Determined by CDC To Be At High Risk for COVID-19 Adverse Complications – Expand Paid Family and Medical Leave
AAHD has joined 157 organizations, led by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, asking Congress to expand paid leave for persons determined by CDC to be at high risk for adverse complications from COVID-19. The April 9 letter is here: PDF. […]
Increasing SNAP Benefit Levels During COVID-19 Crisis
AAHD has joined 783 organizations, led by the Alliance To End Hunger, asking Congress and the President to increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit levels. The April 8 letters are here: Senate-House; White House. […]
Habilitation Services in State ACA Essential Benefits
AAHD has joined the Habilitation Benefits Coalition (HAB) in sharing with all states a toolkit on inclusion of habilitation services in Affordable Care Act (ACA) “essential health benefits” policies and procedures. The tool kit is here: PDF. […]
Medicaid Directors Request Immediate CMS & OMB Allowance to Make Urgent Medicaid Provider Retainer Payments
The National Association of Medicaid Directors requested CMS and OMB allowance to make urgent Medicaid provider retainer payments. The April 6 letter is here: PDF. […]