Led by U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Jim Langevin (D-RI), 5 US Senators and 27 House members have written HHS and DOJ requesting affirmative actions to prevent disability discrimination in any medical rationing decisions responding to COVID-19. The March 25 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.
Funding Public Health and Hospital Emergency Preparedness
AAHD has joined a Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) led coalition seeking significantly increased federal funding for public health and hospital emergency preparedness. The March 25 letter is here: PDF. […]
COVID-19 Crisis Relief Legislation – Requests of the Disability Community
AAHD has joined 270 organizations, led by AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities), requesting a comprehensive package of legislative provisions to assist people with disabilities deal with the COVID-19 crisis. The March 23 letter is here: PFD. […]
Medicare Payment of Non-Invasive Ventilators
The ITEM (Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid) and CPR (Coalition To Preserve Rehabilitation) coalitions have requested both CMS and Congress to exclude non-invasive ventilators from Medicare competitive bidding. AAHD is a member of both coalitions. The March 20 letters from the coalitions’ steering committee members are here: CMS letter; Congress letter. […]
Leaving Out Medicaid Funded-Nonprofits – COVID-19 Proposed Senate Emergency Legislative Package 3 – Part 2
AAHD has joined 200 national organizations, led by the National Women’s Law Center, in responding to the March 20-23 Senate Republican leadership legislation that would exclude nonprofits receiving Medicaid reimbursements from the emergency Small Business Loan Program. The March 24 letter to the Congress opposing this proposed restriction is here: PDF. […]
COVID-19: Federal Financial Assistance to States and Higher Medicaid Match
AAHD has joined 175 organizations, led by Families USA, asking Congress to financially assist states, including increasing the federal Medicaid match rate. The March 23 letter is here: PDF. […]
Nondiscrimination and Persons with Disabilities in COVID-19 Responses – National Council on Disability
The National Council on Disability has written the HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) regarding non-discriminatory access to life-saving medical care for persons with disabilities. The March 18 NCD letter is here: PDF. […]
Leaving Out Medicaid Funded-Nonprofits – COVID-19 Proposed Senate Emergency Legislative Package 3
The March 20-23 Senate Republican leadership legislation would exclude nonprofits receiving Medicaid reimbursements from the emergency Small Business Loan Program. Available here is a March 20 leading behavioral health organizations letter to the Congress opposing this proposed restriction. […]
Disability Community Condemns Block Grating Medicaid Proposal
AAHD, a member of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has joined the CCD in writing HHS condemning Medicaid block grant proposals, particularly in the context of COVID-19. The March 20 letter is here: PDF. […]
COVID-19: Preventing Disability Discrimination if Medical Rationing
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Task Forces on Rights and Health co-chairs wrote HHS requesting the discrimination based on disability in emergency responses to COVID-19. The March 20 letter is here: PDF. […]