Public Policy
Policy Priorities to Support Children with Special Health Care Needs and Disabilities and Their Families
Our Strategic Policy Priorities
Children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities, and their families, face systemic barriers and biases that impede their ability to experience their best possible lives. Systems of care do not respond to their needs holistically or facilitate access to supports that enhance their quality of life.
To make the most impact, we focus our policy actions across all levels of government – federal, state, and local. We work with our family and organizational partners to lean on the various levers of policy change through education and advocacy.
Our current policy agenda includes:
- Expand access to peer-to-peer support for families of children and youth with special health care needs
- Support and expand Medicaid coverage for children and youth with special health care needs and their families and caregivers
- Improve the transition to adult health care for youth and young adults with disabilities and their caregivers and families
- Eliminate language access barriers
Family Voices collaborates with national child health and disability organizations, such as the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, The Arc, Autism Speaks, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other groups.
Recent Policy Briefs
Recent Policy-Related News
Nuevo recurso – Julio de 2025
Echa un vistazo a los recursos de Family Voices y nuestros socios. Los recursos del equipo de políticas de Family Voices están disponibles en inglés y español, y se están traduciendo a otros idiomas. Los recursos de nuestros socios están principalmente en inglés....
Lista de próximos eventos – Julio del 2025
Para más información e inscripción para los eventos que se celebrarán tanto virtualmente como en todo el país. 8 - 10 de septiembre - Para más información e inscribirse en la Conferencia Anual de la Academia Nacional de Política de Salud Pública 2025 (NASHP, por sus...
1115 Waiver Amendments – July 2025 Update: Open Comment Periods
Learn more about proposed Medicaid 1115 Waiver amendments for Kentucky, South Carolina, Maine, and Illinois. For more information, reach out to Wesley at publicpolicy@familyvoices.org. Kentucky – Kentucky’s 1115 proposal would refer Medicaid expansion adults, aged...
The Big Beautiful Bill Act is Law. Now What?
On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) into law. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will reduce federal Medicaid spending by approximately $1 trillion over the next ten years, with the largest...
Department of Justice Issues Guidance on Language Access. What does it mean?
On Monday, July 14, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released formal guidance for federal agencies to comply with President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14,224, which declares English as the official language of the United States. The DOJ will oversee a government-wide...
Legislation
The legislation tracked below is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be an endorsement for or against the legislation. Action updates may occur daily, if actions are taken by Congress. Newly introduced legislation will be added weekly.
The legislative tracker is sorted by latest action. To navigate this page, you can scroll through just as you would a normal webpage. You can also click Ctrl+F on your keyboard and type in the search box.
For additional information and to read the full text (if available), click the highlighted bill number. You can also navigate to Congress.gov and search using key terms or phrases, or the bill numbers listed below.
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