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
Washington Update, February 13, 2020
In the Update this week: The president released his proposed FY 2021 budget. It proposes significant cuts to Medicaid and some other health programs, but is considered “dead on arrival” in Congress. A House committee approved another version of legislation to address...
Washington Update, February 5, 2020
There are two big healthcare news items this week, both generated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS issued its long-expected Medicaid “block grant” guidance, outlining how states can obtain waivers to gain greater flexibility in their...
Washington Update, January 29, 2020
There are two big news items in the health policy world this week: The Supreme Court lifted an injunction that had been stopping implementation of the administration’s “public charge” rule, but only while appeals are pending. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...
Washington Update, January 23, 2020
The big news in the health policy world this week was the announcement by the Supreme Court that it will not take up, on an expedited basis, the case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The Court has not yet decided whether to hear the case...
Washington Update January 16, 2020
It has been fairly quiet in the health policy world this week, but there are a number of good webinars coming up and several opportunities for submitting public comments on significant proposed rules, nominations, and Medicaid waivers, as well as concerns and ideas...
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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