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, October 31, 2019
Not all cooperation between the political parties has ceased in DC. During recent days, the House passed five health bills applauded by both Democrats and Republicans. These bills address the pediatric health care workforce, the nursing workforce, and palliative care....
Washington Update, October 24, 2019
Not a whole lot is new on the health front this week, except that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released data showing that health insurance premiums have come down and the number of health plan choices has gone up. (See the ACA section, below.)...
Washington Update, October 17, 2019
Congress returned from a two-week recess on October 15. It now must develop and pass appropriations to keep the government funded past November 21. Still under consideration is legislation to address surprise medical bills and prescription drug costs, although it is...
Washington Update, October 9, 2019
Congress is still in recess, and will return on October 15. Outstanding issues to tackle when they get back include appropriations to keep the government funded past November 21, and legislation to address surprise medical bills and prescription drug costs. It is not...
Washington Update October 3, 2019
Not a lot happened during the past week in Washington…with respect to health care, that is. The president signed the Autism CARES Act but, otherwise, policymakers and politicos have been preoccupied with other matters (i.e., the impeachment inquiry), which may...
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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