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, December 19, 2019
BREAKING NEWS: A federal court of appeals has ruled on the case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Texas v. United States. Key protections of the law remain in place pending further court action. See “ACA” section in this week's...
Washington Update, December 11, 2019
This week Members of Congress unveiled several bills that could affect families of children and youth with special health care needs. A conference agreement on the defense authorization bill would provide paid parental leave to all federal employees. This bill is...
Washington Update December 4, 2019
Congress is struggling to agree on funding for the federal government beyond December 20, when the temporary funding measure expires. It is unclear whether there will be resolution on legislation to address the thorny issues of surprise medical billing and...
Washington Update, November 20, 2019
Congress is still working away on FY 2020 appropriations, and legislation to address surprise medical billing and prescription drug prices. Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been very busy. The agency released a significant proposed...
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....
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.
Encourage confidence to act