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
Webinars from the Field (Washington Update, February 27, 2019)
Starting and Sustaining a Youth Advisory Board, Part 1: Youth Voice Wednesday, February 27, 12:00-1:00 pm ET Family Voices This webinar series is especially for organizations that seek to develop a youth advisory board. Communication for a Nuclear or Radiological...
The Courts (Washington Update, February 27, 2019)
Judge Considers Expanding Child Separation Case (Associated Press, 2/21/19)
Congress (February 27, 2019)
Pallone, Wyden Call on Administration to Stop Allowing Harmful Medicaid Waivers On February 19, House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Democratic Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), sent a letter to Department of...
Medicaid/CHIP News, Information, and Resources (Washington Update, February 27, 2019)
Medicaid Waivers Advocates and Healthcare Providers File Brief in Case Challenging the Kentucky Medicaid Waiver As reported in previous Updates, the administration has been supportive of waivers to establish “community-engagement” (work, education) requirements on...
Affordable Care Act (Washington Update, February 27, 2019)
Need to Submit Documents to Confirm a Life Event? (Healthcare.gov blog, 2/7/19)
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