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
Affordable Care Act and TRICARE (Washington Update, January 19, 2019)
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT The annual open-enrollment season for the federal health insurance exchange (HealthCare.gov) ended on December 15. Some state exchanges are still open for enrollment. TRICARE Government Shutdown: Some Allotment Payments Affected The partial...
Other News, Information, and Resources (Washington Update, January 19, 2019)
Consideration of Pain in Adult and Child Disability Claims The Office of Disability Policy of the Social Security Administration (SSA) is requesting public comments about the consideration and documentation of pain in the medical evidence used in connection with...
Your Input Sought/Of Possible Interest (Washington Update, January 17, 2019)
Your Input Sought NEW Consideration of pain in adult and child disability claims – Due February 15, 2019 The Office of Disability Policy, Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to solicit public comments and...
Webinars from the Field (Washington Update, January 9, 2019)
NEW SERIES: Genetic Counselors in the Genomic Era –Public Health Genetics and Precision Medicine Roles Sponsored by the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) An Overview of Regional Genetics Networks: Wednesday, January 9, 12:00-1:30 pm ET Save the Dates:...
The “Shut-Down” (Washington Update, January 9, 2019)
Health Programs No doubt you have heard about the partial government “shut-down” caused by a stand-off between congressional Democrats and President Trump over whether to fund a “wall” that the president wants to erect on the nation’s southwest border to prevent...
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