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
Other News, Information, and Resources (Washington Update, January 9, 2019)
New National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems The Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced the launch of the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems...
Your Input Sought (Washington Update, January 9, 2019)
Comments to CMS about Proposed Rule on Medicaid/CHIP Managed Care – due Jan. 14, 2019 On November 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) (proposed rule) to amend the 2016 managed care final rule issued...
Resources for Open Enrollment (Washington Update, December 19, 2018)
Health insurance marketplaces are still open for enrollment in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, DC. The following resources might be helpful to consumers. Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator This tool from the...
Webinars from the Field (Washington Update, December 19, 2018)
Create Your Crisis Communication Plan Wednesday, December 19, 1:00 pm ET Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC) program of the CDC Click https://zoom.us/j/336888256 to join the webinar or telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your...
The Courts (Washington Update, December 19, 2018)
Court Finds That the ACA Is Unconstitutional, But the Law is Still in Effect No doubt you have heard by now about the recent ruling in a case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Texas v. United States (also known as Texas v. Azar). A...
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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