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
THE COURTS (Washington Update, September 12, 2018)
On September 5, a U.S. District Court judge in Texas held a hearing in the case of Texas v. United States (formerly Texas v. Azar), in which twenty Republican state attorneys-general are challenging the continued validity of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) now that the...
CONGRESS: Kavanaugh Hearings (September 12, 2018)
The Senate Judiciary Committee held four days of hearings last week to consider the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to become an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. He was questioned extensively regarding health care issues, particularly his positions on...
CONGRESS: ACE Kids Act (September 12, 2018)
Last week the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing and approved a new version of the bipartisan ACE Kids Act, which would provide Medicaid reimbursement for states that choose to establish health homes for children with...
CONGRESS: EMPOWER Act (Washington Update, September 12, 2018)
Last week the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing and approved a revised version of the ‘‘Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources, and Care Act’’ or the ‘‘EMPOWER Care Act.” The bill...
CONGRESS: Opiod Legislation (Washington Update, September 12, 2018)
Last week Senators worked out a deal on legislation to address the opioid epidemic, and the compromise bill is expected to come to a vote as early as this week. Once it passes, there will be a House-Senate conference committee to negotiate a compromise between the...
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