
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-Related News
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...
CONGRESS: ACA Repeal Legislation? (Washington Update, September 12, 2018)
Former and now-again Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) was appointed by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) to fill the vacancy left by the death of Senator John McCain. Senator Kyl has committed to holding the seat only until January 3, 2019 (the end of the current congressional...
Medicaid and CHIP News (Washington Update, September 12, 2018)
Infographic: Medicaid and CYSHCN The Catalyst Center has created a one-page infographic illustrating important elements of Medicaid and children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). This infographic is part of a series of infographics exploring key focus...
TRICARE NEWS (Washington Update, September 12, 2018)
TRICARE Podcast, 9/7/18: Child Enrollment in DEERS - ECHO - TRICARE for Life Overseas Transcript Download Subscribe to get Podcasts via email
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.