Two coalitions that AAHD actively participates in – Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and Habilitation Benefits Coalition – have issued a technical assistance guide for designing rehabilitation and habilitation services authorized as “essential health benefits” under the Affordable Care Act. AAHD is one of over 50 national endorsing organizations. The TA guide is here.

National Forum on Disability Issues: September 28th, 2012-Columbus, OH.  Join live webcast www.nfdi.org

IOM Video on Integration of Primary Care and Public Health- On September 13, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a new video on the integration of primary care and public health. Learn more here.

AHRQ on the Evolving Role of Community Health Workers- On September 12, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced a new report on the evolving role of community health workers. Learn more here.

California Receives First Community First Choice Award- On September 4, California announced that it had received Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approval as the first Community First Choice award, to increase options for community based supports for individuals with disabilities. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) Cross Roads HCBS Online Community sharing of the California announcement is here.

The U.S. Census Bureau released a new report on July 31, 2012, “Americans With Disabilities: 2010″. 56.7 million Americans, nearly 1 in 5, has a disability, with more than half of them reporting the disability as “severe”. Read report at http://fifthfreedom.org

The Affordable Care Act and Women-New Provisions Begin Aug. 1, 2012 http://familiesusa2.org/assets/pdfs/Affordable-Care-Act-Benefits-Women.pdf

Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Boehner announced on July 31, 2012 an agreement on a “clean” 6 month CR that would run through the end of March . Read Sen. Reid’s statement; Read Speaker Boehner’s statement

CDC: Disability and Health Data System  Click here. 

10 Advocacy Steps To Support A Medicaid Expansion In Your State...read more

Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act..read more.

Disability & Health Journal, July 2012- featured article, World Report on Disability: What are the Implications for the US?

Senate Appropriations Committee Commends CDC Disability Programs..Click for excerpts.

29th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Honolulu, Hawaii April 29-30, 2013; visit: www.pacrim.hawaii.edu

TSA Helpline for Travelers with Disabilities Click here.