Mission

The CCD Health Task Force works on all the issues encompassed in the very broad term "health". Specific emphasis is placed on private health insurance; public programs such as Medicaid and Medicare; managed care, as well as quality assurance and consumer education and protections.

Co-chairs

• Bethany Lilly
  Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law (BCMHL)
  202-467-5730 phone 
  202-223-0409 fax 
  bethanyl@bazelon.org

• David Machledt
  National Health Law Program (NHELP)
  202-289-7661 phone 
  202-289-7724 fax 
  machledt@healthlaw.org

• Peter Thomas
  Brain Injury Association of America
  202-466-6550 phone 
  202-785-1756 fax 
  peter.thomas@ppsv.com 

• Julie Ward
  The Arc (DPC)
  202-783-2229 phone
  202-783-8250 fax
  ward@thearc.org

ACTIVITIES

Health Task Force CCD Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) Letter to the Senate The undersigned members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) strongly oppose the revised Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). While we have serious concerns about many provisions of the BCRA, including a new provision that would dramatically increase costs for people with preexisting conditions, we cannot overstate the danger facing the millions of adults and children with disabilities if the bill’s Medicaid proposals are adopted by the Senate. (July 24,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force HHS RFI Response RIN 0938-ZB39, CMS-9928-NC The Co-Chairs of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Health Task Force appreciate the opportunity to comment on the request for information (RFI) referenced above. The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is the largest coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for federal public policy that ensures the selfdetermination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. (July 12,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force Statement of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities on the Congressional Budget Office’s Score of the Better Care Reconciliation Act Last night, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a score of the Senate healthcare bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). The score confirmed our worst concerns about the bill, estimating that Medicaid will be cut by $772 billion and that 15 million people will lose Medicaid coverage over the next 10 years, in addition to millions more Americans losing access to affordable and comprehensive coverage in the private markets. (June 27,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force Statement: CCD opposed to the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is strongly opposed to the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act. It is simply unconscionable to restructure and decimate Medicaid, which provides healthcare services and supports that maintain the health, function, independence, and well-being of 10 million enrollees with disabilities and their families. CCD is the largest coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for federal public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration, and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. (June 23,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force For Immediate Release: Stop Medicaid Cuts and Caps and Protect the Lives of People with Disabilities June 6, 2017, Washington, DC—Today, Senators Casey, Wyden, Van Hollen, Duckworth and Hassan joined hundreds of advocates, families and providers from across the country to demand that the Senate stop the Medicaid cuts and caps that are currently included in the American Health Care Act (AHCA). In addition to the rally in Washington, DC, there were coordinated events and actions that took place across the country. (June 6,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force Letter to the Senate The undersigned members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), write in response to the House of Representative’s passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). We understand that the Senate will be drafting a separate bill, which may adopt parts of AHCA. (May 19,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force Protect the ACA’s Gains for People with Disabilities Members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities strongly oppose repealing key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without simultaneously passing a replacement plan that maintains or improves existing coverage, access, and affordability. Unfortunately, the American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the House would abandon or undermine key enrollee protections, and if enacted would endanger millions of people with disabilities who have gained affordable coverage and access to needed services under the ACA. (May 19,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force Medicaid Per Capita Caps and Block Grants: Devastating for People with Disabilities Capping the Medicaid program would be devastating to people with disabilities. Medicaid provides health care services and long-term services and supports that maintain the health, function, independence, and well-being of 10 million enrollees with disabilities and, often, their families. For many people with disabilities, being able to access timely needed care is a life or death matter. Block grants or per capita caps place arbitrary limits on federal support for Medicaid, limits unrelated to beneficiaries’ actual health care needs. (May 19,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force Statement of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities on Passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Washington DC, May 4, 2017 - The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), the country’s largest coalition of national disability groups, is gravely concerned about the House of Representative’s passage of the American health Care Act. The AHCA will harm tens of millions in the United States, but especially people with disabilities who will face coverage loss, higher costs, and fewer options. (May 4,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD LTSS & Health Taskforces respond to amended American Health Care Act legislation The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is strongly opposed to the amended American Health Care Act. The amended American Health Care Act retains the original bill’s proposals to dramatically cut Medicaid services that are vital to people with disabilities and seniors through per capita caps, which CCD has opposed. (April 28,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force Action Alert: Harmful Health Care Bill is Coming Back – Call Congress Now CCD is urging coalition members to activate their grassroots during the Congressional recess in opposition to the American Health Care Act. The House of Representatives and the Administration are negotiating changes to the bill which is making it worse for people with disabilities. (April 6,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD Statement on the AHCA Cancelled Vote The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities is relieved and pleased that the House of Representatives cancelled the vote on the American Health Care Act,” said Kim Musheno, CCD Chair. “This bill would have resulted in millions of people with disabilities losing access to comprehensive, affordable and accessible health care, as well as critical Medicaid services that help them live and participate in the community. (March 25,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD responds to American Health Care Act Manager’s Amendment The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities remains extremely concerned about the American Health Care Act. The Medicaid per capita caps in the original bill put home and community-based services (HCBS) for people with disabilities at serious risk of major cuts or even elimination, as the CBO noted. The recent manager’s amendment does not resolve these concerns, and in fact, likely exacerbates them.  (March 22,  2017) Health Task Force CCD weighs in on the American Health Care Act advancing in the House of Representatives repeal and replace bill The undersigned members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and other national organizations write in response to the American Health Care Act. Despite the extremely limited time for review, we have serious concerns about many parts of this legislation and urge members to oppose it. (March 17,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD responds to CBO score of the American Health Care Act The Congressional Budget Office’s score confirms the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities’ concern that the American Health Care Act would decimate the Medicaid program and endanger the lives and independence of the more than 10 million people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid. For most people with disabilities, Medicaid is the only source of long-term services and supports. (March 16,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD #SaveMedicaid social media action toolkit On March 16 at 10am, let’s all tell Congress that Medicaid cuts and caps are dangerous and unacceptable. Sign up through the Thunderclap program, and it will automatically send this one message through your Twitter and/or Facebook accounts. Collectively the messages will spread across social media and slam the social feeds of your Members of Congress at once, like a virtual clap of thunder. (March 13,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD raises concerns about the House American Health Care Act which repeals major portions fo the Affordable Care Act and caps and cuts the Medicaid program. The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is gravely concerned about the American Health Care Act. This is simply unconscionable to pay for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by cutting services for low income individuals with disabilities, adults, older adults, and children. (March 8,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD ACTION ALERT: Call Now to Stop Medicaid Cuts and Health Care Repeal Congress is on a fast track to repeal major portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and to make drastic cuts to the Medicaid program. The level of cuts over time would decimate the Medicaid program. (March 7,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force Medicaid Per Capita Caps and Block Grants: Devastating for People with Disabilities Establishing funding caps for the Medicaid program would be devastating to people with disabilities. Medicaid provides health care services and long-term services and supports that maintain the health, function, independence, and well-being of 10 million enrollees living with disabilities and, often, their families. (March 2,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force Protect the ACA’s Gains for People with Disabilities Members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities strongly oppose repealing key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without simultaneously passing a replacement plan that maintains or improves existing coverage, access, and affordability. Losing or undermining key enrollee protections or disrupting care would endanger millions of people with disabilities who have gained coverage under the ACA. (March 2,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD Opposes Per Capita Caps that Would Decimate the Medicaid Program CCD released the following statement expressing our concerns about the House majority leadership’s policy brief on repealing the ACA and helping to pay for it by instituting a Medicaid per capita cap. (February 21,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force New URGENT CCD Action Alert ACA and Medicaid The House of Representatives is expected to introduce a bill to cut Medicaid and the ACA on February 27 and to begin committee work immediately. The result would be two major blows to individuals with disabilities. Reach out to your Federal and state legislators and the Governor’s office in your state and tell them that repealing the ACA and replacing it with a plan that CUTS Medicaid is unacceptable. (February 20,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD Health Task Force 2016 Report_Final (January 10,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force CCD Letter for Senate on ACA We, the undersigned members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), are aware that the 115th Congress is already hard at work on an aggressive calendar for action starting with the Senate Concurrent Budget Resolution released by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Michael Enzi on January 3, 2017. (January 9,  2017) - Download [ PDF ] Health Task Force 2017 - Action Alert on Budget Resolution CCD is urging its members to tell their Senator to vote no on the budget resolution. The Affordable Care Act provides important access to health care, expansions of long term supports and services, nondiscrimination and health insurance reforms and many other critical provisions. (January 6,  2017) - Download [ PDF ]