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AMCHP Legislative Alert Feed

PULSE View from Washington View From Washington As we approach the AMCHP Annual Conference, I hope you share my excitement about coming to our nation’s capital at such a critical crossroads. 1/13/2011 View From Washington I recently had the honor of representing AMCHP in a congressional briefing, cosponsored by AMCHP and organized by our colleagues at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The focus was on infant mortality. 9/30/2011 View From Washington Highlights from the Patient Protection and Accountable Care Act (PPACA) which present the best opportunities to support the expansion of medical homes. 4/1/2010 View From Washington Health Reform Legislation Passes! So what happens next? 3/1/2010 View From Washington We share some conventional wisdom on the various scenarios in play with the ACA and what they might mean for MCH populations. 4/5/2012 View From Washington For the past seven years our colleagues at the March of Dimes have led a Prematurity Awareness Campaign with the twin goals to 1) raise public awareness of the problems of prematurity and (2) to decrease the rate of preterm birth in the United States. 11/1/2010 View From Washington It should not come as a surprise to even the casual observer that the Congressional process has become rather dysfunctional lately. 8/31/2011 View From Washington In recent years AMCHP’s advocacy work has been substantially shaped by a fascinating dialogue on how to best use evidence to drive policy. 4/18/2011 View From Washington View From Washington Here at AMCHP we’ve worked hard to institutionalize family involvement and family leadership in all aspects of our operations – including and especially in our advocacy work. 7/1/2010 View from Washington View From Washington There are numerous examples of where inspired leadership stepped forward to improve the lives of the MCH population. 10/1/2010 View From Washington The PPACA did include a handful of provisions addressing this issue’s theme of teen pregnancy prevention and adolescent health. 5/1/2010 View From Washington This issue marks the one year anniversary of passage of Affordable Care Act (ACA). 3/8/2011 View From Washington I want to start with the good news and bold proclamation that children in America are healthier today than at any time in history. 6/13/2011

AMCHP works with federal agencies, members of Congress, and partners to garner support for the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant and other MCH programs.  For more information on these activites, please contact any member of our Policy Team.

FEDERAL BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
Federal Maternal & Child Health Fiscal Year 2013/2014 Proposed Funding Highlights

• Fiscal Year 2014 Appropriations Request for the Title V MCH block grant

Appropriations Testimony

• March 2013: Written Statement to the U.S. House of Representatives Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Click here to dowload the written statement. 

 COMMENTS ON FEDERAL REGULATION & LEGISLATION

As your voice in Washington, AMCHP provides member comments, input and feedback on federal legislation and regulations of import to state MCH programs.  Recent comments are listed below.

AMCHP signed a letter in support of President Obama's proposed expansion and extension of the home visiting program. (4.13)

AMCHP supports the Prevention and Public Health Fund letter sent to Congress. (4.13)

On Mar. 7, AMCHP provided comments to HRSA on the Federal Register notice that was released by the Office of Management and Budget on Jan. 7 requesting comments on the burden on states to report data on the amount of federal funding from the Title V MCH Block Grant that states spend on direct services. Request for comment was given in order to "Analyze Title V Programs in the Context of the Affordable Care Act." States also provided comments specific to their programs.

AMCHP provided comments on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act proposed rule on essential health benefits. (Dec. 21, 2012) 

AMCHP encouraged states to comment on proposed essential health benefits benchmark plans. AMCHP provided a memo containing background information and how states can comment that can be found here. Comments were due Dec. 26, 2012. (Dec. 17, 2012).

AMCHP signed onto a letter with the pediatric community to support protecting access to health services for children by preserving the Affordable Care Act's payment increase for primary care services financed by Medicaid. (Dec. 12, 2012) 

Friends of Maternal and Child Health letter signed by 56 organizations about sequestration.  This letter urges Congress to achieve a balanced approach to deficit reduction.

AMCHP and other organization'stalking points on how the Prevention and Public Health Fund helps women and their families. (4/26/2012)

AMCHP's letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee opposing legislation designed to eliminate funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund. (4/25/12)

AMCHP's comments on the Department of Health and Human Services essential health benefits bulletin. (1/31/2012)

AMCHP's letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee opposing legislation designed to eliminate or reclassify Prevention and Public Health Fund, school based health centers and the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). (3/30/2011)

Joint comments from AMCHP, AAP, AWHONN and others on the Department of Labor reasonable break time for nursing mothers. (2/22/2011)

Letter and comments from AMCHP, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologist (CSTE) and the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS) on the comprehensive set of quality measures under the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA). (1/14/2011)

AMCHP's comments on the National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy (1/12/2011)

AMCHP's comments on Preventive Services for Women (1/12/2011) [Background information on IOM's work]

AMCHP's comments on the health insurance exchange regulation (10/31/11)

AMCHP and other national organizations' letter to DHHS Secretary Sebelius regarding a health quality measure for Medicaid-eligible adults on elective deliveries before 39 weeks gestation. (9/11)

AMCHP's comments on the initial core set of health quality measures for Medicaid-eligible adults. (3/1/2011)