Obama Administration Accomplishments for People with Disabilities
While the Obama administration has had hundreds of accomplishments thus far, below is a short list of accomplishments that have particular impacts on people with disabilities and their families.
While the Obama administration has had hundreds of accomplishments thus far, below is a short list of accomplishments that have particular impacts on people with disabilities and their families.
- Provided $12.2 billion in new funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act though the American Recovery and investment Act. ref
- Signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. ref
- Increased Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Exec Order)(celebrating 20th anniversary of the ADA). ref ref
- The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to include gender, sexual orientation and disability. ref
- Established a New Patient’s Bill of Rights. ref
- Established Standards For Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment ref
- Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act // Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (March 2010). ref , ref
- Required large employers to contribute to a national health plan. ref
- Required insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. ref , ref
- Prevented children from being refused health insurance coverage. ref
- Expanded eligibility for Medicaid. ref
- Preserved access to care for Medicare beneficiaries ref
- Removed restrictions and provided support for embryonic stem-cell research and new biomedical research. ref, ref, ref ref
- Required health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient care. ref
- Established HealthCare.gov, a web portal for determining and comparing all consumer health insurance and health care options. [ref] [ref]
- Established an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information. ref
- Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules. ref
- Implemented a National HIV/AIDS Strategy 7/13/10 ref
- Provided $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. ref
- Provided funding to strengthen hospital preparedness and emergency response ref
- Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. ref
- Provided minimum essential health care coverage by Veteran’s Affairs. ref
- Expanded eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP). ref, ref
- Cut prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients by 50% and began eliminating the plan’s gap (“donut hole”) in coverage. ref
- Extended COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) to provide for a continuation of health care. ref, ref, ref
- Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009. ref , ref , ref, ref
- Social Security Disability Applicant Access to Professional Representation Act of 2010.ref
- Established “Opening Doors” – a federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.ref , ref
- Provided $5 billion for Weatherization Assistance Program for low income families. ref
- Ordered review of mandatory minimum sentences. ref
- Denounced SCOTUS ruling in Citizens United. ref
- Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare. ref
- Eliminated higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans. ref
- Blinded Veterans Association. ref
- Worked to clear the backlog of veterans claims and streamline benefits to those who served. ref
- Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. ref
- Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center. ref
- Improved access for Veterans to receive PTSD treatment. ref
- Created true adoption tax credit for those adopting children with disabilities. ref