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| National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities |
| Abbreviation | NASUAD |
| Formation | 1968 |
| Type | Nonprofit membership organization |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Region served | United States |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities is a U.S.-based nonprofit membership organization that represents state agencies and officials responsible for long-term services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities. The organization engages with federal institutions such as the United States Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services while collaborating with stakeholder groups including the Administration on Aging, the AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The association traces roots to early policy coordination efforts in the 1960s and 1970s involving state leaders from entities like the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Governors Association, and the Elder Rights Coalition. Key milestones involve interactions with landmark federal laws such as the Social Security Act, the Older Americans Act of 1965, and amendments to Medicaid that shaped home- and community-based services policy alongside advocacy by groups like the National Council on Aging and the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Over decades the organization engaged with administrations from Richard Nixon through Joe Biden, responding to shifts in priorities driven by events such as the Great Recession (2007–2009), the passage of the Affordable Care Act, and public health emergencies including the COVID-19 pandemic.
The association's mission centers on advancing state capacity for long-term services and supports, aligning with policy debates in venues such as the United States Senate, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and advisory bodies including the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services. Advocacy priorities include strengthening Medicaid Waiver flexibility, promoting Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) settings rules, supporting workforce development initiatives linked to the National Health Service Corps, and influencing legislation comparable to proposals from entities like the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Kaiser Family Foundation. The group also addresses issues intersecting with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and initiatives from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration when relevant to aging and disability policy.
Programs and services span technical assistance, policy analysis, training, and convenings. The association provides resources for state Medicaid directors, comparable to support from the National Association of Medicaid Directors, and runs peer networks similar to initiatives by the National Academy for State Health Policy and the Commonwealth Fund. Training topics often reflect research by the Urban Institute, the Brookings Institution, and the RAND Corporation on long-term services, workforce shortages referenced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and quality measurement work associated with the National Quality Forum. The organization convenes webinars, conferences, and toolkits drawing on expertise from partners such as the Eldercare Locator, the Family Caregiver Alliance, and the Institute of Medicine.
Membership comprises state agencies, directors of aging and disability services, and associate members including nonprofit providers, advocacy organizations, and academic centers like the Yale School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Governance structures include an executive committee, board of directors, and advisory councils that mirror governance models used by the National Governors Association and the Council of State Governments. Leadership transitions and board appointments have involved leaders who previously served in state offices represented in forums like the National Conference of State Legislatures and have collaborated with federal officials from the Office of Management and Budget and the Federal Emergency Management Agency when coordinating disaster response for congregate care settings.
Funding sources include membership dues, grants from foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation, and cooperative agreements with federal agencies including the Administration for Community Living. The organization forms strategic partnerships with provider associations like the American Health Care Association, research entities such as the Health Affairs journal contributors, and advocacy coalitions including Justice in Aging and the National Disability Rights Network. It has participated in multi-stakeholder initiatives sponsored by institutions like the Commonwealth Fund and collaborated on pilot projects with state demonstration programs under authorities like Section 1115.
The association has influenced state and federal policy outcomes including adoption and refinement of Home and Community-Based Services standards, expansion of person-centered planning practices found in HCBS Waiver programs, and technical guidance that informed federal regulations issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Contributions include convening stakeholders during development of rules related to the Olmstead v. L.C. framework, supporting state responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in nursing homes and community programs, and advancing workforce policies aligned with recommendations from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Through publications and testimony before committees such as the Senate Special Committee on Aging, the association has shaped debates on financing long-term services, caregiver supports, and housing policies connected to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.