ACTION ALERT: ASK CONGRESS TO COSPONSOR THE HEADS UP ACT ASK CONGRESS TO COSPONSOR THE HEADS UP ACT (H.R. 3380) People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) experience poorer health
outcomes and shortened life expectancies compared to people without disabilities, and they
often lack access to even the most basic forms of care. For example, people with I/DD:
● Are more likely to report being in poor health;
● Are less likely to receive preventative screenings and vaccinations;
● Have higher rates of undiagnosed hearing and vision impairments;
● Have higher rates of poor dental health;
● Have higher rates of diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases, including asthma;
● Have higher rates of mortality due to illnesses/conditions less likely to lead to death in
the general population; and
● Are more likely to have poorly managed chronic health conditions. The HEADs UP Act would help to rectify these health inequities by designating individuals with
I/DD as a Medically Underserved Population (MUP), thereby opening up more than 25
government programs to the I/DD community. These include:
● Federal funding for health centers and public health infrastructure such as Federally
Qualified Health Centers;
● Eligibility to apply for federal funding to develop and operate Community Health Centers;
● Access to medical school loan repayment for providers and workforce training programs
under the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA);
● Incentives for physicians to treat this population through higher CMS reimbursement
rates for services delivered in Health Professional Shortage Areas; and
● Preference given in federal research. We need you to contact your Representatives and Senators to urge them to cosponsor the HEADs UP Act. Thank you for your advocacy efforts!
The NDSC Policy & Advocacy Team We encourage you to stay engaged in our advocacy efforts by: (1) Registering for NDSC Action Alerts- click "Quick Sign Up"; (2) Subscribing to the NDSC Policy & Advocacy Newsline; (3) Joining our national grassroots advocacy program, the National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition and (4) "liking" NDSC on social media. | 
