ADA 30th Anniversary: Bringing Attention to Health Equity for People with Disabilities

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office (MMCO) is sharing messages and materials on supporting equal opportunities and inclusion for people with disabilities, many of whom are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

On July 26, 1990 the ADA was enacted to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life (work, school, employment, transportation). Join us in recognizing this observance and use this anniversary to bring attention to health equity for people with disabilities.

Disability-Competent Care

Disability-competent care (DCC) is an aspirational, participant-centered model that focuses on the eventual goal of supporting individuals to achieve maximum function. The DCC model is delivered by an interdisciplinary team (IDT) whom recognizes and treats each individual as a unique person, not their diagnosis or condition. The model encourages participant direction in choices regarding their health, wellness, and life in the community.

• Pillar I: Disability-Competent Care And Disabilities
• Pillar II: Participant Engagement
• Pillar III: Access
• Pillar IV: Primary Care
• Pillar V: Care Coordination
• Pillar VI: Long-Term Services And Supports
• Pillar VII: Behavioral Health

For more information, visit the Resources for Integrated Care website.

Resources for People with Disabilities

• Download From Coverage to Care COVID-19 Resources to learn how to protect yourself during COVID-19, including information about health services typically covered under Medicare and Marketplace plans, as well as tips for getting the care you need at home.
• Download and share Getting the Care You Need: A Guide for People with Disabilities to help people with disabilities understand their rights around accessing medical services. The guide includes a checklist to help you get the care you need before, during, and after your appointment. It is also available in Spanish, with more languages coming soon. To request a physical copy in Braille, please contact CMS at healthequityTA@cms.hhs.gov.
• Visit the Medicare.gov “I have a disability” page to find and share information about Medicare plans, benefits, and protections for people with disabilities

Resources for Health Care Professionals

• Complete the Disability-Competent Care Self-Assessment Tool.
• Watch and share our video Navigating Health Care with a Disability: Our Stories, a Focus on the Provider – Learn how health care organizations and providers can improve accessibility and care for people with disabilities.
• View our data highlight:  How Does Disability Affect Access to Health Care for Dual Eligible Beneficiaries?
• Find information on how to increase physical accessibility of medical services, tools to assess a practice or facility’s accessibility, and more. The Modernizing Health Care to Improve Physical Accessibility: Resources Inventory includes tips and training materials to support efforts to reduce barriers and improve quality of care for these individuals.
• Complete the Medicare and Other Programs for People with Disabilities training module to help health care professionals and other audiences better understand Medicare and other programs for people with disabilities.
• Read the Increasing the Physical Accessibility of Health Care Facilities issue brief to learn why physical accessibility of health care facilities is important for people with disabilities.

Visit Celebrating 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act for more information.