May 22, 2018
DREDF joins fellow advocates in opposing a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that would allow states with high Medicaid managed care plan enrollment to reduce the "administrative burden" of documenting whether their fee-for-service Medicaid payments are high enough to ensure that beneficiaries have access to covered care and services.
April 6, 2018
Unfortunately, two bills introduced in California’s Assembly seek to expand the definition of “gravely disabled” in order to make it easier to conduct involuntary commitment and treatment of certain mentally ill people, and to expand conservatorship. DREDF strongly disfavors the needless expansion of conservatorship, which broadly allows a conservator to manage the financial affairs and daily life of a conserved person. Those who are conserved are left with limited legal capacity, inevitably lose personal choice in many facets of their lives, and face institutionalization against their will for some period of time. [...]
March 27, 2018
On March 27, 2018 DREDF submitted comments in response to regulations proposed by the Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights on "Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care." DREDF questions the vagueness and breadth of the proposed rule which gives broad latitude to healthcare providers and entities to refuse to perform or assist in performing health care services or activities to which they object "for religious, moral, ethical, or other reasons." DREDF emphasized that the provider's right to refuse cannot simply override the right of persons with disabilities of all races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientation and gender, to receive accessible and equally effective healthcare services, free of discrimination.
November 21, 2017
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center (CMMI) put out an informal Request for Information on September 20, seeking stakeholder feedback on a "new direction to promote patient-centered care and test market-driven reforms." The RFI emphasizes choice and competition as the keys to higher quality, reduced costs, and improved patient outcomes. DREDF response emphasizes the critical need for enhancing and integrating long-term services and supports across all of CMMI's models, including within accountable care organizations, advance payment models, and PACE programs for younger people with disabilities.
October 5, 2017
Re: Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and other Revisions to Part B for CY 2018; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (CMS-1676-P)
October 4, 2017
It has been very difficult to obtain actual data to establish the numbers of people with disabilities among the Medicaid expansion population, given the dearth of both tracked disability-related questions and optional demographic information on disability in the streamlined enrollment application. Nonetheless, we submit that many working low-income people with disabilities, including individuals with multiple chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes who may not typical identify as a person with a disability, have enrolled in Medicaid through the expansion option. Consequently, we are deeply concerned by the proposal to eliminate the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) benefit for MassHealth CarePlus enrollees, otherwise known as the Medicaid expansion population, except for transportation for substance use disorder (SUD)-related services.
October 1, 2017
Re: Request for Information under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Reducing Regulatory Burdens and Improving Health Care Choices to Empower Patients (CMS-9928-NC)
April 29, 2016
Ask your county IHSS worker. You can request your preferred format when you file an application, have an initial assessment, or a reassessment. You can also call your county IHSS worker. Some other IHSS information and documents may be available in alternative formats. You may ask your county IHSS worker for something you need. If it can be provided in your desired format, it will be. If not, your county IHSS worker will work with you to find an alternative that will work for you.
April 4, 2016
All consumers need clear and accessible information. For consumers with disabilities, however, these needs become quite specific. That is, coverage information about such topics as the treatment of habilitation services and devices durable medical equipment, orthotics and prosthetics, prescription drugs, and mental health coverage is particularly important since these are items that enable people with chronic conditions and disabilities to remain functional in their lives and communities.
February 5, 2016
DREDF is seeking examples of problems that Medi–Cal beneficiaries in California have experienced with obtaining non–medical transportation to needed services or treatments covered by Medi–Cal, including Denti–Cal.