Mary Lou Breslin: 2013 Purpose Prize Fellow

November 11, 2013
"I knew going into this new career that to reverse deeply entrenched policies and attitudes would take a long time," she says. "After almost a decade of policy advocacy, research and training and collaborations, we can report some important incremental changes—and a few splendid victories."

Posted in ADA

Accountable Care Organizations

June 6, 2011
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) and Access Living, along with the undersigned organizations and individuals, appreciate the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule regarding Medicare Shared Savings Program: Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).

Health Disparity Research and Data Collection

April 25, 2011
Section 4302 of the ACA mandates the collection of data on “disability status for applicants, recipients, or participants” by “any federally conducted or supported health care or public health program, activity or survey.” In addition, section 4302 also requires the collection of additional information related to specific, known barriers to healthcare that affect individuals with disabilities and that contribute to the health and health care disparities they experience, and sets forth the following specific data collection standards:

Health Resources and Services Administration

June 9, 2010
We strongly urge you to appoint several individuals with broad knowledge and awareness of health and health care disparities, barriers to care, and health outcomes experienced by individuals with diverse disabilities to the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (NR) that will establish a comprehensive methodology and criteria for designation of Medically Underserved Populations (MUPS) and Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSA).

Sanchez v. Johnson

May 4, 2000
The lawsuit challenged the State's failure to increase wages of direct care workers for persons with disabilities residing in the community, resulting in turnover in excess of 50 percent a year. California had increased rates paid to community providers for wages insubstantially since 1989. As a result, workers in community facilities are paid 54 percent of what similar workers in California's institutions are paid. Only two states in the nation paid less per person than California for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services.