The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has a new final rule that applies to Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act — which doesn’t allow discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability. The final rule improves civil rights protections for people who use health programs and services funded … Continued
The Justice Department and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wrote a letter to state Medicaid heads. They want to make sure Medicaid programs follow the rules of the ADA and allow people who have both Hepatitis C (HCV) and substance use disorder (SUD) to get medications called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). More than two … Continued
The Justice Department sent to the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that aims to make it easier for people with disabilities to use medical diagnostic equipment (MDE). MDEs include things like medical examination tables, scales, dental chairs, x-ray machines, and mammography equipment. They … Continued
Free at-home COVID-19 tests available on the official U.S. government website. Second round of ordering opened on November 20. Ellume tests provided for the blind and low vision community. Each household can place a second order for four additional tests. Ellume tests feature a smartphone app with audio instructions and results. Get your tests here.
The Department of Justice reached an agreement with Alameda County, California, and others who had filed complaints, to improve community-based mental health services. The Department found that Alameda County violated Title II of the ADA by putting people with mental health disabilities in institutions when they could have been helped with community-based services. The agreement … Continued
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) won a case in California against Quest Diagnostics. The case is about their self-service kiosks being inaccessible to blind people. This violates the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). The case can now go to trial and is for all legally blind people who visited Quest in 2018 and 2019 … Continued
Healthcare practices serve patients with disabilities who may face extra problems in getting care. Providers, become an ally for people with disabilities by making small changes that can really improve their lives, starting with assessing your practice and building a more inclusive practice by using: Welcoming Spaces: Make sure your programs and physical spaces are … Continued
Section 504 prohibits discrimination against individuals based on disability in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance or are operated by a Federal agency. HHS is proposing to update the regulations to clarify important requirements that are not currently addressed and improve consistency with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Americans with Disabilities Amendments … Continued
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s addition of nationwide American Sign Language (ASL) services for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This is part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to increase accessibility to behavioral health care for underserved communities. Since the July 2022 launch, … Continued
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has a new factsheet that shares ways employers can support workers with Long COVID. Long COVID Some people who had COVID-19 have new or continuing symptoms—known as post-COVID conditions or Long COVID. These symptoms can last weeks, months, or years and get worse with physical … Continued
