Disability Scoop has done it again.
They are the first and only nationally focused online news organization serving the developmental disability community including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fragile X and intellectual disability, among others. And, they are a terrific resource to find out what is going on in disability news.
Seasoned journalist, Michelle Diament, did a wonderful job going through the new health care reform bill to find how it will affect people with disabilities.
In her article, she breaks down what the bill would do in very simple terms:
- Level the playing field: Pre-existing conditions would be a thing of the past as would annual and lifetime coverage caps. For those currently unable to get insurance because of a pre-existing condition, the bill would require the immediate creation of a high risk pool to cover this population before insurance reforms are fully implemented.
- Long-term care: The House voted to support the Community First Choice Option which gives states the option to receive more federal matching funds to support individuals with disabilities who live in the community. In exchange, participating states must eliminate caps on the number of individuals who can live in the community. Initially, advocates wanted health care reform legislation to include a mandate, but they say that giving states this option is an important first step. Also on the long-term care front, the House bill includes the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports, or CLASS Act, which would create a government long-term care insurance program that workers could buy in to.
- Coverage expansion: Insurance plans would be required to cover rehabilitation and habilitation services, durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and related supplies, vision and hearing services and behavioral therapy. Mental health coverage would also be expanded for individuals covered under large group plans.
- Medicaid boost: The federal government would increase funding for Medicaid, while expanding eligibility for the program and increasing reimbursement rates to doctors. This is particularly significant for people with disabilities, says Laurel Stine, director of federal relations for the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. “By extending Medicaid to individuals with a family income of up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level, including single childless adults, many of whom have severe mental disabilities, the House confirms the value of the Medicaid program to give low-income, vulnerable Americans the comprehensive services and supports they need to get better and to live happy, healthy and productive lives.”
- Accessibility: Disability would be added to the list of health disparities so that research can be conducted regarding the accessibility of health care to this population. Moreover, standards would be created for accessible medical equipment like exam tables and x-ray machines
“The fact that the package has paid such attention to people with disabilities is very significant,” says Marty Ford, chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities.
More articles by Seattle Special Needs Issues Examiner:
Amazon's Kindle "discriminates" against blind students?
Tammy Duckworth: a brave new voice at the VA
Paws for purple hearts: vets with PTSD train service dogs
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