GA Payer Helps Providers Improve Access to Care for Disabled Individuals

Peach State Health Plan has partnered with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) to help improve access to care for patients with disabilities.

Although healthcare facilities are designed for care, not all facilities are not accessible for people with disabilities. The ADA outlines various guidelines that healthcare facilities should institute to be considered accessible.

"This partnership furthers Peach State Health Plan's commitment to expanding the access of quality healthcare to Georgians with disabilities, their companions, and care providers," said Wade Rakes, president and chief executive officer of Peach State Health Plan. "With help from the National Council on Independent Living, we will be able to identify areas of the state where structural improvements and specialty equipment are most needed."

Through this initiative which is called “the Barrier Removal Fund,” the partners not only seek to support providers in meeting the state and federal disability access regulations but assist providers in exceeding these regulatory expectations, the press release indicated.

Providers who receive the grant can leverage the funding in a variety of ways. For example, they may seek to purchase equipment that supports patients with disabilities. Alternatively, the funds might go toward building projects that seek to improve the accessibility of a facility by installing handrails, sliding doors, and other helpful features.

"Peach State Health Plan and the Barrier Removal Fund have allowed us to make structural improvements to our facility that expand access to healthcare services," said William Swofford, MD, of Colquitt Complete Care, LLC. "Physical barriers at healthcare facilities can often be daunting for some patients to overcome and can discourage patients from getting treatment. Removing barriers will always make it easier for our patients to get the care they need."

Providers like Swofford submitted applications for the grant funding in early 2022 and many have already started their projects. The Barrier Removal Fund has distributed over $100,000 to 16 facilities in Georgia.

The initiative is part of the Provider Accessibility Initiative in Georgia. The program is a partnership between NCIL and Centene that started in 2018. The Barrier Removal Fund has contributed more than $1 million in grants to providers in twelve states. Centene, NCIL and three affiliate health plans including Peach State Health Plan collaborated to add three more states to the initiative in 2022—Georgia, Michigan, and Texas.

"Physical barriers and accessibility at a doctor's office can be a serious obstacle that often prevents patients from receiving appropriate care for their health conditions," said Jenny Sichel, operations director with NCIL. "We have seen the Barrier Removal Fund successfully address these issues in other states and are excited to see its impact in Georgia."

Payers have pursued health equity for disabled members in a variety of ways, particularly through investments. UnitedHealthcare put $5 million toward the Multi-Assistance Center (MAC) at Morgan’s Wonderland. The funding supported workplace counseling and education as well as a program that supports medical tests and procedures familiarity among disabled members.

These efforts may be particularly timely: disability claims were expected to increase in 2022 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.