STATEMENT: New Section 504 HHS Guidance Will Start to Dismantle Barriers to Medical Care for Disabled Americans, Says CAP’s Mia Ives-Rublee

Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule that will strengthen the civil rights protections for disabled people while accessing health care and other social services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Following the announcement, Mia Ives-Rublee, director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center of American Progress, issued the following statement:

For the 1 in 4 Americans who have a disability, going to the doctor’s office is no guarantee of equitable care. Disabled people disproportionately face discrimination leading to inadequate treatment, and in many medical offices, basic equipment such as scales and exam tables are inaccessible.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed Section 504 rule will start guidance to dismantle barriers to care, addressing discrimination, making medical equipment more accessible, and ensuring that disabled Americans receive care in an appropriate, integrated health care setting. I applaud the Department of Health and Human Services for its thoughtful approach to ensuring that every American has an opportunity to access health care.

For more information or to speak to an expert, contact Julia Cusick at [email protected].