What is the purpose of the National Council on Disability (NCD) Health Equity Framework?

The NCD Health Equity Framework is a comprehensive set of policy recommendations and guidelines designed to identify and address the profound health disparities faced by individuals with disabilities. Its core purpose is to ensure that people with disabilities have equitable access to quality healthcare and services, equal to that of the non-disabled population.

What are 'health disparities' as they relate to people with disabilities?

Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations. For people with disabilities, this includes lack of accessible medical equipment, provider bias, poor health literacy support, and higher rates of preventable secondary conditions.

How does the framework address the issue of inaccessible diagnostic tools?

The framework advocates for regulatory and financial incentives for medical practices to acquire accessible diagnostic and examination equipment, such as accessible weight scales and adjustable examination tables. It stresses that health equity cannot be achieved if the basic tools required for a proper examination are physically inaccessible.

What role does training and education play in the NCD's recommendations?

The framework emphasizes the need for mandatory disability competence training in all medical and health professional schools. This aims to combat 'diagnostic overshadowing' (attributing symptoms to the disability rather than a treatable condition) and ensure providers understand the diverse needs of their patients with disabilities.

What is the relationship between the NCD framework and risk mitigation in IDD services?

Effective risk mitigation in IDD services (such as those monitored by the Health Risk Screening Tool, or HRST) relies heavily on access to equitable healthcare. The NCD framework creates the policy environment necessary for better health outcomes, which directly reduces the clinical and safety risks managed by IDD service providers. Policy changes like improved data collection on disability and health, as recommended by the NCD, support proactive risk management.

Month: March 2022

The National Council on Disability Health Equity Framework: Four Actionable Steps to Better Health for People with Disabilities

On February 14, 2022, the National Council on Disability (NCD) issued the Health Equity Framework. Within the framework is a call to action involving an “all-of-government approach to comprehensively address the health needs of the over 64 million people with disabilities in this country and in our territories…

Month: March 2022

The National Council on Disability Health Equity Framework: Four Actionable Steps to Better Health for People with Disabilities

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