Provider Accessibility Initiative / Barrier Removal Fund

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NCIL is pleased to announce the continuation of the Barrier Removal Fund (BRF) in 2023. NCIL and the Centene Corporation are committed to providing equal access to quality health care and services that are physically and programmatically accessible for our members with disabilities and their companions by increasing the percentage of Centene providers that meet minimum federal and state disability access standards. Since 2018, the Barrier Removal Fund has provided over $2M in grants to fund accessibility improvements at healthcare providers in fourteen states (Hawaii, Louisiana, Iowa, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Texas, Michigan, and Georgia). 

Centene, NCIL, and 3 affiliate health plans (Delaware First Health, Nebraska Total Care, Western Sky Community Care, and Envolve) are collaborating to continue the Provider Accessibility Initiative (PAI) in two new states and returning to one previous state for 2023: Delaware, Nebraska, and New Mexico. NCIL will coordinate competitive grants to support the removal of physical and programmatic disability access barriers at participating provider group practice / clinic/service locations where state health plan members are seen. We look forward to removing accessing barriers and improving access to care and information regarding providers’ accessibility to members with disabilities and their companions in these states.

What is the Provider Accessibility Initiative (PAI)?

Centene is committed to providing equal access to quality health care and services that are physically and programmatically accessible for our members with disabilities and their companions. “Physical access,” also referred to as “architectural access,” refers to a person with a disability’s ability to access buildings, structures, and the environment. “Programmatic access” refers to a person with a disability’s ability to access goods, services, activities and equipment. The goal of the PAI is to increase the percentage of Centene’s health plan providers that meet minimum federal and state disability access standards by:

  1. Improving the accuracy, completeness, and transparency of provider self-reported disability access data in all products/all markets nationwide by integrating “minimum accessibility” standards into the provider application/credentialing and directory processes; and
  2. Providing participating providers in three pilot states with shared access to grant dollars through a Barrier Removal Fund (BRF). Providers that apply and are chosen for BRF awards will receive an on-site disability accessibility review completed by a local Center for Independent Living (CIL) and funding to remediate priority disability access barriers. 

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