- Pennsylvania Barrier Removal Fund
- Florida Barrier Removal Fund
- Kansas Barrier Removal Fund
- Envolve Barrier Removal Fund
The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is pleased to announce the continuation of the Barrier Removal Fund (BRF) in 2024. 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 $2.3 M in grants to fund accessibility improvements at 248 healthcare providers in sixteen states (Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Iowa, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Texas).
NCIL has partnered with over 58 CILs across the country to complete over 400 Accessibility Site Reviews.
In 2024, Centene, NCIL, and three Centene health plan affiliates (Sunshine Health, Sunflower Health Plan, and PA Health & Wellness) are collaborating to offer the BRF in Florida, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. 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.
2023 Barrier Removal Fund Projects:
- Automatic door openers
- Accessible exam table and scale
- Parking lot paving
- Ramp Handrails
- Structural modifications to create accessible entrance
- Sensory items
- Natural Lighting
- Accessible signage
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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