ST. LOUIS, June 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene
Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today that it has partnered
with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) on an
initiative to increase the accessibility of provider medical
offices and services for people with disabilities. The Provider
Accessibility Initiative (PAI) will kick off with the "Barrier
Removal Fund" (BRF) in three pilot states, Illinois, Texas, and Ohio, as well as educational and compliance
components which will be implemented in all Centene markets
nationwide.
Centene is committed to providing equal access to quality
healthcare and services that are physically and programmatically
accessible for our members with disabilities and their companions.
The goal of the PAI is to improve member access and health outcomes
by increasing the percentage of practitioner locations and services
in Centene's network that meet minimum federal and state disability
access standards.
"Studies have shown that Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries
with disabilities receive less preventive care due to inaccessible
provider exam rooms and/or diagnostic equipment. Through this
partnership, Centene and NCIL aim to solve a vital national problem
and key social determinant of health for people with disabilities
and their companions," said Dr. Ken
Yamaguchi, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical
Officer for Centene.
"NCIL is proud to partner with Centene to address the critical
issue of increasing the accessibility of medical offices and
services for people with disabilities," said Kelly Buckland, Executive Director for NCIL.
The PAI will have several components including:
- Educating health plan staff in Centene's markets nationwide
about disability access requirements and available tools to assist
with compliance and enforcement;
- Improving the accuracy, completeness, and transparency of
disability access data in our provider directories; and
- Offering Centene participating providers in pilot states with
competitive access to a national Barrier Removal Fund. Providers
chosen for 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.
About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is a diversified,
multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of
services to government sponsored and commercial healthcare
programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many
receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind
or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long-Term Services and
Supports (LTSS), in addition to other state-sponsored
programs, Medicare (including
the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly known as
"Part D"), dual eligible programs and programs with the U.S.
Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Centene also provides healthcare services to
groups and individuals delivered through commercial health
plans. Centene operates local health plans and offers a
range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other
healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty
services including behavioral health management, care management
software, correctional healthcare services, dental benefits
management, commercial programs, home-based primary care services,
life and health management, vision benefits management, pharmacy
benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth
services.
Centene uses its investor relations website to publish
important information about the Company, including information that
may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other
information about Centene is routinely posted and is
accessible on Centene's investor relations
website, http://www.centene.com/investors.
About NCIL
The National Council on Independent Living
(NCIL) is the longest-running national, cross disability,
grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities.
Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and
individuals including Centers for Independent Living (CILs),
Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and others that
advocate for the human and civil rights of people with
disabilities.
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SOURCE Centene Corporation