Skip to main content

Accessible

Care should be logistically, financially, and physically accessible to patients. 

All clinic settings should be aware of barriers to care and implement policies and procedures to help patients overcome barriers. For example, offering expanded hours, telehealth options, and walk-in appointments assists patients in obtaining timely care. Adopt flexible approaches to late-arrival policies, particularly for adolescents and individuals facing transportation challenges. Aim to reduce the number of visits required, recognizing the burden of multiple visits. Additionally, offering childcare services during appointments can increase accessibility for patients who are parents or caregivers.

Clinics should be familiar with out-of-pocket costs for services, medications, and supplies, whether provided on-site or through referrals. They should also be knowledgeable about coverage options available through commonly used public and private insurance programs. Offering guidance and resources to patients in need of financial assistance can help ensure access to care and reduce financial barriers.

Provider training on how to adapt clinical care to meet the needs of people of all abilities and sizes can improve quality of care. People with disabilities experience disparities in access to quality SRH services. Federal civil rights statutes, such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), require providers to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. The implementing regulations for Section 504 and Section 1557 further detail the obligations to individuals with disabilities under the statutes for health care programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.43 Important considerations include examination tables that are easy for individuals to transfer on and off, availability of interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, and provider training.44 The Northwest ADA Center has developed a toolkit that providers can consult to provide accessible care.45 Educational resources explain various approaches to improving SRH care for people with disabilities.46

Resources for Providers

Healthcare Access Toolkit
Source:
Northwest ADA Center
Approaches to Improve SRH for People with Disabilities
Source:
Innovating Education in Reproductive Health
  • 43

    Section 504 is codified at 29 U.S.C. § 794, and its implementing regulations applicable to programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance can be found at 45 C.F.R. Part 84. Section 1557 is codified at 42 U.S.C. § 18116, and its implementing regulations applicable to health programs and activities can be found at 45 C.F.R. Part 92. Parts of Section 1557’s implementing regulations are subject to court orders, see OCR's website for more information. Title II of the ADA, applicable to State and local government entities is codified at 42 U.S.C. 12132 et seq. and Title III of the ADA, applicable to places of public accommodations, including health care facilities, is codified at 42 U.S.C. 12181 et seq. See also U.S. Department of Justice. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination. 

  • 44

    Sonalkar S, Chavez V, McClusky J, Hunter TA, Mollen CJ. Gynecologic care for women with physical disabilities: a qualitative study of patients and providers. Women's Health Issues. 2020;30(2):136-141.

  • 45

    Northwest ADA Center. Healthcare Access.

  • 46

    Innovating Education in Reproductive Health. Approaches to Improve SRH for People with Disabilities.