RESOLUTION 2011-10

Health Information Accessibility

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
RESOLUTION 2011-10

SUMMARY:

This organization calls upon the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use all regulatory and enforcement mechanisms at her disposal to ensure that electronic medical records, telehealth technologies, and health exchange and other related web sites are fully accessible to and usable by people with disabilities.

WHEREAS, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA or federal health care reform) calls for the establishment of state health care exchanges to provide information to consumers about available health insurance plans and options; and

WHEREAS, this legislation is merely the latest in a series of legislative and regulatory changes that are increasingly moving our nation's health care system into the virtual environment; and

WHEREAS, the growing use of largely inaccessible electronic health records is posing a significant barrier to people who are blind or visually impaired who cannot privately and independently make use of such records; and

WHEREAS, the increasing deployment of inaccessible telehealth technologies is leading to the creation of needless barriers to people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, the web sites of state health exchanges and those of other health insurance providers must be accessible in order to ensure that people with disabilities can benefit from the provisions of health care reform;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at the John Ascuaga Nugget Hotel Resort and Casino in Sparks, Nev., on the 15th day of July, 2011, that this organization call upon the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use all regulatory and enforcement mechanisms at her disposal to ensure that electronic medical records, telehealth technologies, and health exchange and other related web sites are fully accessible to and useable by people with disabilities.

Adopted.

Marlaina Lieberg, Secretary