Provider Accessibility Initiative

WHAT is the Provider Accessibility Initiative (PAI)?

Buckeye Health Plan 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 Buckeye Health Plan providers that meet minimum federal and state disability access standards by:
 

WHERE/WHEN

In 2018, the BRF will be administered in three pilot States: Illinois, Texas, and Ohio. Buckeye Health Plan is Centene Corporation’s health plan affiliate in Ohio.

WHO is responsible for administering the BRF?

• Buckeye Health Plan is proud to partner with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) on the administration of the BRF.
• 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: individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States.
• NCIL will provide technical assistance to Buckeye Health Plan and help them coordinate a local BRF Committee that will select BRF awardees.
• NCIL will also coordinate with local Centers for Independent Living (CILs) to conduct the on-site accessibility reviews of BRF applicants, provide training, and distribute grants to BRF awardees to remediate priority disability access barriers identified by the local BRF Committee.

WHY are the PAI and BRF important?

• It's the right thing to do. Studies conducted by CMS on physical accessibility of healthcare facilities (PDF) have shown that Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities receive less preventive care due to inaccessible exam rooms and/or diagnostic equipment; The PAI and BRF demonstrate Buckeye Health Plan’s position as a pioneer in partnering with our providers and disability advocates to solve a vital problem and key social determinants of health for our members with disabilities and their companions.
• In addition, federal laws and regulations require that MCO providers have disability access and that MCO provider directories include a complete and accurate description of provider disability access.
• Buckeye Health Plan believes we have a responsibility and an obligation to support the participating providers in our network in becoming more accessible through a designated corporate funding source designed to address one of the primary barriers to disability compliance, namely a lack of financial resources, so that our members with disabilities and their companions will have better access and quality of care.
• The PAI, a recommendation of the Centene National Disability Advisory Council, demonstrates that Buckeye Health Plan is actively working toward a health care delivery system that is fully usable by, and accessible to, our members with disabilities and their companions; a health care system based on the aspirational principle of “universal access for all.”

Eligibility

Participating providers that meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

• In the counties: Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Geauga, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Hocking, Holmes, Lake, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Medina, Mercer, Montgomery, Paulding, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Van Wert, Wayne, and Wood Service Delivery Area; and
• See BHP members at a physical location; and
• Are accepting new Buckeye Health Plan members; and
• Are in the Buckeye Health Plan provider directory; and
• Completion and submission of the self-reported Buckeye Health Plan Accessibility Form

Non-participating providers with single case agreements or other contracts, and providers (par and non-par) located in hospitals and institutional settings are not eligible.

To submit a BRF RFP, please visit the National Council on Independent Living website and complete the application provided as well as the self-reported Buckeye Health Plan Accessibility Form.

Submissions are due before 5:00 pm (EST) on Friday, September 28, 2018.

Have Questions/Need Technical Assistance?

If you have any questions about filling out the BRF RFP, please reach out to Tim Fuchs at NCIL at Tim@NCIL.org. Tim can also be reached by phone at 202-207-0334 or toll-free at 844-778-7961.

If you have any questions about the Buckeye Health Plan Accessibility Form, please reach out to BuckeyeRequests@centene.com.

• PAI and BRF General Overview/FAQ (PDF)