House Health Finance & Policy Committee
Chair Tina Liebling
March 29th, 2023
MDH Activities to Promote Improving the Health and Well-Being of People with Disabilities
Dear Chair Liebling and members of the Committee,
The Governor’s Budget Recommendation, HF 2920 contained provisions (Lines 66.23-67.22, Article 2, Section 41) regarding the health and well-being of people with disabilities but were omitted from the Health Omnibus Bill H2930DE1. The Minnesota Council on Disability supports these provisions and urges members of the House Health Finance & Policy Committee to include “Sec. 41. [144.0753] IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES” in the health omnibus bill.
The goal of these provisions is to improve the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities by addressing health disparities and equity barriers to health care and preventative services for chronic diseases and other social determinants of health. It is an unfortunate reality that people with disabilities often face significant barriers to accessing health care and preventative services. These barriers can include physical, economic, and social factors that make it difficult to obtain necessary care and support. As a result, people with disabilities often experience higher rates of chronic diseases and other health problems, as well as poorer health outcomes overall.
These disparities are not only unfair but also have significant economic and social costs. When people with disabilities are unable to access needed care, they may require more expensive medical interventions or be unable to participate fully in society, limiting their ability to contribute to their communities and economies.
Moreover, the social determinants of health, such as poverty, discrimination, and social isolation, can also have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people with disabilities. Addressing these underlying factors is essential to improving the health and well-being of people with disabilities and reducing health disparities.
To achieve these goals, we need to focus on improving access to health care and preventative services for people with disabilities, including addressing barriers to care such as transportation, physical accessibility, and affordability. Additionally, we need to prioritize efforts to address the social determinants of health that impact people with disabilities, such as housing, education, employment, and community integration.
Improving the health and well-being of people with disabilities is a moral imperative, but it is also essential to creating a more just and equitable society. MCD urges members of this committee to support efforts to address health disparities and equity barriers to health care and preventative services for people with disabilities, so that all individuals can achieve their full potential and participate fully to their communities.
Sincerely,
Trevor Turner
Public Policy Director