# Plain Language Summary: Health Equity for People with Disabilities Act

This bill makes changes to how community health centers operate to better serve people with disabilities. Right now, these federally funded health centers serve many underserved populations—like low-income people, homeless individuals, and those in rural areas—but the law doesn't specifically mention people with disabilities. This bill fixes that by explicitly including people with disabilities throughout the health center program requirements, making sure they're not overlooked when these centers plan their services and allocate resources.

The practical changes are straightforward. Health centers will need to make sure their facilities and services are physically accessible and offer communication aids for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. When centers apply for funding or describe who they serve, they'll now need to mention people with disabilities. The bill also requires centers to address specific barriers that prevent people with disabilities from getting care in their communities. Additionally, homeless people with disabilities will be specifically included in programs designed to help people experiencing homelessness. The bill also clarifies that "disability" means what it says in the Americans with Disabilities Act, so there's a consistent legal definition.

Importantly, the bill includes a safeguard stating that these changes shouldn't take money away from other groups already being served. Instead, the goal is to make sure people with disabilities who are part of these other populations—like low-income people with disabilities or homeless people with disabilities—actually get included and can access the care they need. For people with disabilities who struggle to get healthcare, this means community health centers will have to think about them specifically when designing services and removing obstacles to care.

Health Equity for People with Disabilities Act

Payne, Donald M.

Health Equity for People with Disabilities Act This bill modifies certain grants available to health centers that offer primary health services to medically underserved populations to ensure that members of such populations with disabilities receive accessible health services.