Mathematica Weighs in on Proposed HHS Disability Nondiscrimination Rule

Policy research and data analytics firm Mathematica provided comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in support of the department's proposed rule that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in federally funded HHS programs.

“If appropriately enforced, the proposed rule will protect the civil rights of people with disabilities by clarifying how Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to several areas affected by HHS programs and policies,” wrote Mathematica. “The updated regulations should remove barriers to programs and resources, thereby decreasing discrimination and empowering people with disabilities to live the lives they want.”

In its comments, Mathematica provided additional evidence that supports HHS’s updates and encouraged robust enforcement of the department’s proposed regulations to protect the rights of people with disabilities in health care and human service settings.

HHS’s proposed rule updates nearly 50-year-old regulations on disability protections in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to clarify that recipients of federal funds cannot make medical treatment decisions rooted in biases or stereotypes about people with disabilities. Among other provisions, the proposed rule also establishes enforceable standards for accessible medical equipment and clarifies requirements in child welfare programs and activities.

Mathematica has deep expertise and commitment to disability policy. Mathematica’s Center for Studying Disability Policy, established in 2007, works to share new evidence and inform policy discussions within the disability community. Additionally, Mathematica has extensive expertise with programs administered by HHS that serve people with disabilities and other populations, including Medicare, and Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and with programs that provide employment and income supports to people with disabilities, such as Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, and Vocational Rehabilitation.