On Friday, March 28, Disability Rights Florida joined the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and more than 450 disability, civil rights, aging, mental health, and patient organizations sent a letter to majority, minority, and committee leadership in Congress expressing dismay and significant concern about reported plans to reorganize and close significant departments within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The letter expressed our strong opposition to plans to eliminate the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and split its functions across three other agencies, as well as the consolidation of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA). The large number of sign-ons to the letter in a short period of time demonstrates broad, strong support for the work of these HHS departments.
Click here to read the letter on AAPD's website, and read below for more information about these departments and their important work.
What Does the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Do?
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) was created in 2012 to advance the idea that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities. ACL does this by funding services and supports provided primarily by networks of community-based organizations and by investing in research, education, and innovation.
ACL brings together aging and disability programs from across the federal government to efficiently administer similar programs that promote similar goals. Through its programs, grants, regulations, and policy advocacy, ACL makes community living possible for more disabled people and upholds our civil rights, including those rights defined by the 1999 Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court decision.
What Does the Office for Civil Rights Do?
HHS' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigates violations of, and enforces federal civil rights law related to HHS' work, such as civil rights violations made by a healthcare provider or hospital. Federal civil rights protect people from discrimination based on gender, race, disability, nation of origin, and religion.
At HHS, OCR also enforces the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, and the Patient Safety Act and Rule. HIPAA's Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules protect your private health information and make sure you know if your private health information was given to any person or organization who doesn't have your permission to have that information. The Patient Safety Act and Rule created a voluntary reporting system to make complaints if you have a concern about your safety as a patient or the quality of your healthcare.
You do not have to be a lawyer to file a civil rights complaint with OCR, and anyone can file a complaint, which makes OCR's civil rights enforcement much more accessible than other forms of enforcement and accountability, like lawsuits or media investigation.
What Does SAMHSA Do?
HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA) promotes mental health, prevents substance misuse, and provides treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring access and better health outcomes for all. SAMHSA provides information, resources, and guidance for providers as well as advocates for policies that help make SAMHSA's vision a reality.
SAMHSA's mission and vision state that SAMHSA envisions a world where "people with, affected by, or at risk for mental health and substance use conditions receive care, achieve well-being, and thrive." This is very important because many people with mental health disabilities and/or substance misuse disorders often face stigma in their communities. Stigma makes it harder to receive proper care and isolates people with these conditions.