HEALTH RESOURCES
RESOURCES
2024 Disability Health Action Summit Resources
The Arc of Pennsylvania held the 1st annual Disability Health Action Summit. The event took place on March 6th, 2024 at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey hotel. The theme of the day was Advancing Health Equity for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. This conference took a deeper dive into four major focus areas: (1) Education of Medical Professionals, (2) Elevating the Voices of Self Advocates, (3) Policy Changes, and (4) Advancing Dental Care. You’ll find the presentation materials for each of the sessions by clicking the link above.
2023 December Health Disparities Lunch & Learn Series Resources
During the month of December 2023, we offered a series of Lunch and Learn sessions. The goal of the series was to provide working models of the “how to”, as we focused on actionable items to make Pennsylvania a disability inclusive health care state. During these sessions, speakers discussed topics related to the “Recommendations for Addressing COVID-19 Health Disparities Among the Disability Community” report published in August 2023 by the COVID-19 Health Disparities Statewide Leadership Task Force. Each session provided an opportunity for participant Q&A. You’ll find the recordings, resources, and presentation materials for each of the sessions by clicking the link above.
e-Learning Module: What is COVID-19?, Getting Tested, and Ways to Stay Safe
COVID-19 Resources Recursos Para el COVID-19
2022 Webinar: Dr. Cherpes and the Impact of COVID-19 on the Disability Community
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Medical Director, Dr. Gregory Cherpes, shares information relating to the impact of COVID-19 on the disability community during our January 28, 2022 webinar.
2022 Webinar: The Office of PA Rural Health and Temple University
The PA Office of Rural Health for presenting “Reducing the Burden of COVID-19 in Rural Pennsylvania: Lessons from the Field” and Temple University for presenting an “Introduction to the Pennsylvania Inclusive Health Equity Collaborative” during our March 30, 2022 webinar.
Check to see if your COVID-19 tests’ expiration dates have been extended.
Many of the expiration dates on at home COVID-19 tests have been extended. Before You Throw Out “Expired” Tests, check to see if the expiration date has been extended by clicking the link above. The FDA authorizes at-home rapid tests for 4 to 6 months at first and then extends the expiration dates after studies show that the tests still give accurate results when used after the initial expiration dates. Some tests are now authorized for use up to 21 months after production.
To find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you, text your ZIP code to 438829
Get free at-home COVID-19 tests
Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Get COVID-19 tests mailed directly to your home for FREE. Click on the link above or Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Test for Free Options
New options are available for easy access to free COVID-19 testing this winter. Learn more by clicking on the link above or calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
New COVID-19 home tests for blind & low-vision individuals. Call 1-800-232-0233
The Biden-Harris Administration has launched a new initiative to expand the availability of at-home tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision.
Test to Treat Sites Call 1-800-232-0233
In March 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration launched a nationwide Test to Treat initiative, which aims to help people quickly access lifesaving treatments for COVID-19 at little to no cost. Through the Test to Treat initiative, individuals can be tested for COVID-19, see a health care provider (either on site or through telehealth), receive a prescription for an oral antiviral treatment (if they are eligible), and have the prescription filled—all in one location.
The Devastating Impact of Covid-19 on Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in the United States
A cross-sectional study of 64,858,460 patients across 547 health care organizations revealed that having an intellectual disability was the strongest independent risk factor for presenting with a Covid-19 diagnosis and the strongest independent risk factor, other than age, for dying of Covid-19. Screening for Covid-19, care coordination, and vaccination efforts should be intense within this population.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with Disabilities in Delaware
“People with disabilities have been differentially affected by COVID-19 because of three factors: the increased risk of poor outcomes from the disease itself, reduced access to routine health care and rehabilitation, and the adverse social impacts of efforts to mitigate the pandemic.”
The Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities
The report, The Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities, examines COVID-19’s disproportionate negative impact upon people with disabilities in:
- Accessing healthcare;
- Accessing direct care workers;
- Congregate care settings and transition;
- Education;
- Employment;
- Effective communication;
- Mental health and suicide prevention services; and,
- The congressional, federal, and state response.
Health Equity Framework for People with Disabilities
This Policy Brief from the National Council on Disabilities provides rationale for the need of an all-of-government approach to achieve health equity in the United States and our territories for the largest unrecognized minority group in this country, the over 61 million people with disabilities, and sets forth a framework to achieve health equity for all people with disabilities. Disability is a natural part of the human condition, which occurs across all age, gender, racial, ethnic, language and social groups.
CMS Framework for Health Equity 2022–2032
This CMS plan (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) focuses on people who experience, or serve those who experience, disproportionately high burdens of disease, worse quality of care and outcomes, and barriers to accessing care. This Framework reinforces the concept that in order to attain the highest level of health for all people, we must give our focused and ongoing attention to address avoidable inequalities and eliminate health and health care disparities.