ABSTRACT
This chapter describes common access barriers to health care for people with disabilities, with specific focus on medical equipment access. The term “access” refers to the ability of individuals or groups to receive needed services from the health care system. This may include availability of a particular service, awareness by individuals that the service exists and how to obtain it, and ability to get the service in a reasonable amount of time. The 2000 US Census found that people with disabilities represented 19.3% of the 257.2 million people aged 5 and older in the civilian noninstitutionalized population, or nearly 1 person in 5. In addition, the Government Accountability Office has estimated that at least 1.8 million individuals with disabilities are being served in institutional settings, including 1.6 million in nursing facilities. The 2000 Census showed that disability rates rise significantly with age.
