[NFBC-At-Large] FW: [Nfbnet-members-list] Federal Office of Personnel Management Improving Access to Health Benefits Information for Blind Employees

Sun May 23 20:11:23 UTC 2021

From: NFBNet-Members-List <nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of National Federation of the Blind via NFBNet-Members-List
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 11:58 AM
To: NFB Members Listserv <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Federal Office of Personnel Management Improving Access to Health Benefits Information for Blind Employees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Federal Office of Personnel Management Improving Access to Health Benefits Information for Blind Employees

Agreement Resolves Litigation by Retired Federal Worker and National Federation of the Blind

Chicago (May 19, 2021): Under a consent decree entered in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois last week, the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has agreed to take steps to ensure that health benefit information is accessible to blind federal employees, retirees, and other plan participants.

The consent decree resolves a lawsuit <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21278&qid=5396760>  brought in 2019 by Jamal Mazrui, a retired blind federal employee, and the National Federation of the Blind, America’s civil rights organization of the blind.

Among other steps, OPM will ensure that health-benefit information on opm.gov is accessible and will notify all providers of federal employee health benefits that they must make their own federal employee benefits websites and mobile apps accessible or face potential consequences to their contracts.

“The federal government is probably the largest single employer of blind people, and all current and retired employees must have equal access to information about their health benefits in order to protect and provide for themselves and their families,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We expect the government to provide leadership in equal access. This resolution is a positive step in that direction and we are pleased that OPM has already taken many steps to ensure the blind have access to this critical information.”

“Everyone should be able to access their personal health insurance information privately and independently,” said Rachel M. Weisberg, attorney with Equip for Equality, the protection and advocacy system for the state of Illinois. “We applaud OPM’s commitment to ensuring that all carriers that provide health insurance coverage will be accessible to the blind community.” 

The plaintiffs are represented by Equip for Equality and the Baltimore law firm of Brown Goldstein & Levy, LLP.

###

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21279&qid=5396760> 

About Equip for Equality

Equip for Equality (EFE) is a private, not-for-profit entity designated in 1985 by the Governor to administer the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy System for safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities in Illinois. EFE is dedicated to expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to live full and independent lives by providing self-advocacy assistance, legal services, disability rights education, public policy advocacy and abuse investigations. For more information, go to equipforequality.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21280&qid=5396760> .

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21281&qid=5396760> 

Rachel M. Weisberg
Attorney
Equip for Equality
(312) 895-7319
rachelw at equipforequality.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21282&qid=5396760> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21283&qid=5396760> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21284&qid=5396760> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21285&qid=5396760> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21286&qid=5396760> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21287&qid=5396760> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21288&qid=5396760> 

National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 

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200 East Wells St.
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United States

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