Several civil rights and disability advocacy groups have sent a letter to Gov. Doug Ducey and Arizona’s health director, Dr. Cara Christ. The groups are concerned about the potential impact of the state’s Crisis Standards of Care Plan.  

The plan tells hospitals which patients should get a ventilator or other scarce resources if there is a shortage during the pandemic. 

Jon Meyers is the executive director of the ARC of Arizona. He says people with disabilities, older adults and people of color might not get the care they need because of implicit or even explicit bias. 

For example, Meyers says there’s a provision whereby care could be rationed depending on the one- to five-year survivability rate of an individual.

“In fact, that should not be a consideration whatsoever. What we're talking about is Immediate survivability, there should not be any consideration for whether the person is going to need long-term health care access or long-term health care treatment," Meyers said. 

The letter also requests that the plan be revised to ensure health care decisions aren’t based on age, perceived quality of life or a person’s need for disability-related accommodations.