• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AdvocacyDenver

Health Care Advocacy and Education | Providing active voice and supporting civil rights for people with disabilities

  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Our Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Strategic Plan
    • Financial Documents
  • Programs
    • Individual Advocacy
      • Adult Advocacy
      • Child and Family Advocacy
      • Make a Referral
    • Center for Special Education Law
    • Policy Advocacy
  • Resources
    • Resources for Adults
    • Resources for Children
    • Immigrant Resource Guide
  • News
  • Webinars
  • Join Now!
  • English
Home / eVOICE / Last Interview

February 27, 2019

Last Interview

Carrie Ann Lucas

From The Desk of Pamela Bisceglia

At different times, over the years, I had an opportunity to stand with Carrie Ann Lucas on issues important to the community of individuals with disabilities.  I cannot report that we were Facebook friends, we did not meet for lunch or dinner or discuss our personal lives.  I knew Carrie as a bright, firm, determined parent, attorney, advocate, and community leader.  If there was a question in relation to the rights of parents with disabilities, Carrie was the expert. 

On February 24, 2019, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition issued the following statement:

The disability community lost one of its fiercest advocates on 2/24/19.  Carrie Ann Lucas, a disability rights attorney who pioneered representation for parents with disabilities, died after an arbitrary denial from an insurance company caused a plethora of healthproblems, exacerbating her disabilities and eventually leading to her premature death. She was 47 years old.
 
Carrie Ann had hoped to spend a lot of time in 2019 using her tragedy to work to fix our broken health care system.

On October 20, 2016, the headline for AdvocacyDenver’s Policy Perspective was:  Advocate Urges “NO” Vote on “End of Life” Proposition:

Carrie Ann Lucas, an attorney and self-advocate, has over 20 years of expertise working for disability rights organizations.  She is also on the [B]oard of Not Dead Yet, a national grassroots disability organization.  Ms. Lucas is strongly opposed to Colorado’s Proposition 106. In an interview with Catherine Strode, she calls Proposition 106 “dangerous policy” and discusses the lack of safeguards for Colorado’s most vulnerable populations. 

I reread this 2016 interview and it struck me that some of the narrative holds true when speaking about our health and insurance systems.  Carrie said:

I think it should have to be someone’s primary care physician with whom someone has been in a doctor/ patient relationship for some time . . . . Anyone who has been in a hospital knows that whatever doctor comes into your room for five minutes at the beginning of the shift, that’s your “attending physician.”  It doesn’t mean they know anything about you.

I am a quadriplegic myself.  I am also the parent of four children with disabilities.  Those of us who are disabled, and have family members who are disabled, see how our lives are devalued by the medical system.

As noted on Carrie’s Facebook page, “on February 24, 2019 [she] died after an arbitrary denial from an insurance company caused a plethora of health problems, exacerbating her disabilities and eventually leading to her premature death.”  I am appalled that any insurance company is able to trump a physician’s order.  I am outraged that public and private insurance companies have the authority to determine what, if any medical procedure or measure will be taken, prescriptions they will or will not fund, or rehabilitation services they will receive. 

Article by Pamela Bisceglia / Filed Under: AdvocacyDenver News, Disabilities Rights, eVOICE, Health Care

Webinar Categories

  • Adults (12)
  • AdvocacyDenver News (23)
  • Disabilities Rights (35)
  • eAlert (4)
  • Education (23)
  • Employment (4)
  • eVOICE (17)
  • Fundraising (3)
  • Grant (1)
  • Health Care (32)
  • Health Care Advocacy News (24)
  • Health Care Advocacy Program (22)
  • HealthMatters (1)
  • Housing (2)
  • Individual Advocacy (9)
  • Interview (58)
  • Juvenile Justice (19)
  • Leadership Profile (1)
  • Legislation (8)
  • Medicaid (9)
  • Mental Health (5)
  • News (15)
  • Parent/Family Support (9)
  • Policy Perspective – Interviews with Policy Makers (103)
  • slider (11)
  • Webinars (28)
    • English (15)
    • Español (13)
    • For Adults (7)
    • For Children (15)
    • For Everyone (8)
    • Sex Education (10)
  • Website (1)

Search

Get Services

Call our Referral and Intake Hotline to get the help you need:

Referral & Intake Hotline: 303.974.2530

Article Categories

  • Adults (12)
  • AdvocacyDenver News (23)
  • Disabilities Rights (35)
  • eAlert (4)
  • Education (23)
  • Employment (4)
  • eVOICE (17)
  • Fundraising (3)
  • Grant (1)
  • Health Care (32)
  • Health Care Advocacy News (24)
  • Health Care Advocacy Program (22)
  • HealthMatters (1)
  • Housing (2)
  • Individual Advocacy (9)
  • Interview (58)
  • Juvenile Justice (19)
  • Leadership Profile (1)
  • Legislation (8)
  • Medicaid (9)
  • Mental Health (5)
  • News (15)
  • Parent/Family Support (9)
  • Policy Perspective – Interviews with Policy Makers (103)
  • slider (11)
  • Webinars (28)
    • English (15)
    • Español (13)
    • For Adults (7)
    • For Children (15)
    • For Everyone (8)
    • Sex Education (10)
  • Website (1)

Subscribe to Our Email Newsletters

Latest News

The Special Education Evaluation Process

January 26, 2023

El Proceso de Evaluación de la Educación Especial

January 26, 2023

Sexuality Education Shorts: Gender Identity and Expression

October 27, 2022

Search the AdvocacyDenver Site

Contact Us

AdvocacyDenver
950 South Cherry Street, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80246

Phone: 303.831.7733
Fax: 303.839.5178
Online Contact Form
Referral & Intake Hotline: 303.974.2530

Manage Your Membership

© 2023 AdvocacyDenver - All Rights Reserved.