New ACA 1557 Non-Discrimination Rules: Checklist For Healthcare Providers
By Kim Stanger
On May 6, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published its final rule revamping the non-discrimination regulations issued under § 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.1 The revised rules apply to all healthcare providers that receive, directly or indirectly, federal financial assistance, including but not limited to participation in Medicare or Medicaid.2 The revised rules continue to prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability and reaffirm providers’ current obligations to provide meaningful access to persons with limited English proficiency or disabilities, but they add a few new twists. The revised rules become effective July 5, 2024, but HHS will delay enforcement of certain provisions as described below. Under the final rules, virtually all healthcare providers3 will need to do the following in addition to complying with other state or federal non-discrimination laws: Read more