Resources for ACA Notice of Nondiscrimination: Beware October 16 Deadline

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By Kim Stanger, Holland & Hart LLP

For those healthcare providers who have postponed creating the mandatory Notice and Statements of Nondiscrimination required by Section 1557 of the ACA, HHS has made it relatively easy for you to comply with the October 16 deadline by providing helpful resources: Read more

Providers Must Post New Nondiscrimination Notices

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By Kim Stanger, Holland & Hart LLP

Under the new ACA Nondiscrimination Rules, covered entities (including most healthcare providers) must post and publish new mandatory nondiscrimination statements and taglines by October 16, 2016.

1. Notice of Nondiscrimination + Taglines: Facility, Website, and Significant Publications. The new mandatory “Notice of Nondiscrimination” must inform persons that:

  1. the covered entity does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its health programs and activities;
  2. the covered entity provides appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified interpreters for individuals with disabilities and information in alternate formats, free of charge and in a timely manner, when such aids and services are necessary to ensure an equal opportunity to participate to individuals with disabilities;
  3. the covered entity provides language assistance services, including translated documents and oral interpretation, free of charge and in a timely manner, when such services are necessary to provide meaningful access to individuals with limited English proficiency;
  4. how to obtain the aids and services described above;
  5. if the covered entity has fifteen or more employees, identification of, and contact information for, the employee responsible for coordinating the covered entity’s compliance as required by the regulations;
  6. if the covered entity has fifteen or more employees, the availability of the grievance procedure required by the regulations and how to file a grievance; and
  7. how to file a discrimination complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”).

(45 C.F.R. § 92.8(a) and (b)(1)). HHS has published a sample Notice of Nondiscrimination, which is available here. Although HHS encourages entities to post the Notice of Nondiscrimination in languages other than English, covered entities are not required to do so. Read more

New ACA Anti-Discrimination Rules: Language Assistance for Non-English Speakers

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By Kim Stanger, Holland & Hart LLP

On May 18, 2016, HHS published its final rules implementing the anti-discrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act § 1557. This is the first of several alerts discussing aspects of the new rule: this alert focuses on those provisions requiring language assistance for persons with limited English proficiency; future alerts will cover rules related to sex discrimination and persons with disabilities. The new language assistance rules build on but extend beyond HHS’s 2003 Guidance Regarding Limited English Proficient Persons, 68 F.R. 47311 (“LEP Guidance”).

Application. The new rules apply to any entities (“covered entities”) that operate a health program or activity that receives federal financial assistance under programs operated by HHS, including but not limited to Medicaid or Medicare parts A, C and D, but excluding Medicare Part B. (45 C.F.R. § 92.2(a); 81 F.R. 31383). Among others, the rule applies to hospitals, clinics, medical practices, solo practitioners, nursing homes, or other healthcare entities that participate in federal programs other than Medicare Part B. (81 F.R. 31384-85). Covered entities are not required to comply if doing so would violate applicable federal statutory protections for religious freedom and conscience. (45 C.F.R. § 92.2(b)). Also, the regulations do not apply to employment discrimination. (45 C.F.R. § 92.101(a)(2)). Read more

New ACA Nondiscrimination Rules: Protecting Individuals Against Sex Discrimination

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By Patricia Dean, Holland & Hart LLP

On May 18, 2016, HHS published its final rules implementing the anti-discrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act § 1557. This is the third of three alerts discussing various aspects of the new rules. This alert focuses on the rules protecting individuals against discrimination based on sex. The first alert (available here) focused on the rules’ requirement for language assistance for persons with limited English proficiency. The second alert (available here) focused on the rules ensuring protections for individuals with disabilities. The final rule goes into effect on July 18, 2016.

Relationship to Other Laws. Section 1557 is the first federal civil rights law to prohibit discrimination “on the basis of sex” (including gender identity and sex stereotyping) in covered health programs and activities. In doing so, it builds on HHS Titles VII and IX, and federal case law to clarify what constitutes sex discrimination and prohibit specific discriminatory practices. It does not preempt or alter other laws, and providers must continue to comply with other state and federal laws in addition to the new ACA nondiscrimination rules. Read more

New ACA Nondiscrimination Rules: Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

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by Teresa Locke, Holland & Hart LLP

On May 18, 2016, HHS published its final rules implementing the anti-discrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act § 1557. This is the second of three alerts discussing various aspects of the new rules. This alert focuses on the rules ensuring protections for individuals with disabilities. The first alert – published on May 26 – focused on the rules’ requirement for language assistance for persons with limited English proficiency. The third and final alert – to be issued in the near future – will cover rules related to sex discrimination.

Relationship to Other Laws. The final rules are consistent with existing directives implementing the requirements already existing under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504). Nothing in the new rules should be interpreted to invalidate or limit the rights, remedies, procedures, or legal standards available to disabled persons under the ADA or Section 504. Accordingly, entities must ensure compliance with existing laws in addition to the new ACA rules, including state laws that may be more restrictive than the ACA regulations. Read more