A federal rule that implements Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect July 18. This part of the ACA prohibits discrimination in healthcare on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex, including discrimination based on pregnancy, gender identification and sex stereotyping. These prohibitions apply to any healthcare provider receiving certain funds through the federal Department of Health and Human Services, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Here’s what you need to know.
Since its implementation, questions have arisen regarding what healthcare providers who are affected by the rule need to do to comply. It comes down this: Providers who accept payment plans that receive federal funding must post taglines in the top 15 languages in their state and notices of nondiscrimination in their offices and on their websites by Oct. 16, 2016.
The taglines note that your dental office will take reasonable steps to provide free-of-charge language assistance services (translation services) to people who speak languages other than English or who don’t speak English well enough to talk to providers about the care they are providing.
The American Dental Association has compiled a list of useful resources for members who must comply with Section 1557.