Nondiscrimination Requirements
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.
Under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), individuals may not be denied, cancelled, limited, or refused health coverage on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. The original rule was finalized in 2016.
On June 19, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) published a
In May 2021, the Biden Administration
The 2020 Rule applies to the part(s) of health programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance, and any program or activity under Title I of the ACA (i.e., Exchanges) or entities established under that Title. Under the 2020 rule, Section 1557 generally does not apply to self-funded group health plans under ERISA or short-term limited duration plans because the entities offering the plans are typically not principally engaged in the business of providing health care, nor do they receive federal financial assistance.
Key requirements affecting health plans and services include:
- Ensure physical access and/or appropriate communication technology to assist people with applicable disabilities
- Ensure meaningful access for people with limited-English proficiency (LEP) based on a "four-factor analysis" test that includes an assessment of the proportion of LEP individuals in the population being served, and the frequency with which they come in contact with the entity’s health program activity or service.
- Provide accessible grievance procedures for individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in their health care or health care coverage
The 2020 Rule also repealed provisions which required the inclusion of notices and taglines in at least fifteen languages with all "significant communications" to patients and customers.
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