85 FR 37244, June 19, 2020, unless otherwise noted.
The purpose of this part is to provide for the enforcement of section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. 18116, prohibiting discrimination under any health program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, or under any program or activity administered by an Executive agency, or by any entity established, under Title I of such law, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, except as provided in Title I of such law (or any amendment thereto). Section 1557 requires the application of the enforcement mechanisms under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) for purposes of violations of Section 1557 and this part.
(a) Except as provided in Title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (or any amendment thereto), an individual shall not, on any of the grounds set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any health program or activity, any part of which is receiving Federal financial assistance (including credits, subsidies, or contracts of insurance) provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; or under any program or activity administered by the Department under such Title; or under any program or activity administered by any entity established under such Title.
(b) The grounds are the grounds prohibited under the following statutes:
(1) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) (race, color, national origin);
(2) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) (sex);
(3) The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.) (age); or
(4) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) (disability).
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, this part applies to
(1) Any health program or activity, any part of which is receiving Federal financial assistance (including credits, subsidies, or contracts of insurance) provided by the Department;
(2) Any program or activity administered by the Department under Title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; or
(3) Any program or activity administered by any entity established under such Title.
(b) As used in this part, “health program or activity” encompasses all of the operations of entities principally engaged in the business of providing healthcare that receive Federal financial assistance as described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. For any entity not principally engaged in the business of providing healthcare, the requirements applicable to a “health program or activity” under this part shall apply to such entity's operations only to the extent any such operation receives Federal financial assistance as described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(c) For purposes of this part, an entity principally or otherwise engaged in the business of providing health insurance shall not, by virtue of such provision, be considered to be principally engaged in the business of providing healthcare.
(d) Any provision of this part held to be invalid or unenforceable by its terms, or as applied to any person or circumstance, shall be construed so as to continue to give maximum effect to the provision permitted by law, unless such holding shall be one of utter invalidity or unenforceability, in which event the provision shall be severable from this part and shall not affect the remainder thereof or the application of the provision to other persons not similarly situated or to other, dissimilar circumstances.
(a) Assurances. An entity applying for Federal financial assistance to which this part applies shall, as a condition of any application for Federal financial assistance, submit an assurance, on a form specified by the Director of the Department's Office for Civil Rights, that the entity's health programs or activities will be operated in compliance with section 1557 and this part. A health insurance issuer seeking certification to participate in an Exchange or a State seeking approval to operate a State Exchange to which section 1557 or this part applies shall, as a condition of certification or approval, submit an assurance, on a form specified by the Director of the Department's Office for Civil Rights, that the health program or activity will be operated in compliance with section 1557 and this part. An applicant or entity may incorporate this assurance by reference in subsequent applications to the Department for Federal financial assistance or requests for certification to participate in an Exchange or approval to operate a State Exchange.
(b) Duration of obligation. The duration of the assurances required by this subpart is the same as the duration of the assurances required in the Department's regulations implementing section 504 at 45 CFR 84.5(b).
(c) Covenants. When Federal financial assistance is provided in the form of real property or interest, the same conditions apply as those contained in the Department's regulations implementing section 504 at 45 CFR 84.5(c), except that the nondiscrimination obligation applies to discrimination on all bases covered under section 1557 and this part.
(a) The enforcement mechanisms provided for, and available under, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), including under the Department's regulations implementing those statutes, shall apply for purposes of violations of § 92.2 of this part.
(b) The Director of the Office for Civil Rights has been delegated the authority to enforce 42 U.S.C. 18116 and this part, which includes the authority to handle complaints, initiate and conduct compliance reviews, conduct investigations, supervise and coordinate compliance within the Department, make enforcement referrals to the Department of Justice, in coordination with the Office of the General Counsel and the relevant component or components of the Department, and take other appropriate remedial action as the Director deems necessary, in coordination with the relevant component or components of the Department, and as allowed by law to overcome the effects of violations of 42 U.S.C. 18116 or of this part.
(a) Nothing in this part shall be construed to invalidate or limit the rights, remedies, procedures, or legal standards available to individuals aggrieved under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), or to supersede State laws that provide additional protections against discrimination on any basis described in § 92.2 of this part.
(b) Insofar as the application of any requirement under this part would violate, depart from, or contradict definitions, exemptions, affirmative rights, or protections provided by any of the statutes cited in paragraph (a) of this section or provided by the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.); the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 12181 et seq.), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d), the Coats-Snowe Amendment (42 U.S.C. 238n), the Church Amendments (42 U.S.C. 300a-7), the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.), Section 1553 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18113), Section 1303 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18023), the Weldon Amendment (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, Pub. L. 115-245, Div. B sec. 209 and sec. 506(d) (Sept. 28, 2018)), or any related, successor, or similar Federal laws or regulations, such application shall not be imposed or required.
(a) Any entity operating or administering a health program or activity subject to this part shall take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to such programs or activities by limited English proficient individuals.
(b) Specific applications —
(1) Enforcement discretion. In evaluating whether any entity to which paragraph (a) of this section applies has complied with paragraph (a) of this section, the Director of the Department's Office for Civil Rights may assess how such entity balances the following four factors:
(i) The number or proportion of limited English proficient individuals eligible to be served or likely to be encountered in the eligible service population;
(ii) The frequency with which LEP individuals come in contact with the entity's health program, activity, or service;
(iii) The nature and importance of the entity's health program, activity, or service; and
(iv) The resources available to the entity and costs.
(2) Language assistance services requirements. Where paragraph (a) of this section, in light of the entity's individualized assessment of the four factors set forth in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, requires the provision of language assistance services, such services must be provided free of charge, be accurate and timely, and protect the privacy and independence of the individual with limited English proficiency. Language assistance services may include:
(i) Oral language assistance, including interpretation in non-English languages provided in-person or remotely by a qualified interpreter for an individual with limited English proficiency, and the use of qualified bilingual or multilingual staff to communicate directly with individuals with limited English proficiency; and
(ii) Written translation, performed by a qualified translator, of written content in paper or electronic form into languages other than English.
(3) Specific requirements for interpreter and translation services.
(i) Where paragraph (a) of this section, in light of the entity's individualized assessment of the four factors set forth in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, requires the provision of interpreter services, they must be provided by an interpreter who:
(A) Adheres to generally accepted interpreter ethics principles, including client confidentiality;
(B) Has demonstrated proficiency in speaking and understanding at least spoken English and the spoken language in need of interpretation; and
(C) Is able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressly, to and from such language(s) and English, using any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology and phraseology.
(ii) Where paragraph (a) of this section, in light of the entity's individualized assessment of the four factors set forth in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, requires the provision of translation services for written content (in paper or electronic form), they must be provided by a translator who:
(A) Adheres to generally accepted translator ethics principles, including client confidentiality;
(B) Has demonstrated proficiency in writing and understanding at least written English and the written language in need of translation; and
(C) Is able to translate effectively, accurately, and impartially to and from such language(s) and English, using any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology and phraseology.
(iii) If remote audio interpreting services are required to comply with paragraph (a) of this section, in light of the entity's individualized assessment of the four factors set forth in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the entity to which section 1557 applies (as defined in § 92.3 of this part) shall provide:
(A) Real-time, audio over a dedicated high-speed, wide-bandwidth video connection or wireless connection that delivers high-quality audio without lags or irregular pauses in communication;
(B) A clear, audible transmission of voices; and
(C) Adequate training to users of the technology and other involved individuals so that they may quickly and efficiently set up and operate the remote interpreting services.
(4) Restricted use of certain persons to interpret or facilitate communication. If an entity is required by paragraph (a) of this section, in light of the entity's individualized assessment of the four factors set forth in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, to provide interpretation services, such entity shall not:
(i) Require an individual with limited English proficiency to provide his or her own interpreter;
(ii) Rely on an adult accompanying an individual with limited English proficiency to interpret or facilitate communication, except
(A) In an emergency involving an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of an individual or the public, where there is no qualified interpreter for the individual with limited English proficiency immediately available; or
(B) Where the individual with limited English proficiency specifically requests that the accompanying adult interpret or facilitate communication, the accompanying adult agrees to provide such assistance, and reliance on that adult for such assistance is appropriate under the circumstances;
(iii) Rely on a minor child to interpret or facilitate communication, except in an emergency involving an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of an individual or the public, where there is no qualified interpreter for the individual with limited English proficiency immediately available; or
(iv) Rely on staff other than qualified bilingual/multilingual staff to communicate directly with individuals with limited English proficiency.
(c) Acceptance of language assistance services is not required. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an individual with limited English proficiency to accept language assistance services.
(a) Any entity operating or administering a program or activity under this part shall take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with individuals with disabilities are as effective as communications with others in such programs or activities, in accordance with the standards found at 28 CFR 35.160 through 35.164. Where the regulatory provisions referenced in this section use the term “public entity,” the term “entity” shall apply in its place.
(b) A recipient or State Exchange shall provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including interpreters and information in alternate formats, to individuals with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills, where necessary to afford such persons an equal opportunity to benefit from the service in question.
(1) Auxiliary aids and services include:
(i) Interpreters on-site or through video remote interpreting (VRI) services, as defined in 28 CFR 35.104 and 36.303(f); note takers; real-time computer-aided transcription services; written materials; exchange of written notes; telephone handset amplifiers; assistive listening devices; assistive listening systems; telephones compatible with hearing aids; closed caption decoders; open and closed captioning, including real-time captioning; voice, text, and video-based telecommunication products and systems, text telephones (TTYs), videophones, and captioned telephones, or equally effective telecommunications devices; videotext displays; accessible information and communication technology; or other effective methods of making aurally delivered information available to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing; and
(ii) Readers; taped texts; audio recordings; Braille materials and displays; screen reader software; magnification software; optical readers; secondary auditory programs; large print materials; accessible information and communication technology; or other effective methods of making visually delivered materials available to individuals who are blind or have low vision.
(2) When an entity is required to provide an interpreter under paragraph (b) of this section, the interpreting service shall be provided to individuals free of charge and in a timely manner, via a remote interpreting service or an onsite appearance, by an interpreter who
(i) Adheres to generally accepted interpreter ethics principles, including client confidentiality; and
(ii) Is able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology and phraseology.
(3) An interpreter for an individual with a disability for purposes of this section can include, for example, sign language interpreters, oral transliterators (individuals who represent or spell in the characters of another alphabet), and cued language transliterators (individuals who represent or spell by using a small number of handshapes).
(c) Disability means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment, as defined and construed in the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. 705(9)(B), which incorporates the definition of disability in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 12102 et seq.). Where this part cross-references regulatory provisions that use the term “handicap,” “handicap” means “disability” as defined in this section.
(a) Each facility or part of a facility in which health programs or activities are conducted that is constructed or altered by or on behalf of, or for the use of, a recipient or State Exchange shall comply with the 2010 Standards, if the construction or alteration was commenced after July 18, 2016, except that if a facility or part of a facility in which health programs or activities are conducted that is constructed or altered by or on behalf of, or for the use of, a recipient or State Exchange, was not covered by the 2010 Standards prior to July 18, 2016, such facility or part of a facility shall comply with the 2010 Standards if the construction was commenced after January 18, 2018. Departures from particular technical and scoping requirements by the use of other methods are permitted where substantially equivalent or greater access to and usability of the facility is provided. All newly constructed or altered buildings or facilities subject to this section shall comply with the requirements for a “public building or facility” as defined in section 106.5 of the 2010 Standards.
(b) Each facility or part of a facility in which health programs or activities under this part are conducted that is constructed or altered by or on behalf of, or for the use of, a recipient or State Exchange in conformance with the 1991 Standards at appendix D to 28 CFR part 36 or the 2010 Standards shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this section and with 45 CFR 84.23(a) and (b) with respect to those facilities, if the construction or alteration was commenced on or before July 18, 2016. Each facility or part of a facility in which health programs or activities are conducted that is constructed or altered by or on behalf of, or for the use of, a recipient or State Exchange in conformance with UFAS shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this section and with 45 CFR 84.23(a) and (b), if the construction was commenced on or before July 18, 2016 and such facility was not covered by the 1991 Standards or 2010 Standards.
(c) For purposes of this part:
(1) “1991 Standards” refers to the 1991 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design at appendix D to 28 CFR part 36.
(2) “2010 Standards” refers to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, as defined in 28 CFR 35.104.
(3) “UFAS” refers to the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards as promulgated in 49 FR 31528 (Aug. 7, 1984).
(a) Entities required to comply with § 92.2, unless otherwise exempted by this part, shall ensure that their health programs or activities provided through information and communication technology are accessible to individuals with disabilities, unless doing so would result in undue financial and administrative burdens or a fundamental alteration in the nature of the health programs or activities. When undue financial and administrative burdens or a fundamental alteration exist, the covered entity shall provide information in a format other than an electronic format that would not result in such undue financial and administrative burdens or a fundamental alteration, but would ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that individuals with disabilities receive the benefits or services of the health program or activity that are provided through information and communication technology.
(b) A recipient or State Exchange shall ensure that its health programs or activities provided through websites comply with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12131 through 12165).
(c) For purposes of this part, “information and communication technology” (ICT) means information technology and other equipment, systems, technologies, or processes, for which the principal function is the creation, manipulation, storage, display, receipt, or transmission of electronic data and information, as well as any associated content. Examples of ICT include computers and peripheral equipment; information kiosks and transaction machines; telecommunications equipment; customer premises equipment; multifunction office machines; software; applications; websites; videos; and, electronic documents.
Any entity to which section 1557 applies (as defined in § 92.3 of this part) shall make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures when such modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability, unless the covered entity can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the health program or activity. For the purposes of this section, the term “reasonable modifications” shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the term as set forth in the regulation promulgated under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, at 28 CFR 35.130(b)(7).