It has been 30 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) yet we still face issues with disability discrimination in the health care industry. More recently, the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) was passed, which expands protections for Americans with disabilities. Section 1557 of the ACA is the first Federal civil rights law to focus on non-discrimination in health care. This section prevents discrimination on the basis of race, color, nation origin, disability, sex, and age in federally funded programs.
Furthermore, discrimination is defined as (1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity, (2) a record or past history of impairment, or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment. Section 1557 of the ACA requires; effective communication that is free and timely, programs provided through electronic and information technology be accessible, covered providers make reasonable modifications to their policies, procedures, and practices, and it establishes standards for accessibility of buildings and facilities.
Finally, section 1557 classifies drug addiction and opioid addiction as a disability that is covered under the nondiscrimination protections of the ACA. In furtherance of this effort, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) has launched a public education campaign for access to treatment for opioid addiction.
Revolution Law Group is located in Greensboro, NC serving individuals and small businesses throughout the Triad and surrounding areas. To contact us please visit www.revolution.law or call 336-333-7907.
The information included here is for informational purposes only, is not exhaustive of all considerations when creating documents, is not intended to be legal advice and should not be relied upon for that purpose. We strongly recommend you consult with an attorney and do not attempt to create your own documents.