In less than three weeks, health care providers covered by the Affordable Care Act must meet various posting obligations required by the recently issued Section 1557 regulations. Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. has written extensively about the Final Rule, including the expansive nondiscrimination standards and the upcoming October 16 deadlines. While we encourage you to review these publications for more detail, covered entities urgently need to prepare by October 16, 2016, nondiscrimination notices and taglines to be posted (1) in significant publications or communications; (2) in conspicuous physical locations where they interact with the public; and (3) in a conspicuous location on their website.
Nondiscrimination notices must include, among other things, a statement of nondiscrimination, the availability of interpretive services for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), the availability of auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities, and the availability of a grievance procedure for discrimination complaints. In small-sized publications, such as postcards and pamphlets, the notice may be shortened to include only the nondiscrimination policy.
Taglines, which are statements of the availability of language assistance services, must be posted in the same locations. In large-format publications, taglines must be posted in at least the top 15 languages for the relevant state. In small-sized publications, taglines must be posted in the top two languages.
With the October 16th deadline quickly approaching, in addition to complying with Section 1557’s notice requirements, covered entities should develop a plan to ensure they are able to provide the services and procedures promised in the required notices. On Thursday, October 6, join us as we host a webinar to discuss these topics, address practical considerations, and recommend best practices for compliance.
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