Healthcare Disparities/Nondiscriminatory Quality Healthcare Services

Researchers have found that some populations, including certain racial and ethnic groups, limited English proficient persons, people with disabilities, and the elderly, are disproportionately affected by barriers which prevent or decrease access to healthcare services. In addition, there are measurable differences in the use of healthcare services and the quality of healthcare services received among various population groups.

In an effort to ensure nondiscrimination and increase the number of individuals who have access to quality healthcare services, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigates entities that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ensure they comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws. One of those laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, protects people of every race, color and national origin from unlawful discrimination in healthcare and social services. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in healthcare and social services. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in healthcare and social services. Through the effective enforcement of these Federal civil rights laws, OCR seeks to decrease healthcare disparities and ensure access to quality healthcare services.

Legal Information

45 CFR Part 80: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act – Nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin
Recent Compliance Activities:
- State of Hawaii Department of Human Services (Resolved on August 12, 2008) serving a state population of more than 1.2 million) signs statewide Settlement Agreement to ensure limited English proficient persons receive equal access to its programs and services, including health insurance and medical programs for low-income persons. (September 2008) Read the Resolution Agreement Read the HHS Press Release

Policy Initiatives

State Medical Education Outreach Initiative

OCR has helped to protect the public’s civil rights and reduce disparities in healthcare by educating medical students, physicians, healthcare providers, and educators on their civil rights obligations in partnership with the National Consortium for Multicultural Education, which is funded by the National Institute of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), through its creation and deployment of a world-class curriculum on cultural competency in medicine that incorporates compliance with applicable Federal civil rights laws. For more information>>

Effective Communication in Hospitals Initiative

Access to healthcare, patient safety and quality of healthcare are directly dependent on effective communication. Today, hospitals face increasing challenges in meeting the communication needs of a diverse population, including persons with limited English proficiency or who are deaf or hard of hearing. OCR and the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) collaboration at the national, regional and state levels was launched in December 2007, and is designed to give hospitals the tools, information, and other technical assistance they need to meet these challenges, consistent with OCR’s mission to ensure that all persons have access to healthcare without unlawful discrimination. For more information>>

OCR’s Commitment to Eliminating Healthcare Disparities - For more information

Resources

Cultural Competence Online for Medical Practice (CCOMP):

HHS Health Resources and Services Administration:

“Unified Health Communication 101: Addressing Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency (LEP)” (on-line course)

HHS Office of Minority Health:

“A Physician’s Practical Guide to Culturally Competent Care” (on-line course)
“Health Care Language Services Implementation Guide” (web-based interactive planning tool)

HHS Office on Women's Health:

National Women's Health Information Center