HOW TO FILE A DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT WITH
THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
If you believe that you have been discriminated against because of your race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex or religion by a health care or human services provider (such as a hospital, nursing home, social service agency, etc.) or by a State or local government health or human services agency, you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Complaints alleging discrimination based on disability by programs directly operated by HHS may also be filed with OCR. You may file a complaint for yourself or for someone else.
For more information about the Civil Rights Discrimination Laws and Regulations we enforce, please review our Civil Rights on the Basis of Race, Color, or National Origin, Civil Rights on the Basis of Disability, or Other Civil Rights sections on our web site, http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/.
COMPLAINT REQUIREMENTS - Your complaint must:
ANYONE CAN FILE! - Anyone can file written complaints with OCR. We recommend that you use the OCR Discrimination Complaint Form Package found on our web site at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/discrimhowtofile.pdf If you need help filing a complaint or have a question about the complaint or consent forms, please email OCR at OCRMail@hhs.gov.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS NONDISCRIMINATION LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROHIBIT - Under Civil Rights Laws an entity cannot retaliate against you for filing a complaint. You should notify OCR immediately in the event of any retaliatory action.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMPLAINT TO OCR - To submit a complaint to OCR, please use one of the following methods.
If you mail or fax the complaint, be sure to send it to the appropriate OCR regional office based on where the
alleged violation took place. OCR has ten regional offices, and each regional office covers specific states. Send your complaint to the attention of the OCR Regional Manager. Note: all complaint and consent forms require a written signature.
Option 1: Open and fill out the Discrimination Complaint Form Package in PDF format (you can also request a copy of this form from an OCR regional office). You will need Adobe Reader software to fill out the complaint and consent forms. You may either: (a) print and mail or fax the completed, signed complaint and consent forms to the appropriate OCR regional office; or (b) scan and email the completed, signed complaint and consent forms to OCRComplaint@hhs.gov. (Please be advised that communication by unencrypted email presents a risk of disclosure of sensitive information. There is some risk that any individually identifiable health information or other sensitive or confidential personally identifiable information may be contained in such an email, may be disclosed to, or intercepted by unauthorized third parties.)
Option 2: If you choose not to use the OCR Discrimination Complaint Form Package, please provide the information specified below by either: (a) mail or fax to the appropriate OCR regional office; or (b) email to OCRComplaint@hhs.gov.
If you prefer, you may submit a written complaint in your own format. Be sure to include the following information:
If you are filing a complaint on someone’s behalf, also provide the name of the person on whose behalf you are filing.
The following information is optional:
Region I - CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT |
Region VI - AR, LA, NM, OK, TX |
Region II - NJ, NY, PR, VI |
Region VII - IA, KS, MO, NE |
Region III - DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV |
Region VIII - CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY |
Region IV - AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN |
Region IX - AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU |
Region V - IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI |
Region X - AK, ID, OR, WA |