HHS: Health Care Providers Must Follow Discrimination Compliance in COVID-19 Pandemic

The OCR-HHS further stresses in its health care compliance bulletin that “health care providers, and covered entities should not overlook their obligations under federal civil rights laws to help ensure all segments of the community are served by:

• Providing effective communication with individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, and visually impaired through the use of qualified interpreters, picture boards, and other means;
• Providing meaningful access to programs and information to individuals with limited English proficiency through the use of qualified interpreters and through other means;
• Making emergency messaging available in plain language and in languages prevalent in the affected area(s) and in multiple formats, such as audio, large print, and captioning, and ensuring that websites providing emergency-related information are accessible;
• Addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities, including individuals with mobility impairments, individuals who use assistive devices or durable medical equipment, and individuals with immunosuppressed conditions including HIV/AIDS in emergency planning; [and]
• Respecting requests for religious accommodations in treatment and access to clergy or faith practices as practicable.”

However, the OCR HHS says, “Some actions or accommodations may not be required on the basis that they may fundamentally alter the nature of a program, pose an undue financial and administrative burden, or pose a direct threat.”