HHS Final Rule to Strengthen Nondiscrimination Protections and Advance Civil Rights in Health Care (SNF/AL)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) advancing protections against discrimination in health care. The rule is intended to ensure protections against discriminations on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age and disability; reduce language barriers; reduce bias with health technology, and expand accessibility. This rule applies to covered entities, which per HHS’ definition includes any health program or activity receiving federal funds from HHS, any program or activity administered under Title I of the ACA and health insurance marketplace participants. This means nursing facilities and Medicare Advantage plans are subject to this final rule.