As the pandemic continues, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights has issued new guidance to ensure that long-term care and other healthcare providers don’t violate the civil rights of people with disabilities as they seek benefits and services.
“The pandemic has shone a light on the disparities in our healthcare system and provided us with a new opportunity to address them in a meaningful way,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.
HHS clarified that federal civil rights laws apply to all healthcare providers, including those providing long-term care or hospitalization, intensive treatments, or critical care such as oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilators, as well as to those administering COVID-19 testing, medical supplies and medication.
“During a public health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic, biases and stereotypes may impact decision-making when hospitals and other providers are faced with scarce resources,” Office for Civil Rights Director Lisa J. Pino said, promising that “OCR will continue our robust enforcement of federal civil rights laws that protect people with disabilities from discrimination.”
