10/12/2016    Joseph Borreggine, DPM

ADA section 1557

As of Oct 16, 2016 ADA section 1557 under ACA
goes into effect: http://www.hhs.gov/civil-
rights/for-individuals/section-1557/

According to this section, medical offices,
healthcare facilities, and hospitals cannot any
longer impede a patient based on race, creed,
language, sex and/or sexual orientation from
receiving medical care. Hence, "cultural
competency" is now being mandated by the
federal government to force "political
correctness" in healthcare delivery and no
longer make it an option.

I have done research on this section and how it
needs to be implemented by all healthcare
providers and hospitals. It is quite arduous
and will be costly more for the independent
practitioner than those affiliated with
corporate health care facilities. Again, a
"stick to the eye" of the independent physician
who is just trying a decent living.

HIPAA was one thing, then came Meaningful Use
and EHR, and then the "coup de grace" was MIPS
and MACRA. But, ADA section 1557 is quite
serious since it is demanding that physicians
and hospitals abide by the law. If they are
ignorant or just do not do what they are
supposed to then a patient can seek legal
action with the full force of the federal
government through the Office of Civil Rights
(OCR).

I am really not sure what I am supposed to do
or if I am doing it right, but we have gathered
the resources from the APMA, HHS, and OCR and
we will see what happens. Good thing I alive an
practice in a rural area in Illinois where the
second most common language is Hispanic (the
next is Polish). We have made changes to are
paperwork given to patients regarding the "OCR
Notice of Nondiscrimination", put up bilingual
signs, and will need to see how can get a
"qualified" interpreter (from who knows
where??) since section 1557 will not allow and
family member to provide translation anymore to
a patient.

This new law is the "signs of the times" and
how we as human beings need to be more kind,
less prejudice, and fully tolerate all people
no matter what. I do not have a problem with
that premise statement, but what I do have a
problem with is the federal government
mandating it in my life because they can.

Joseph Borreggine, DPM, Charleston, IL

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