» HHS Proposes Rolling Back ACA Nondiscrimination Regulations

Rule Would Revise Interpretation of Section 1557

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a proposed rule (PDF) that would eliminate portions of its existing regulations under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which addresses nondiscrimination in certain health care programs. The new rule, if finalized, would (among other things) remove gender identity and termination of pregnancy as “discrimination on the basis of sex” under Section 1557. A 2016 federal court injunction prohibited HHS from enforcing these provisions.

In addition, under the proposed rule:

• Covered entities would no longer need to mail notices and “taglines” concerning nondiscrimination and the availability of language assistance services in 15 languages; and
• Section 1557 would apply to the health care activities of entities not principally engaged in health care, but only to the extent they are funded by HHS.

The proposed revisions will not take effect until finalized by HHS. The agency has prepared a fact sheet (PDF) with more information on these and other provisions of the proposed rule.

Posted by Hallier Benefit Advisors in Healthcare Reform Updates