New Language Requirements for Radiology Facilities

Patients who have limited English proficiency (LEP) and/or disabilities have a legal right to obtain language assistance services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Section 1557 of the ACA requires members to take“reasonable steps” to prevent discrimination against a patient’s disability or national origin by offering meaningful access to health care facilities, including freestanding and hospital-based radiology facilities.Beginning October 17, 2016, ACR members and their practices must fulfill this ACA mandate by posting Notices of Nondiscrimination and Taglines in their facilities or on their websites.These notices and taglines must advise LEP individuals eligible to be served or likely to be encountered in a radiology or radiation oncology facility’s programs or activities that the facility has language assistance services available there. Members and their groups will have to post taglines in“at least the top 15 languages spoken by individuals” with LEP in the state where patient care occurs. However, practices that serve patients in multiple states will have flexibility to craft taglines for at least the top 15 languages spoken by the aggregate LEP populations in those states, instead of each individual state.Practices may display the notices and taglines in their physical location(s). Alternately, they may post links on their websites if the links are written in each of the 15 non-English languages posted prominently on the site&rs...
Source: American College of Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: news