Recent Civil Rights Resolution Agreements

Following a complaint investigation or compliance review, OCR sometimes determines it necessary to negotiate resolution agreements requiring covered entities to revise their policies, practices and procedures to comply with Federal civil rights laws. These agreements can be far-reaching, statewide agreements that call for a systemic change in the way a state does business, or they may cover a single healthcare provider or hospital. Most OCR resolution agreements address the need to improve access for persons with disabilities and for people with limited English proficiency. Some recent examples are listed below:

University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics (UUHC) entered into a Resolution Agreement with OCR to ensure that patients with hearing, vision or speech disabilities will be screened and provided with auxiliary aids and services, including sign language interpreters, as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The UUHC healthcare system, located in Salt Lake, Davis, Wasatch, Tooele, and Utah Counties, provides care for residents of Utah and five surrounding states, serving more than 850,000 patients annually. Read the Resolution Agreement Read the HHS Press Release (Spanish – PDF)
Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) entered into a Settlement Agreement with OCR to provide effective communication as required by Federal law to an estimated 3 million deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. All deaf and hard-of-hearing persons using DCF's programs and services will be provided with sign language interpreters or other auxiliary aids and services as necessary for effective communication. Read the Settlement Agreement Read the Summary of the Settlement Agreement Read the Letter of Findings Read the HHS Press Release (Spanish - PDF)
An Austin, Texas orthopaedic surgeon, entered into a Settlement Agreement with OCR to ensure that individuals living with HIV/AIDS have equal access to appropriate medical treatment. The Settlement Agreement resolves the Violation Letter of Finding, which OCR issued to the surgeon after he declined to perform knee surgery on an HIV-positive patient. The orthopaedic surgeon’s practice group sees an average of 200 patients per week. Read the Letter of Finding Read the Settlement Agreement Read the HHS Press Release
Montgomery County Department of Social Services (MCDSS) in New York entered into a Voluntary Resolution Agreement with OCR to ensure that the language assistance needs of their clients are properly assessed and that competent, timely language access services are provided to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. MCDSS provides or administers a wide range of publicly funded social services and cash assistance programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, Medicaid, emergency assistance, general relief, adult protective services and personal care services. MCDSS programs reach approximately 28,000 people. Read the Resolution Agreement Read the HHS Press Release (Spanish - PDF)
Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute (MMI) in Frederick, MD, entered into a Voluntary Resolution Agreement with OCR to ensure that persons who are deaf or hard-of -hearing receive interpreter services when necessary for effective communication. MMI is an 11-physician orthopedic practice with three offices, seeing 1,000 patients monthly Read the Resolution Agreement Read the HHS Press Release
Fort Washington Medical Center in Prince George’s County, MD, entered into a Settlement Agreement with OCR to ensure that persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing receive interpreter services when necessary for effective communication. Fort Washington Medical Center annually admits more more than 2,800 patients and sees more than 45,000 patients in its Emergency Room Read the Letter of Findings Read the Settlement Agreement Read the HHS Press Release
Alaska's Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the Anchorage Pioneer Home (APH), an assisted living facility serving over 160 seniors, entered into a Settlement Agreement with OCR to ensure that APH residents with disabilities have equal access to transportation services. The settlement resolves the Violation Letter of Finding which OCR issued to DHSS and APH in January 2009. Read the Letter of Finding Read the Settlement Agreement Read the HHS Press Release
New York's Schenectady County Department of Social Services (SCDSS), signed a Voluntary Resolution Agreement to ensure that individuals with physical disabilities receive equal access to its services and office buildings. SCDSS provides services to a county population of 150,818. Read the Resolution Agreement Read the HHS Press Release
State of Hawaii Department of Human Services (serving a state population of more than 1.2 million) entered into a statewide Settlement Agreement to ensure that limited English proficient persons receive equal access to its programs and services, including medical care for low-income persons. Read the Resolution Agreement Read the HHS Press Release
State of Georgia entered into a statewide Olmstead Settlement Agreement to ensure that more than 2,500 persons in Georgia with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness institutionalized in Georgia's seven public psychiatric hospitals and mental retardation facilities will have the opportunity to live in their communities with appropriate supports tailored to meet their individualized needs. (July 2008) Read the Resolution Agreement Read the Summary of the Resolution Agreement Read the HHS PRess Release
Arizona Hospital and Trauma Center agreed to ensure that patients who are deaf or hard-of hearing receive timely auxiliary aids, including sign language interpreters or video interpretation. The Hospital and Trauma Center provides services to 150,000 patients annually. Read the Resolution Agreement
New York Social Services Agency (serving 4025 food stamp users monthly) agreed to ensure that clients who are deaf or hard-of hearing receive timely auxiliary aids, including sign language interpreters. The Social Service Agency provides 4,025 beneficiaries with food stamp on a monthly basis. Read the Agreement
New York Hospital and Trauma Center (serving 56,000 patients yearly) agreed to ensure that patients who are deaf or hard-of hearing receive timely auxiliary aids, including sign language interpreters or video interpretation services. The Hospital and Trauma Center assist more than 56,000 patients yearly. Read the Agreement
Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance MDTA agreed to ensure that people with learning disabilities have equal access to participate in and benefit its Massachusetts’ Employment Services Program. MDTA provides services to more than 44,713 beneficiaries annually. Read the Agreement