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  1. HHS
  2. Civil Rights Home
  3. For Individuals
  • Civil Rights for Individuals and Advocates
    • Race, Color, National Origin
    • Disability
      • Section 504
    • Age Discrimination
    • Sex Discrimination & Harassment
    • Title IX
    • Section 1557
      • Civil Rights FAQs
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    • Hill-Burton
    • Section 1553
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      • Reproductive Health Care
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      • Effective Communication in Hospitals
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      • Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
      • National Origin Discrimination
      • Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics Discrimination
      • Environmental Justice
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      • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
    • HHS Nondiscrimination Notice

Civil Rights for Individuals and Advocates

We enforce laws against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, and sex by certain health care and human services.

Race, Color, National Origin

Title VI protects people of every race, color, or national origin from unlawful discrimination in HHS-funded programs and activities.

Disability

OCR enforces laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs, services, activities, and facilities.

Age

OCR enforces the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (Age Act), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in HHS-funded programs and activities.

Sex

OCR enforces laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in many HHS-funded programs and activities.

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

Section 1557 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in HHS-funded programs and activities and ACA Marketplaces.

Hill-Burton

The Hill-Burton Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, and other grounds in certain medical facilities.

Section 1553 of the Affordable Care Act

Section 1553 of the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination against individuals or health care entities that do not provide assisted suicide services.

Special Topics

Read about special topics in civil rights: Child welfare services, HIV/AIDS, limited English proficiency, community living and more.

Civil Rights FAQs

Read frequently asked questions about civil rights.

Fact Sheets

Understand your rights to receive services and benefits in programs and activities funded by HHS without facing unlawful discrimination.

HHS Nondiscrimination Notice

HHS complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

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Provider Conscience Protections

OCR receives complaints of discrimination based on the Federal Health Care Conscience Protection Statutes.

Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Content last reviewed April 11, 2025
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