Examples of Health Care and Social Services Agencies that could be Covered Entities under the Nondiscrimination Laws Enforced By OCR.

For most of the laws enforced by OCR, a “Covered Entity” must receive, directly or through another entity Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Some of these might be:

• State and local government agencies that are responsible for administering health care
• State and local government income assistance and human service agencies
• Hospitals
• Medicaid and Medicare Providers
• Physicians and other health care professionals in private practice with patients assisted by Medicaid
• Family Health Centers
• Community Mental Health Centers
• Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers
• Nursing Homes
• Foster Care Homes
• Public And Private Adoption And Foster Care Agencies
• Day Care Centers
• Senior Citizen Centers
• Nutrition Programs
• Any entity established under the Affordable Care Act

OCR also enforces Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act as it applies to health and social service agencies of state and local governments even if they do not receive Federal financial assistance from HHS.  Some of these might be:

• State and local government agencies that are responsible for administering health care
• State and local government income assistance and human service agencies
• Community agencies that carry out health care, income assistance, or human service functions of a state or local government agency as described above under a contract, grant, or other agreement

While the Office for Civil Rights enforces certain laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination, we do not enforce laws and regulations that apply to housing, police or law enforcement, the courts, prisons or employment.  To learn about civil rights enforcement in these and other areas enforced by other agencies, please see our Civil Rights Enforcement Through Other Agencies page.