Ambulatory surgery centers must abide by new nondiscrimination requirements by this month, according to an ASCA report.
Here are six things to know:
1. The ACA's Section 1557 prohibits sex discrimination and requires language assistance for people with limited English proficiency. The covered entities must use qualified interpreters and translators. A facility may have third party vendors interpret, but the vendors must be compliant with Section 1557.
2. Healthcare facilities are required to post taglines indicating language assistance is available in the top 15 languages spoken in their state by people with limited English proficiency, according to the report.
3. Covered entities are required to make electronic information and newly-constructed or altered facilities available for people with disabilities.
4. The law also requires effective communication for people with disabilities. The healthcare facilities must provide the "appropriate auxiliary aids" as well as services for people with disabilities.
5. The providers must explain a notice of patient's rights in a language and manner the patients or the patients' surrogate can understand.
6. ASCs must comply with the regulations by Oct. 19, 2016.