Skip to main content
know about Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

what you need to know about Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

Health and Human Services (HHS) published its final proposed rule implementing the anti-discrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which includes regulations for serving Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients. This proposed rule is intended to advance health equity and reduce disparities in health care.

crafting culturally relevant, medically accurate messaging

here’s what you need to know

Covered entities are required to post a notice in the top 15 languages spoken by LEPs nationally, indicating that communication assistance is available. (A covered entity is any entity that operates a health program or activity that receives federal financial assistance under programs operated by HHS.)

The top 15 languages spoken by LEPs in the US are:

  • Spanish
  • Korean
  • Arabic
  • Portuguese
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Tagalog
  • French Creole
  • Polish
  • German
  • Vietnamese
  • Russian
  • French
  • Japanese
  • Farsi

People with disabilities are also covered under the proposed rule.

As it requires covered entities to provide effective communication by providing access to auxiliary aids and services, including alternative formats and sign language interpreters. Covered entities must post information about these services as well.

Translation Management

when MT is permitted

Covered entities may use machine translation for written documents and websites, but post-translation review by a qualified translator is required.

  • HHS rejected insistence by some to ban machine translation because “such a requirement may unintentionally stifle innovation in this rapidly developing area.”
  • HHS also asserts that “depending on the language at issue as well as the content of the translation, some translation technologies are advantageous to facilitate the translation of written content when used along with a qualified translator who independently verifies the accuracy and quality of the translation,” such as translation memory software.
  • The requirement to have a qualified translator review the machine translations could check hospitals’ prior use of MT without quality control. No prior law or directive has prohibited it in the past.
Two people reviewing a contract for switching provider

Section 1557 of the ACA “harmonizes protections provided by existing federal civil rights laws.”

These are:

Covered entities “must ensure compliance with existing laws in addition to the new ACA rules, including state laws that may be more restrictive than the ACA regulations.

let CQ fluency be your compliance partner

Spread the love