What’s new: The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and CMS recently issued a final rule, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.

• The rule, which takes effect July 8, 2024, applies to federally funded health programs and services, meaning nursing homes and ID/DD providers are subject to this final rule.

The rule covers much of the same ground as the final rule, Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities, that was also recently announced by HHS/OCR (Section 1557 Rule). This rule focuses specifically on protecting the civil rights of individuals with disabilities under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  

Go deeper: AHCA has developed a member summary (login required) of the final rule.