Adams School of Dentistry: Policy on Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities

Title

Adams School of Dentistry: Policy on Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities

I. Introduction

A. Purpose

This Policy establishes the UNC Adams School of Dentistry’s commitment to non-discrimination in the delivery of patient care in accordance with Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and its implementing regulations at 45 CFR part 92.

B. Scope

This Policy applies to all Adams School of Dentistry personnel.

II. Policy

The Adams School of Dentistry is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patients. Consistent with this principle and in accordance with applicable laws, the Adams School of Dentistry does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex in its health programs and activities. The School does not exclude people or treat them differently on account of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Any such discrimination is fundamentally incompatible with the School’s mission, vision, and values, and is expressly prohibited by Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and its implementing regulations.

The School shall:

  1. designate a Section 1557 Coordinator to carry out its responsibilities under Section 1557 and under this Policy.
  2. maintain a grievance procedure to address Section 1557 grievances in a manner that incorporates appropriate due process standards and provides for the prompt and equitable resolution of such grievances.
  3. provide auxiliary aids and services, free of charge and in a timely manner, to any patient requiring communication assistance in order to ensure equal access to our health services:
    1. for persons with disabilities, free aids and services shall include qualified sign language interpretation, alternative formats of written information, and appropriate assistance from qualified staff
    2. for persons whose primary language is not English, free aids and services shall include qualified oral interpretation, qualified translations of written information, and appropriate assistance from qualified staff
  4. publish notice of its commitment to non-discrimination on its website, in conspicuous physical locations throughout the School visible to the public, and by any other appropriate methods as required by law.

III. Related Requirements

A.External Regulations and Consequences

  1. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act § 1557
  2. Final Rule on Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities
  3. UNC-CH: Policy on Non-Discrimination for Program Participants
  4. UNC-CH: Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct

 B. Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures

  1. Adams School of Dentistry: Procedure for Resolving Grievances
  2. Adams School of Dentistry: Language Access Standard

IV. Contact Information

Topic, Title, and Contact Table
Topic Title Contact
General questions

Director of Risk & Regulatory Affairs

ACA 1557 Coordinator

INTERIM

ASOD_ClinicalCompliance@unc.edu
Language Access Spanish Interpreter ncruz@email.unc.edu

Details

Article ID: 131288
Created
Thu 4/8/21 9:05 PM
Modified
Tue 11/7/23 10:10 AM
Effective Date
If the date on which this document became/becomes enforceable differs from the Origination or Last Revision, this attribute reflects the date on which it is/was enforcable.
03/02/2021 12:33 PM
Issuing Officer
Name of the document Issuing Officer. This is the individual whose organizational authority covers the policy scope and who is primarily responsible for the policy.
Issuing Officer Title
Title of the person who is primarily responsible for issuing this policy.
Director of Clinical Compliance
Last Review
Date on which the most recent document review was completed.
05/09/2023 1:56 PM
Last Revised
Date on which the most recent changes to this document were approved.
05/09/2023 1:56 PM
Next Review
Date on which the next document review is due.
05/09/2025 12:00 AM
Origination
Date on which the original version of this document was first made official.
03/08/2019 12:00 AM
Responsible Unit
School, Department, or other organizational unit issuing this document.
Adams School of Dentistry

Related Articles (1)

Adams School of Dentistry: Procedure for Resolving Patient Grievances
The UNC Adams School of Dentistry maintains an internal procedure providing for the prompt and equitable resolution of patient-initiated complaints and grievances relating to patient care, including any civil rights grievances arising under applicable Federal law.