Today, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) entered into a settlement with the New Jersey Imaging Network to resolve a civil rights complaint from an individual who uses a wheelchair, and was denied mammography because of her disability, based on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. Together, these laws protect people with disabilities from discrimination in any program or activity receiving funding from HHS. OCR finalized important updates to the rules implementing Section 504 and Section 1557 this Spring. The agreement is the result of an investigation by OCR after receiving a complaint from a woman who used a wheelchair and was denied mammography because of her disability. The settlement ensures that New Jersey Imaging Network will comply with the law, including newly issued rules, by having processes and procedures in place to provide people with disabilities the same access to care as for those without disabilities by providing the same appointments, and ensuring access to appropriate equipment.
