OCR reminds states renewing Medicaid, CHIP coverage of civil rights obligations

As the COVID-19 public health emergency’s continuous coverage requirement ends and states redetermine eligibility for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollees, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights April 5 reminded state health officials of their obligations under federal civil right laws to provide meaningful language access for individuals with limited English proficiency and ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities. 

“OCR is deeply committed to helping states ensure that eligible individuals with LEP and individuals with disabilities are provided with meaningful language access and effective communication to ensure they do not experience an otherwise unnecessary lapse in coverage,” said OCR Director Melanie Fontes Rainer. “OCR is available to provide technical assistance to states and encourages agencies to take proactive steps to ensure meaningful access and effective communication by developing, reviewing, and/or updating plans for the provision of these vital services, including how people will be informed of the availability of language assistance services and auxiliary aids and services.”