FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative

Through the Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the nation partner with the Department’s Civil Rights Division to target their enforcement efforts on a critical area for individuals with disabilities. This initiative makes sure that people with disabilities, especially those who are deaf or have hearing loss, have access to medical information provided to them in a manner that is understandable to them. The Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative is a multi-phase plan that will also involve other key issues for people with disabilities, including ensuring physical access to medical buildings.
The Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorneys’ offices have long enforced the ADA in this area. This nationwide initiative seeks to focus and leverage the Department’s resources together and aggregate the collective message that disability discrimination in health care is illegal and unacceptable.

• Settlement Agreement Between the United States of America and Northshore University Healthsystems (signed June 28, 2012)
  
• Settlement Agreement Between the United States of America and Steven Senica, M.D., and Senica Bruneau, Ltd. (signed June 11, 2012)
• Settlement Agreement Between the United States of America and Richard Noren, M.D., Henry Kurzydlowski, M.D., and Pain Care Consultant, Inc. (signed April 3, 2012)
• Settlement Agreement Between Jessie Fox, the United States of America, and Trinity Regional Medical Center and Trinity Health Systems (signed March 29, 2012)
• Settlement Agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act Between the United States of America and the Henry Ford Health System (signed February 1, 2012)
• Consent Decree under the Americans with Disabilities Act Between The United States Of America and Cheshire Medical Center, Keene Health Alliance, and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic D/B/A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene (signed October 31, 2011)

U.S. Attorney Program for ADA Enforcement

For more than 15 years, U.S. Attorneys have been a critical force multiplier with the Civil Rights Division in enforcing the ADA through the U.S. Attorney Program for ADA Enforcement with the Disability Rights Section. Eighty-four U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the Nation currently participate in this critical and unique partnership effort and have resolved hundreds of matters involving core issues ranging from accessible voting, access to places of public accommodation and state and local governmental facilities, and discriminatory policies, practices and procedures.

Offices of the United States Attorneys:http://www.justice.gov/usao/
http://www.justice.gov/usao/about/offices.html