Civil Rights Laws, Regulations, and Guidance for Providers of Health Care and Social Services

This page covers civil rights laws and regulations enforced by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR enforces nondiscrimination regulations that apply to programs, services, and activities receiving HHS Federal financial assistance. We also enforce nondiscrimination provisions of other laws as they apply to programs and activities receiving HHS Federal financial assistance.

The following links are from the GovInfo.gov, unless otherwise noted. To learn more about Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and United States Code (USC), please visit the Government Printing Office at www.GPO.gov.

Civil Rights Statutes and Regulations Enforced by OCR

  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 USC § 2000d), prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin 45 CFR 80.
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 USC § 794), prohibits discrimination against otherwise qualified individuals on the basis of disability in:
    • Programs and activities receiving financial assistance from HHS 45 CFR 84;
    • Programs or activities conducted by HHS 45 CFR 85.
  • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, (20 USC § 1681) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in Federally-Assisted Education Programs 45 CFR 86.
  • The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42 USC § 6101), prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in:
    • Programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance 45 CFR 90; and
    • Programs or services receiving HHS financial assistance 45 CFR 91.
  • Titles VI and XVI of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC §§ 291 and 300) require health facilities that received certain Federal funds (“Hill-Burton” funds) to provide certain services to members of its designated community 42 CFR 124, Subpart G.
  • Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 USC § 18116) which provides that an individual shall not be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination on the grounds prohibited under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 USC § 2000d et seq. (race, color, national origin), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 USC § 1681 et seq. (sex), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 42 USC § 6101 et seq. (age), or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC § 794 (disability), under any health program or activity, any part of which is receiving Federal financial assistance, or under any program or activity that is administered by an Executive Agency or any entity established under Title I of the Affordable Care Act or its amendments. OCR has enforcement authority with respect to health programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or are administered by HHS or any entity established under Title I of the Affordable Care Act or its amendments.
  • Section 1553 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 USC § 18113) prohibits discrimination against individuals or institutional health care entities that do not provide assisted suicide services. See the Section 1553 webpage for more information.
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, (29 USC § 794(d)) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in electronic and information technology as they relate to programs and activities conducted by HHS. See the Accessibility Board 508 Homepage for more information.
  • Section 1808(c) of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (42 USC § 1996b) prohibits covered agencies and entities from discriminating on the basis of race, color and national origin in child placement decisions in adoption and foster care.
  • Sections 794 and 855 of the Public Health Service Act, (42 USC §§ 295m and 296g) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in Federally-Assisted Health Training Programs (45 CFR 83).
  • Section 508 of the Social Security Act (42 USC § 708) prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex in the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant.
  • Section 533 of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC § 290cc-33) prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex in Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness.
  • Section 1908 of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC § 300w-7)prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex in programs, services, and activities funded by Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grants.
  • Section 1947 of the Public Health Service Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex in programs and activities funded by Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants (42 USC § 300x-57).
  • The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 USC § 10406) prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex in programs and activities funded under this Act.
  • The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 USC § 8625) prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex in programs and activities funded under this Act.
  • The Community Services Block Grant Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex in programs and activities funded under this Act (42 USC § 9918).
  • The Communications Act of 1934 (47 USC § 398), as amended, has Equal employment Opportunity provisions that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex by Federally-funded public telecommunication entities.
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