{"id":40366,"date":"2020-02-14T16:29:46","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T22:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=40366"},"modified":"2020-02-14T16:30:26","modified_gmt":"2020-02-14T22:30:26","slug":"hhs-ocr-and-christus-settlement-to-strengthen-its-provision-of-auxiliary-aids-and-services-for-d-hh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2020\/02\/14\/hhs-ocr-and-christus-settlement-to-strengthen-its-provision-of-auxiliary-aids-and-services-for-d-hh\/","title":{"rendered":"HHS OCR and Christus Settlement to Strengthen its Provision of Auxiliary Aids and Services for D\/HH"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"40367\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2020\/02\/14\/hhs-ocr-and-christus-settlement-to-strengthen-its-provision-of-auxiliary-aids-and-services-for-d-hh\/settlement-between-hhs-ocr-and-christus\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?fit=904%2C1169&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"904,1169\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Settlement between HHS OCR and Christus\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?fit=560%2C724&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-40367\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?resize=500%2C647\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?w=904&amp;ssl=1 904w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?resize=232%2C300&amp;ssl=1 232w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?resize=792%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 792w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?resize=768%2C993&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?resize=560%2C724&amp;ssl=1 560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?resize=260%2C336&amp;ssl=1 260w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Settlement-between-HHS-OCR-and-Christus.png?resize=160%2C207&amp;ssl=1 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br \/>\nJanuary 16, 2020<br \/>\nContact: HHS Press Office<br \/>\n202-690-6343<br \/>\nmedia@hhs.gov<\/p>\n<p><strong>HHS OCR Secures Voluntary Resolution with CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System to Strengthen its Provision of Auxiliary Aids and Services to Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), has entered into a Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA) with CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System (CHRISTUS TMF) resolving a compliance review concerning the rights of patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, to ensure that they receive effective communication.<\/p>\n<p>Through this agreement, CHRISTUS TMF affirms that it will comply with its obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557) to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.<\/p>\n<p>CHRISTUS TMF is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization that includes six hospitals and over thirty clinics and outpatient centers in Texas. CHRISTUS TMF receives federal financial assistance through its participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and is subject to the requirements of Section 504 and Section 1557. (<strong><em>Note from Deaf Network: Mostly of offices\/centers located in <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>East Texas &amp; Louisiana)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>OCR initiated the compliance review after it received a complaint, on behalf of a CHRISTUS TMF patient, that a CHRISTUS TMF clinic and hospital failed to provide adequate or timely interpreter services despite multiple requests. OCR subsequently received information from additional patients alleging deficiencies in CHRISTUS TMF&#8217;s provision of auxiliary aids and services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. These allegations led OCR to conduct a broad review of CHRISTUS TMF&#8217;s policies and procedures regarding its obligations under Section 504 and Section 1557.<\/p>\n<p>As a result of OCR&#8217;s investigation and review, CHRISTUS TMF and OCR have agreed that CHRISTUS TMF will take steps to strengthen the provision of auxiliary aids and services, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Performing communication assessments at patient intake and reassessing communication effectiveness regularly;<\/li>\n<li>Improving and upgrading its review, assessment, and provision of qualified interpreters, including in-person and by video remote interpreting;<br \/>\nProviding annual staff training on effective communication;<\/li>\n<li>Submitting reports to OCR regarding CHRISTUS TMF&#8217;s ongoing compliance activities, on which OCR will provide CHRISTUS TMF with substantive technical assistance and feedback; and<\/li>\n<li>Conducting outreach to local disability groups on the available auxiliary aids and services that CHRISTUS TMF provides to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.<\/li>\n<li>Director Roger Severino, Director of OCR said, &#8220;Good healthcare starts with effective communication and this agreement helps eliminate unnecessary barriers to equal treatment for persons who are deaf of hard of hearing.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>#<\/p>\n<p>Click to read the CHRISTUS TMF Voluntary Resolution Agreement &#8211; PDF.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/christus-vra.pdf\">https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/christus-vra.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>More information on OCR resources, federal resource, and other organization resources related to effective communication with individuals with a disability may be found at: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/civil-rights\/for-individuals\/special-topics\/hospitals-effective-communication\/disability-resources-effective-communication\/index.html\">http:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/civil-rights\/for-individuals\/special-topics\/hospitals-effective-communication\/disability-resources-effective-communication\/index.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For additional information on OCR&#8217;s work on effective communication for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, visit: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/civil-rights\/for-individuals\/disability\/effective-communication\/index.html\">http:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/civil-rights\/for-individuals\/disability\/effective-communication\/index.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/civil-rights\/for-individuals\/section-1557\/index.html\">http:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/civil-rights\/for-individuals\/section-1557\/index.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about civil, conscience and religious freedom, and health information privacy rights in health and human services or to file a complaint, visit us at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/ocr\">http:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/ocr<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Follow OCR on Twitter at @HHSOCR<\/p>\n<p>SOURCE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/about\/news\/2020\/01\/16\/hhs-ocr-secures-voluntary-resolution-with-christus-trinity.html\">https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/about\/news\/2020\/01\/16\/hhs-ocr-secures-voluntary-resolution-with-christus-trinity.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Christus Health Website: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christushealth.org\/\">https:\/\/www.christushealth.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2020 Contact: HHS Press Office 202-690-6343 media@hhs.gov HHS OCR Secures Voluntary Resolution with CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System to Strengthen its Provision of Auxiliary Aids and Services to Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2020\/02\/14\/hhs-ocr-and-christus-settlement-to-strengthen-its-provision-of-auxiliary-aids-and-services-for-d-hh\/\">Read more &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[4621,26738,26736,26737,2679,919,7429,613,10909,11781,7880,17],"class_list":["post-40366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-article","tag-christus-tmf","tag-christus-tmf-voluntary-resolution-agreement","tag-christus-trinity-mother-frances-health-system","tag-department-of-health-and-human-services","tag-east-texas","tag-hhs","tag-louisiana","tag-ocr","tag-office-for-civil-rights","tag-settlement","tag-texas"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-av4","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16925,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2011\/12\/12\/east-texas-medical-center-regional-healthcare-system-to-ensure-effective-communication-with-dhh-patients\/","url_meta":{"origin":40366,"position":0},"title":"East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System to Ensure Effective Communication with D\/HH Patients","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"December 12, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2011 Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343 East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System to Ensure Effective Communication with Deaf or Hard of Hearing Patients The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has entered into a resolution\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33191,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2016\/03\/24\/public-meeting-for-transition-legislative-oversight-committee-33116\/","url_meta":{"origin":40366,"position":1},"title":"Public Meeting for Transition Legislative Oversight Committee 3\/31\/16","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"March 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Public Meeting for Transition Legislative Oversight Committee 3\/31\/16 HHS Transformation Transition Plan Submitted, Public Hearing Scheduled https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H7zy_Z6A4hU&sns=em For those who want to provide input on whether services provided by the DARS Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing could be better provided by Centers for Independent Living, DARS continues to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/H7zy_Z6A4hU\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43570,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2022\/12\/29\/advanced-bionics-llc-to-pay-over-12-million-for-alleged-false-claims-for-cochlear-implant-processors\/","url_meta":{"origin":40366,"position":2},"title":"Advanced Bionics LLC to Pay Over $12 Million for Alleged False Claims for Cochlear Implant Processors","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"December 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, December 20, 2022 Advanced Bionics LLC to Pay Over $12 Million for Alleged False Claims for Cochlear Implant Processors Advanced Bionics LLC, a Valencia, California-based manufacturer of cochlear implant system devices, has agreed to pay more than $12 million\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/department-of-justice-logo.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":26505,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2014\/03\/01\/deaf-women-claim-they-were-denied-sign-interpreter-at-hospital\/","url_meta":{"origin":40366,"position":3},"title":"Deaf women claim they were denied sign interpreter at hospital","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"March 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Deaf women claim they were denied sign interpreter at hospital February 27, 2014 By JOEL BRAKKEN Two deaf woman are suing a hospital alleging they were refused the aid of a sign language interpreter. sign-language Penny Trahan and Rhonda Morgan filed a lawsuit in Feb. 20 in the Jefferson County\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14895,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2011\/06\/29\/dhh-job-fair-71411-houston\/","url_meta":{"origin":40366,"position":4},"title":"D\/HH Job Fair 7\/14\/11 &#8211; Houston","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"June 29, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 D\/HH Job Fair 7\/14\/11 - Houston Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. United Way of Greater Houston JOB FAIR Qualified Deaf and Hard of Hearing Job Seekers July 14, 2011 You don't have a resume? You don't know how to interview well? Please contact one of the agencies BEFORE July\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"DHHS flyer - Job Seekers 2011","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DHHS-flyer-JobSeekers.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":39896,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2019\/10\/25\/hhs-stakeholders-meeting-for-people-with-disabilities-10-28-19-dfw\/","url_meta":{"origin":40366,"position":5},"title":"HHS Stakeholders Meeting for People with Disabilities 10\/28\/19 &#8211; DFW","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"October 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fqMTQ1JCOnY HHS Stakeholders Meeting for People with Disabilities Health and Human Services is holding six listening sessions around the state as part of the inaugural HHS business plan, A Blueprint for a Healthy Texas. We encourage Texans receiving services, family members, providers, advocates and community partners to attend and share\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/fqMTQ1JCOnY\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40366"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40370,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40366\/revisions\/40370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}