Penn State Health is committed to creating an environment free from discrimination and harassment.

Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities

Penn State Health complies with applicable local, state and federal civil rights laws and does not exclude, deny access/benefits to health care or otherwise discriminate against or treat differently any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or any other protected characteristic, in admission to, participation in or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs and activities.

Penn State Health provides people with disabilities reasonable modifications or accommodations and free appropriate auxiliary aids and services to communicate effectively with us (including individuals’ companions). These services may include:

• Qualified American Sign Language interpreters
• Video remote interpreting
• Written information in other formats, such as large print, audio and accessible electronic formats.

Penn State Health also provides free language assistance services to people whose primary language is not English (including individuals’ companions with limited English proficiency) in more than 240 languages. These services may include:

• Qualified medical spoken language interpreters
• Phone or video interpretation
• Information provided in other languages

If you need any of these services, please inform the person who is scheduling your appointment or contact the location where you will be receiving care before your scheduled appointment to make these arrangements. If you will be visiting or are currently at a hospital or clinic and require assistance, please contact our Patient and Family Relations/Patient Advocacy Office for the Penn State Health location (listed below) where you are receiving care.

Policies

• Patient Rights Policy (WS-ADMIN-9.113) (PDF)
• Patient Rights Policy (PC-33 HAM) (PDF)
• Patient Rights and Responsibilities (LMC) (PDF)
• Patient Rights and Responsibilities PPI-RI-01 (PDF)
• Patient Rights and Responsibilities (ADM-RSK-039) (PDF)

Grievance Procedure

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

Any person who believes Penn State Health has failed to provide these services or has been discriminated against in another way may file a complaint through an internal grievance procedure established to provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by the Affordable Care Act Section 1557. Section 1557 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or any other protected characteristic, in any of its programs and activities.

Penn State Health has adopted the following internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by the Affordable Care Act Section 1557. 

How to File a Grievance

Grievances must be submitted to the Section 1557 Coordinator within 30 days of the date the individual becomes aware of the alleged discrimination by emailing [email protected]. 

How to file a grievance:

• The grievance must be in writing.
• Be sure to include your name and contact information.
• Describe in as much detail as possible what happened, the reason you believe it was discrimination, the date it happened and any other pertinent information.

What happens next:

• The Section 1557 Coordinator and/or other appropriate person may, if necessary, conduct an investigation of the complaint.
• This investigation may be informal, but it will be thorough.
• The coordinator may review evidence submitted by the people involved.

Support during the process:

If you have a disability or your first language is not English, we will provide you with auxiliary aids and services or language assistance services so that you can take part in the process. This assistance may include:

• Qualified American Sign Language interpreters or qualified medical spoken language interpreters
• Materials for the blind
• Holding the meeting in a location that is easy for you to access

The availability of the Penn State Health Grievance Procedure does not prevent a person from pursuing other legal or administrative remedies, including filing a complaint of discrimination in court or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights:

• The Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal: https://ocrportal.hhs.gov
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  200 Independence Ave., SW, Room 509F
  HHH Building
  Washington, DC 20201
• 1-800-868-1019, TDD 800-537-7697

Complaint forms are available at: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr-cr-complaint-form-package.pdf. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discrimination.