Information for Patients

Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)

In accordance with Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557), it is the policy of INTEGRIS Health, to not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), sex (including sex characteristics, including intersex traits; pregnancy or related conditions; sexual orientation; gender identity, and sex stereotypes), age, or disability.

Section 1557 of the ACA prohibits such discrimination in health programs and activities that receive federal funding. INTEGRIS Health is committed to ensuring all patients have equal access to healthcare services and protections under this law.

Filing a Grievance under Section 1557

INTEGRIS Health has adopted an internal grievance procedure to promptly and equitably resolve complaints alleging any action prohibited by Section 1557 and its implementing regulations. Any person who believes that INTEGRIS Health subjected someone to discrimination prohibited by Section 1557, may file a grievance using the following procedure:

1. Using the Contact Information below, submit grievance within 60 days of becoming aware of the alleged discriminatory action.
2. Grievances must be in writing, including the name and address of the person filing, the problem or action believed to be discriminatory, and the relief or remedy sought.
3. The Section 1557 Coordinator will investigate all grievances containing allegations that would violate Section 1557. This process will be thorough, allowing all relevant parties to provide evidence.
4. The Section 1557 Coordinator must keep confidential the identity of an individual who has filed a grievance except as required by law or to carry out the purposes of Section 1557, including investigating the grievance.
5. INTEGRIS Health will inform an individual that they have a right to reasonable modifications in the grievance procedure if needed.
6. A written decision will be issued by the Section 1557 Coordinator within 30 days. The decision will include notice to the person filing of the right to pursue further legal or administrative remedies.
7. INTEGRIS Health will maintain files and records relating to grievances for at least three years from the date the grievance is resolved.

Contact Information:

INTEGRIS Health Section 1557 Coordinator
Patient Relations Specialist
3001 Quail Springs Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73134
Phone: 405-212-2092
Email: [email protected]

Appeals Process

If you disagree with the decision of the Section 1557 Coordinator, you may appeal by submitting a written request within 15 days of receiving the decision to:

INTEGRIS Health Section 1557 Coordinator
Patient Relations Specialist
3001 Quail Springs Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73134
Phone: 405-212-2092
Email: [email protected]

INTEGRIS Health will issue a written decision on the appeal no later than 30 days after receipt.

Other Remedies

Using the internal grievance procedure does not prevent you from filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), or pursuing legal remedies. You can file a complaint of discrimination by:

• Filing electronically at ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby/jsf
• By mail:
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  200 Independence Avenue, SW
  Room 509F, HHH Building
  Washington, DC 20201
• Complaint forms are available at hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.
  Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the alleged discrimination.

Retaliation Protections

It is against the law for INTEGRIS Health to intimidate, threaten, coerce, retaliate, or otherwise discriminate against anyone who files a grievance, or participates in the investigation of a grievance for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Section 1557.

Accessibility Accommodations

INTEGRIS Health through its Section 1557 Coordinator, will provide appropriate arrangements to ensure people with disabilities or limited English proficiency can participate in this grievance process. This includes providing reasonable modifications, appropriate auxiliary aids and services, language assistance services or barrier-free locations for proceedings as needed. Such arrangements may include but are not limited to providing these services in a timely manner and without cost to individuals being served to ensure that individuals have an equal opportunity to participate in the grievance process.

INTEGRIS Health, Inc. complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including sex characteristics, including intersex traits; pregnancy or related conditions; sexual orientation; gender identity, and sex stereotypes). INTEGRIS Health, Inc. does not exclude people or treat them less favorably because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

INTEGRIS Health, Inc.:

• Provides people with disabilities reasonable modifications and free appropriate auxiliary aids and services to communicate effectively with us, such as:
  •  Qualified sign language interpreters
  • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats).
• Provides free language assistance services to people whose primary language is not English, which may include:
  • Qualified interpreters
  • Information written in other languages

If you need reasonable modifications, appropriate auxiliary aids and services, or language assistance services, contact the INTEGRIS Health Section 1557 Coordinator Patient Relations Specialist.

If you believe that INTEGRIS Health, Inc. has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with:

INTEGRIS Health Section 1557 Coordinator Patient Relations Specialist
3001 Quail Springs Pkwy, Oklahoma City, OK 73134
405-212-2092
[email protected]

You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the INTEGRIS Health Section 1557 Coordinator Patient Relations Specialist is available to help you. A copy of INTEGRIS Health, Inc.’s grievance procedure will be provided to you upon request.

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

Complaint forms are available at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.

This notice is available at INTEGRIS Health, Inc.’s website: Patient Relations | INTEGRIS Health