Nondiscrimination Policy and Procedure Overview: Riverbend Community Mental Health, Inc. adheres to federal civil rights laws, including Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring no discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy). The organization provides timely and free language assistance services, auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities, and reasonable modifications to ensure equal access to programs and services. If an individual believes they have faced discrimination, they can file a grievance with Riverbend or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. Riverbend follows a grievance procedure to resolve complaints, which includes investigating and issuing written decisions. The procedure also protects against retaliation for filing complaints and ensures accessibility for individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency during the process. Policy: Riverbend Community Mental Health, Inc. complies with all applicable federal civil rights laws, including Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557). Riverbend does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), age, disability, or sex including sex characteristics, intersex traits; pregnancy or related conditions; sexual orientation; gender identity, and sex stereotypes. In compliance with Section 1557 and other federal civil rights laws, we provide individuals the following in a timely manner and free of charge: Language assistance services. Riverbend will provide language assistance services for individuals with limited English proficiency (including individuals’ companions with limited English proficiency) to ensure meaningful access to our programs, activities, services, and other benefits. Language assistance services may include: Electronic and written translated documents Qualified interpreters Qualified bilingual/multilingual staff Appropriate auxiliary aids and services. Riverbend will provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities (including individuals’ companions with disabilities) to ensure effective communication. Appropriate auxiliary aids and services may include: Qualified interpreters, including American Sign Language interpreters Video remote interpreting Information in alternate formats (including but not limited to large print, recorded audio, and accessible electronic formats) Qualified readers Reasonable modifications. Riverbend will provide reasonable modifications for qualified individuals with disabilities, when necessary to ensure accessibility and equal opportunity to participate in our programs, activities, services, or other benefits. To access our language assistance services, auxiliary aids and services, and for assistance in getting a reasonable modification, please refer to Riverbend’s Accessibility and Accommodations Policy. For additional assistance, you may also contact Riverbend’s Section 1557 Coordinator. Grievances. If you believe Riverbend has failed to provide these services or has discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, you can: File a grievance with Riverbend File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights: Electronically: https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/smartscreen/main.jsf or via mail: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. – 509F Washington, D.C. 20201 In accordance with Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557), Riverbend does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), age, disability, or sex including sex characteristics, intersex traits; pregnancy or related conditions; sexual orientation; gender identity, and sex stereotypes. There is a grievance procedure for providing prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by Section 1557 and its implementing regulations at 45 C.F.R. Part 92, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Section 1557 and its implementing regulations may be examined HERE. Any person who believes that Riverbend subjected someone to discrimination prohibited by Section 1557 may file a grievance. Filing a grievance does not prevent a person from pursuing other legal or administrative remedies, including filing a complaint of discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in court or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. A person can file a complaint of discrimination electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, which is available at: https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/smartscreen/main.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 TDD: 1-800-537-7697 It is against the law for Riverbend 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. Grievance Procedure: Grievances must be submitted to Riverbend’s Section 1557 Coordinator or Riverbend’s Complaint Manager within 60 days of the date the person filing the grievance becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory action. A grievance should generally be in writing, containing the name and contact information of the person filing it as well as the alleged discriminatory action and alleged basis (or bases) of discrimination, the date the grievance was filed, and any other pertinent information. When a grievance includes allegations that would violate Section 1557, the Section 1557 Coordinator, Complaint Manager, or their designee shall investigate the grievance. This investigation may be informal, but it will be thorough, affording all interested people an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the grievance in question. Riverbend shall inform an individual that they have a right to reasonable modifications in the grievance procedure if they need them. The Section 1557 Coordinator and/or Complaint Manager must keep confidential the identity of an individual who has filed a grievance under this part except as required by law or to carry out the purposes of this part, including the conduct on any investigation, including to investigate the grievance. Riverbend will issue to the person who filed the grievance a written decision on the grievance no later than 30 days after its filing. The decision shall include the resolution date and a notice to the complainant of their right to pursue further administrative or legal remedies. Riverbend will maintain the files and records relating to such grievances for at least three years from the date Riverbend resolves the grievance. The person filing the grievance may appeal the written decision by writing to the Section 1557 Coordinator or Complaint Manager within 15 days of receiving the decision. The Chief Executive Officer shall issue a written decision in response to the appeal no later than 30 days after its filing. Riverbend, through the Section 1557 Coordinator, will make appropriate arrangements to ensure that individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency are provided reasonable modifications, appropriate auxiliary aids and services, or language assistance services, respectively, if needed to participate in this grievance process. 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.
