Civil Rights Information

When a program or entity receives federal funding, beneficiaries, like TennCare members, and participants, like providers, in that program have the right to receive services or participate in that program free from discrimination because of their race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, conscience and religious freedom, or other statuses protected by federal and/or state law.

• For a quick overview about providing equitable care and provider’s civil rights obligations watch this video at: https://youtu.be/PR21VXErPZY
• For more information about disability rights see: https://www.ada.gov/ and https://www.access-board.gov/healthcare.html

One way you can improve your patients’ health is by connecting them with community resources (like food pantries and housing help).

Providing Culturally Competent Care Free from Discrimination

• Want to learn more about providing cultural competent care? Information may be found at:
  1. The Think Cultural Health website features information, continuing education opportunities, resources, and more for health and health care professionals to learn about culturally and linguistically appropriate services, click on this link: https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/
  2. Social Determinants of Health: Know What Affects Health at: https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/
  3. Making Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Happen at: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/admin/health-equity/clas/making-clas-happen.html
• Do your patients understand their treatment plans? Help with achieving that goal may be found by viewing
  1. The North Carolina Health Literacy - at: https://hsl.lib.unc.edu/health-literacy
  2. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has health literacy and communication tools and resources at:
     https://health.gov/our-work/national-health-initiatives/health-literacy and 
     https://health.gov/our-work/national-health-initiatives/health-literacy/consumer-health-content/myhealthfinder

• You can find Information about connecting with interpretation and translation resources at:
  1. Interpretation and Translation Services – If you need help locating language and communication assistance vendors contact TennCare’s Office of Civil Rights Compliance at HCFA.fairtreatment@tn.gov or the Provider Services division of your managed care organization. Also, click on the following link for an I Speak booklet to help you with identifying a person’s primary language: https://www.lep.gov/sites/lep/files/media/document/2022-06/i-speak-booklet.pdf
  2. Working with Medical Interpreters - Guidelines for Working with Interpreters (tn.gov)