Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

​​Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18116) is the non-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in certain health programs or activities. Section 1557 builds on other Federal civil rights laws already implemented and adhered to by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) including, but not limited to, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act, and Age Discrimination Act of 1975.  

​It is the policy of MDH not to discriminate based on race, ​color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Section 1557 and its implementing regulations may be examined in the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (OEOP), Equal Access Compliance Unit (EACU) by Keneithia Taylor, MDH Fair Practices Officer & Section 1557 Coordinator, and Andrea Gillespie, MDH Equal Access Compliance Officer & Section 1557 Assistant Coordinator, who have been designated to coordinate the efforts of MDH to comply with Section 1557. ​​They may be reached at 410-767-6600 or via email at mdh.oeop@maryland.gov for technical assistance regarding Section 1557.


 Helpful Information

You may file a grievance with EACU using the following link if you believe that MDH, a Maryland-based healthcare facility, and/or a Maryland-based practitioner​​​​ has discriminated against you on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

MDH Section 1557 Discrimination Grievance Form


If you need help filing a complaint, EACU staff are available to help you. Please use the following telephone numbers and email address to request assistance:

  • 410-767-6600 (Voice)
  • 410-333-5337 (Fax) 
  • ​7-1-1 (MD Relay) / 800-735-2258 (TTY)
  • mdh.oeop@maryland.gov (email) 

You may also electronically file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, 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

Washi​ngton, DC 20201

  • ​​​​1-800-868-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)


HHS OCR Complaint forms are available at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr-cr-complaint-form-package.pdf​