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Non-Discrimination in Healthcare Law

Section 1557 is the nondiscrimination 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 long-standing and familiar Federal civil rights laws: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.

Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Section 1557 builds on long-standing and familiar Federal civil rights laws: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. Section 1557 extends nondiscrimination protections to individuals participating in:

  • Any health program or activity any part of which received funding from HHS
  • Any health program or activity that HHS itself administers
  • Health Insurance Marketplaces and all plans offered by issuers that participate in those Marketplaces.

University of Toledo Section 1557 Compliance Officer

In accordance with Section 1557 regulations, the University has designated Lita Maffi, Section 1557 Compliance Officer. The Section 1557 Compliance Officer is charged with monitoring compliance with these regulations and investigating concerns and complaints. Questions regarding Section 1557, as well as concerns and complaints of non-compliance, may be directed to:

UTMC Compliance Officer/Section 1557 Compliance Officer

3000 Arlington Ave. 
Mulford Library 048
Mail Stop: 1089
(419) 383-6078 (office)
(419) 383-3612 (TTY)
complianceofficer@utoledo.edu
Lita.Maffi@utoledo.edu

Statement from the Office of Civil Rights (HHS) 

The University of Toledo complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The University of Toledo does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
The University of Toledo:

  • Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities 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 services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:
    • Qualified interpreters
    • Information written in other languages

If you need these services:

Accessibility and Disability Resources

If you have any concerns related to disability access or accommodations, please contact Kurt Soltman, Director of Accessibility and Disability Resources:

Language Assistance and Accessibility Support

If you need help with language interpretation, sign language services, or other accessibility accommodations, please see this link:

Compliance Contact Information (for concerns related to Section 1557) 

If you believe you have been discriminated against based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you may file a grievance with:

Department of Service Excellence

The Customer Service Excellence Department is committed to ensuring every patient and visitor receives respectful, high-quality care. If you have concerns, feedback, or wish to file a grievance related to your experience, they are here to help.

Section 1557 Compliance Officer

You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Section 1557 Compliance Officer is available to help you. See instructions in links on the left of this page, titled: Grievance Procedure, Section 1557

You can also file a civil rights compliant 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
1-800-868-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)
Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html 

The University of Toledo will make appropriate arrangements to ensure that individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency are provided 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 qualified interpreters, providing taped cassettes of material for individuals with low vision, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings. The Section 1557 Compliance Officer will be responsible for such arrangements.

Last Updated: 12/17/25