United States Attorney Dawn Ison announced Monday that McLaren Health Care Corporation has agreed to enter into a Settlement Agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan to resolve its investigation under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office opened the investigation into McLaren after receiving complaints about the provision at multiple facilities of auxiliary aids and services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. McLaren, which owns and operates multiple hospitals and outpatient health centers throughout Michigan, fully cooperated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation.
Under the settlement, McLaren will provide a combined $220,000 in monetary relief to fourteen affected individuals, and be required to provide auxiliary aids and services free of charge to ensure effective communication with their patients and their companions, consistent with the ADA. McLaren will also review its policies and, as necessary, revise its policies to be consistent with the ADA’s requirements regarding effective communication and the terms of the settlement agreement.
The corporation will also enhance existing notices within their facilities to clearly alert patients and their companions of the availability of ASL interpreters or other auxiliary aids and services free of charge. Furthermore, McLaren will contract with additional vendors to provide both virtual and in-person interpretive services as needed. McLaren will also train its staff on its updated policies and will report any future complaints from individuals who have disabilities to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison noted that “McLaren and its staff provide medical services [to] many rural areas with limited access to care,” and that “[i]t is critical that patients who are deaf or hard of hearing have the ability to communicate effectively with their health care providers,” so she was especially proud of this resolution.
The investigation was led by the Civil Rights Unit. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or visit www.ada.gov.
