In this discussion, I am going to discuss the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the influence this act has on healthcare today. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a Federal law that protects individuals from discrimination based on their race, color or national origin in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance (United States Department of Justice, 2014). As explained by Keers (2013), institutions or programs that may receive federal assistance include hospitals, Medicaid and Medicare agencies, alcohol and drug treatment centers, nursing homes and public assistance programs (p. 557). This law has contributed to improving cultural competent care by implicating
rights to individuals who require assistance. An example would be requiring health care providers who receive federal funding to make available interpretation and translation services to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. Having this act in place has decreased the language barriers often experienced with non-English speaking patients. This act implicates the patients’ rights to be provided language assistance services if needed. Patients having access to interpreters’ decreases problems that often are associated with language barriers and helps patients receive competent quality healthcare. Another example how this law has contributed to improving cultural competence is that an individual cannot be discriminated against because of his/her race, color, or national origin. Many alcohol and drug treatment facilities are federally funded and this law allows individuals to have access to the help they need and not be discriminated against and denied treatment. I currently work at a state hospital that receives federal funding and according to the law all individuals regardless of race and color have the right to be medically treated. Individuals without health insurance are still treated and admitted. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has improved healthcare by increasing cultural awareness. Without this law in place many individuals would be denied healthcare and equal rights.
References
United States Department of Justice. (2014). About: Overview of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/cor/coord/titlevi.php
Keers, A. (2003). Mandatory provision of foreign language interpreters in health care services. The Journal Of Legal Medicine, 24(4), 557-578. Retrieved from http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.ohiou.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=41&sid=b4c0b615-0945-4a73-8c98-f465ce6b7fbc%40sessionmgr4003&hid=4108