Understanding Section 1557’s Final Rule Video Described

Understanding Section 1557’s Final Rule on YouTube

(Upbeat music is playing for the duration of the video)

(Intro screen: “Understanding Section 1557” followed by the circular T-Base logo centered below the title. Below the logo: “By T-Base Communications” “Your go-to alternate format company.”)

>> Narrator: Say, does the Affordable Care Act’s Section 1557 and its “Final Rule” have you scratching your head?

(Split screen. On the left, a character depicting a T-Base representative appears behind a podium, speaking to the audience. To the right, a character depicting a healthcare insurance provider appears behind his desk and is scratching his head, appearing confused. An orange question mark pops up beside his head.)

>> Narrator: Here we’ll explain how to comply & meet the communication needs of plan members who are blind or have low vision.

(“Agenda” appears followed by an orange graphic of a clipboard. “How to: Comply with the Final Rule” “Meet communication needs of plan members”. Below the text, two characters depicting plan members appear: one who is blind, using a tablet, with a frown on his face, and the other who has low vision, reading paper from a clipboard, with a frown on his face.)

>> Narrator: Section 1557, the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act, has been in effect since 2010.

(“Timeline” appears, followed by an orange justice scales graphic. Text below: “Section 1557 (ACA) – Enacted 2010” & a downward arrow appears.)

>> Narrator: The Department of Health & Human Services issued its Final Rule in May 2016.

(“Final Rule – Issued May 2016” “Nondiscrimination in Health Programs & Activities” & a downward arrow appears.)

>> Narrator: And it went into effect July of the same year.

(“Effective July 2016”)

>> Narrator: Its purpose: to inform individuals about their rights and Covered Entities about their legal obligations.

(“Purpose” appears followed by an orange justice scales graphic. Text below: “To inform: Individuals about their rights” “Covered Entities about their obligations”

>> Narrator: What’s defined as a covered entity?

(“What’s defined as a covered entity?”)

>> Narrator: Healthcare programs paid for in part or administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and federally facilitated and state-based health insurance marketplaces.

(“Covered Entities” appears followed by an orange graphic of an office building. Text below: “Health programs & activities paid for in part or administered by HHS” “Federally facilitated & state-based health insurance marketplaces” )

>> Narrator: To comply with the Final Rule as it pertains to meeting the communication needs of individuals with disabilities, here’s what you must do:

(A page from the Department of Health & Human Services’ Final Rule slides upward. A hand circles the section that states Covered Entities must provide auxiliary aids and services.)

>> Narrator: Provide auxiliary aids and services, including audio recordings, as well as braille & large print materials;

(Another page slides up with information on what is defined as an auxiliary aid or service. A hand underlines text on the page that reads, “audio recordings”, “Braille materials” and “large print materials”.)

>> Narrator: Ensure electronic and information technology is accessible; use non-discriminatory marketing practices; and make reasonable changes to policies, practices & procedures to provide equal access.

(A hand circles each requirement (separated by semi-colons in narrator’s text) in the legislation.)

>> Narrator: To ensure compliance, keep these dates in mind: By October 16, 2016, draft a notice of individuals’ rights under Section 1557.

(Split screen. To the left, text appears: “Notice of individuals’ rights” “By Oct. 16, 2016”. To the right, a sample notice slides upward and a hand underlines, “Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)”.)

>> Narrator: And post it conspicuously in your office, on your website and in significant publications and communications.

(Three orange icons pop up underneath the October deadline: An office building, a computer monitor and a sheet of paper. “Sample Notice Available Online” slides up and remains at the bottom of the sample notice. Sample notices slide down, off the screen.)

>> Narrator: By first plan year beginning January 1st, 2017, ensure applicable health insurance & group benefit designs comply with Section 1557.

(Split screen. (October deadline has remained on the left.) To the right, text appears: “Non-discriminatory benefit designs” “By Jan. 1, 2017”. Below, the two characters depicting plan members—one who is blind & one who has low vision—reappear, this time looking satisfied, with smiles on their faces, as they access their healthcare plan documents via tablet and braille, respectively.)

(The three orange icons (building, monitor, paper) fade away and the character depicting a healthcare insurance provider reappears to the right of  the two plan members, this time behind his desk, pushed back, with his hands behind his head, looking rested and relieved. A document, representing a notice of nondiscrimination, appears in sparkles on his office wall.)

(The two characters depicting plan members appear to celebrate: one giving a thumb’s up and one jumping in the air, smiling. A large orange check mark appears in the center of the screen, between the resting healthcare insurance provider and the two celebrating plan members.)

>> Narrator: Have questions about how to comply with Section 1557 as it pertains to communicating with plan members who are blind or have low vision? Give us a shout.

(The character depicting a T-Base representative reappears, this time with a speech bubble to the right of her head: It reads, “Questions?”)

>> Narrator: We are your go-to expert for alternate formats—

(The T-Base representative gives a big wave and the speech bubble text changes to “Turn to T-Base!”

>> Narrator: braille, large print re-flowed, accessible PDF, e-Text and audio—plus we provide training and audits for accessible communications via web and mobile.

(The alternate formats—braille, large print re-flowed, accessible PDF, e-Text and audio—are shown either by text or by logo to the left of the T-Base representative. “Web & Mobile” “Accessibility Audits” “Accessibility Training” appear in text to the right.)

>> Narrator: We’ll take care of all aspects of accessible communications, simplifying them for you—our core business—so you can focus on yours.

(“Let’s talk! 1-800-563-0668 info@tbase.com www.tbase.com SIMPLIFYING ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS.TM For healthcare insurance providers” appears in text)