Agreement Takes Important Steps in Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Health Outcomes by Ensuring That Black Women and Other Women of Color Have Access to Treatment During the Full Course of Their Care
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Cedars-Sinai) entered into a Voluntary Resolution Agreement (Agreement) to improve maternal health outcomes for Black, Latina, and other maternal patients of color. In June 2022, OCR opened a compliance review of Cedars-Sinai based on concerns expressed by patients. This Agreement concludes OCR’s review into Cedars-Sinai’s compliance under Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin, resolving allegations of racial bias in healthcare, treatment and access to health care services. OCR did not determine any violation of Federal law by Cedars-Sinai in its review. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557) are laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
OCR initiated a compliance review in response to media reports and complaints alleging racial bias in maternal care at Cedars-Sinai. Prior to OCR’s compliance review, Cedars-Sinai had undertaken substantial efforts to understand and mitigate the effects of discrimination and bias in healthcare. For example, Cedars-Sinai instituted mandatory annual unconscious bias education for staff while creating internal quality improvement programs and collaborating closely with community partners to improve Black maternal health outcomes. Today’s Agreement demonstrates OCR’s and Cedars-Sinai’s shared goals of promoting health equity and eliminating bias and discrimination in healthcare.
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