The Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (HHS-OCR) has initiated a federal probe into the Cleveland Clinic, following allegations of racial discrimination.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) made this announcement on Monday, having previously filed a civil rights complaint against the Ohio-based medical center.
According to the Daily Caller, the complaint pertains to the Cleveland Clinic's "Minority Stroke Program" and "Minority Men's Health Center." WILL alleges that these programs infringe on Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. In response, the HHS-OCR has sent a letter to WILL, confirming that it will be investigating the allegations.
The letter, as provided to the Caller, states, "OCR has reviewed the complaint and has determined that it has sufficient authority and cause to investigate the allegations under its authorities."
Dr. Jared Ross, Senior Fellow at Do No Harm, commented on the investigation in a WILL press release. "The federal investigation by HHS-OCR into the Cleveland Clinic initiated by our complaint is a small, incremental step," he said. "Do No Harm continues to wait for confirmation that patients of all races and ethnicities are now welcome for treatment at the two Cleveland Clinic programs highlighted in our complaint."
Following the filing of the complaint, the Cleveland Clinic removed the "Minority Men's Health Center" program from its website, as per a WILL press release. The complaint was filed on behalf of Do No Harm, an organization that opposes DEI in healthcare.
The programs in question claim to address medical conditions such as stroke and diabetes, specifically targeting minority populations. However, Cara Tolliver, WILL Associate Counsel, explained to the Caller that Title IV and the Affordable Care Act prohibit healthcare providers from receiving federal funds if they engage in racial discrimination.
Tolliver further clarified that the Minority Stroke Program is part of the Clinic's broader stroke program for the general population. "It doesnt matter if theyre offering treatment to all patients. The fact that theres this racial distinction in the way that patients are cared for is not a legal practice," she said.
The Cleveland Clinic's Minority Stroke Program's website states that black male Americans are twice as likely to die from stroke compared to other Americans and that 56% of black men have high blood pressure. However, Tolliver highlighted the dangers of providing race-based care, citing conditions more prevalent in white populations.
"Should Cleveland Clinic open up an osteoporosis clinic or an MS clinic for white persons?" Tolliver asked. "Of course not, because health care should just be focused on caring and providing treatment for any patient that needs it, regardless of what skin color they are, and thats what the law demands."
If the Cleveland Clinic fails to comply with anti-discrimination laws, the HHS-OCR could suspend or terminate federal funding, according to WILL's press release. The case could also be referred to the Department of Justice.
Tolliver expressed uncertainty about the role of politics in the investigation. "I dont know how heavy politics will weigh into this," she told the Caller. "But unfortunately, we have seen a lot of implementations of new race-based programming under the Biden Harris administration, or just a strong enforcement of existing race-based priorities."
Despite the outcome of the investigation, Tolliver affirmed that WILL will continue to combat discriminatory healthcare policies, emphasizing that racial discrimination remains a significant issue in the healthcare system.
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