Sec. 1557 of the Affordable Care Act provides important protections against discrimination in health care programs and activities based on race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), sex (including pregnancy status and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex stereotypes, and sex characteristics, including intersex traits), age, and disability.
The National Health Law Program helped craft Sec. 1557 as part of our work on the Affordable Care Act and we have continued to work to effectively implement and enforce it since it was enacted. It is a crucial provision that prohibits discrimination in health programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance, health programs and activities administered by federal agencies, and ACA health insurance marketplaces and issuers that participate.
In August 2022, the Biden Administration proposed changes to strengthen Sec. 1557 protections. The National Health Law Program and an intersectional coalition of partners published detailed analysis of the proposed rule and provide opportunities for public comment. We will provide updates regarding Sec. 1557 as they develop.
1557 Resources and Analysis
Meet the Legal and Policy Experts working on Section 1557

Abigail Coursolle
Senior Attorney
Abigail (Abbi) Coursolle is a Senior Attorney in the National Health Law Program’s Los Angeles offices. Abbi provides technical…

Dania Douglas
Senior Attorney
Dania Douglas is a Senior Attorney in the National Health Law Program’s D.C. Office where she works on issues…

Elizabeth Edwards
Senior Attorney
Elizabeth Edwards is a Senior Attorney in the National Health Law Program’s North Carolina offices. In addition to working…

Madeline Morcelle
Staff Attorney - Pronouns: she/her/hers
Madeline Morcelle, JD, MPH, is a staff attorney at the National Health Law Program, where she works to promote…

Wayne Turner
Senior Attorney
Area(s) of Expertise: Prescription drugs, Medicaid managed care, eligibility using Modified Adjusted Gross Income, nondiscrimination protections and enforcement.Wayne Turner…

Mara Youdelman
Managing Attorney - Washington, DC
Mara Youdelman is Managing Attorney of the National Health Law Program’s Washington D.C. offices. Mara has worked at the…

Georgesula Ziama
Communications Fellow
Georgesula Ziama is the Communications Fellow in National Health Law Program’s DC office, where she engages NHeLP's community of…