Reasonable Modification of Polices

Q: I own a dental practice. A patient asked if my staff could fill out their paperwork for them because they have a cognitive disability. Our policy is that they complete this on their own. Do we have to assist them

A: Yes. Healthcare providers are required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures to provide equal access to facilities and services for people with disabilities. The term “reasonable modification” is a broad concept that covers every type of disability. Assisting an individual with a disability to complete paperwork ensures access and equally effective communication to that individual.