The existing national CLAS guidance standards were enhanced in 2013 by the Office of Minority Health, US Department of Health and Human Services. Former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin reminded us that if our patients don't understand us well enough to make good health-care decisions, we didn't treat them. CLAS is intended to improve quality and help eliminate health care disparities. The fifteen standards are a blueprint for providing effective, equitable, understandable, and respectful quality care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy, and other communication needs. The standards address three areas—governance, leadership, and workforce; communication and language assistance; and engagement, continuous improvement, and accountability. While they are “not statutory” and are of “equal importance,” many elements are required for accreditation and the communication and language assistance standards are required for federally assisted agencies to help meet Title VI, Civil Rights Act, requirements. Failure to do so may result in withdrawal of federal assistance or administrative review or suit. Responsibility is with both the provider and client, although legal responsibility is generally that of the provider.
Conflict of Interest
The author reports no conflict of interest.