The U.S. Justice Department, in collaboration with the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, has reached an agreement with the Johns Hopkins Health System to improve access for individuals with disabilities. This development comes after a lawsuit was filed alleging that Johns Hopkins violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to allow necessary support persons to accompany patients with disabilities, resulting in unequal medical care.

As detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Attorney Erek L. Barron underscored the significance of the agreement, "Patients with disabilities deserve equal access to healthcare," he stated, adding that "Appropriate medical care often requires them to be accompanied by essential support persons." Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke also commented on the necessity of training and policies to protect patient rights and provide health care without excluding support individuals. In the announcement, she reaffirmed the Justice Department’s dedication to ensuring equal access to medical care for all.

As part of the proposed consent decree, Johns Hopkins Health System is tasked with compensating affected individuals with $150,000 and revising its policies for ADA compliance. In addition to financial compensation, the health system must also train its employees on the ADA and its updated support person policies. Johns Hopkins' commitment to this task reflects the importance of providing equitable care for patients with disabilities, especially those who need support for communication and understanding during their medical visits.

Incidents at Johns Hopkins reported in the complaint included patients with conditions like dementia, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disabilities not being allowed their necessary support persons. Under the new decree, Johns Hopkins will report future complaints regarding support persons to the Justice Department and implement necessary policy and training updates to prevent such occurrences.