In a recent turn of events, Attorney General Kris Mayes has taken a stand for the rights of Arizonans with disabilities with the announcement of a Consent Decree against Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. and its Arizona subsidiary, Sierra Tucson, L.L.C. According to the Office of the Attorney General, the behavioral health provider stands accused of failing to provide effective communication to a hard-of-hearing individual during her treatment, a violation of the Arizonans with Disabilities Act (AzDA).
"Arizona law requires that communications with individuals with hearing-based disabilities are as effective as communications with others," Mayes noted, stressing the importance of equal treatment under the AzDA. After the allegations were raised by a former patient of Sierra Tucson, who is hard-of-hearing, stating she did not receive effective communication during her stay, the case has been brought to light calling for immediate action.
Following the allegations, Sierra Tucson has agreed to a settlement laid out by the State's Consent Decree, which includes a hefty sum of $149,522.75 to be paid to the aggrieved former patient and coverage of her attorney fees, alongside a $5,000 civil penalty to the State of Arizona. Moreover, Sierra Tucson is required to overhaul its policies and implement proper training to better serve patients with disabilities. These modifications aim to ensure the opportunity for effective communication is not a privilege but a standard practice for all patients.
Over the next three years, the Civil Rights Division will keep a vigilant eye on Sierra Tucson, holding them to the standards of the Consent Decree and guaranteeing that the measures taken are not fleeting gestures but enduring changes. Spearheading the case were Assistant Attorneys General Chris Carlsen, Ryan Bishop, and Natalie Trouard, with Civil Rights Division Compliance Officer Alisha Kram leading the investigation.
For Arizonans who feel they've battled discrimination in various areas such as housing, employment, public accommodations, or voting, they are urged to reach out to the Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General’s Office. More information and a platform to submit complaints can be found on their website.
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