U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
Complaint Portal

Person sitting at a laptop

File a Civil Rights Complaint

If you believe that a covered entity discriminated against you or violated your (or someone else's) civil rights on the basis of your race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex, you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

The following are some examples of potential covered entities (including institutions and personnel) that must abide by federal civil rights laws:

  • State and local government agencies that are responsible for administering health care
  • State and local government income assistance and human service agencies
  • Hospitals
  • Medicaid and Medicare providers
  • Physicians and other health care professionals in private practice with patients assisted by Medicaid
  • Family health centers
  • Community mental health centers
  • Alcohol and drug treatment centers
  • Nursing homes
  • Foster care homes
  • Public and private adoption and foster care agencies
  • Day care centers
  • Senior citizen centers
  • Nutrition programs
  • Any entity established under the Affordable Care Act
  • Health insurance plans or companies
  • HMOs
  • Pharmacies
  • Homeless shelters
  • Health researchers

You may file a complaint for yourself, your organization, or for someone else.

File a Conscience and Religious Freedom Complaint

If you believe that a covered entity discriminated against you or violated your (or someone else's) conscience or religious freedom, you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Federal conscience and religious freedom laws protect you from coercion, discrimination on the basis of conscience or religion, and burdens on the free exercise of religion.

The following are some examples of potential covered entities (including institutions and personnel) that must abide by federal conscience and religious freedom laws:

  • State and local government agencies that are responsible for administering health care
  • State and local government income assistance and human service agencies
  • Hospitals
  • Medicaid and Medicare providers
  • Physicians and other health care professionals in private practice with patients assisted by Medicaid
  • Family health centers
  • Community mental health centers
  • Alcohol and drug treatment centers
  • Nursing homes
  • Foster care homes
  • Public and private adoption and foster care agencies
  • Day care centers
  • Senior citizen centers
  • Nutrition programs
  • Any entity established under the Affordable Care Act
  • Health insurance plans or companies
  • HMOs
  • Pharmacies
  • Homeless shelters
  • Health researchers

You may file a complaint for yourself, your organization, or for someone else.

File a Health Information Privacy Complaint

File a Security Rule Violation Complaint

If you believe that a covered entity violated your (or someone else's) health information privacy rights or committed another violation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules or the Patient Safety Act and Rule, you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

The following are some examples of covered entities that must meet the requirements of the federal Privacy Security and Breach Notification Rules:

  • Health plans
  • Health care clearinghouses and
  • Health care providers that conduct a portion of their business electronically using a HIPAA covered transaction.

OCR can investigate complaints against covered entities and their business associates. You may file a complaint for yourself, your organization, or for someone else.


If you need help filing a civil rights, conscience and religious freedom, or health information privacy complaint, please email OCR at OCRMail@hhs.gov or call 1-800-368-1019. We provide alternative formats (such as Braille and large print), auxiliary aids and services (such as a relay service), and language assistance.

If you need other information on this web site translated or provided in alternative formats, please email us at OCRMail@hhs.gov.

  
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. - Washington, D.C. 20201 HHS Vulnerability Disclosure