All of them. No matter the size of the office or hospital, all private healthcare facilities must follow the ADA. This is true for every provider of physical and mental health care, including private hospitals, mental health facilities, health clinics, dentists, therapists, and offices of private physicians.

The ADA says hospitals and other healthcare places cannot deny you access to the building or refuse to treat you because of your disability. If you ask for treatment or services that other patients can get, the provider must give you the treatment or service, no matter what your disability is.

Hospitals and other healthcare offices are only required to give you the same treatment that it gives other people. They do not have to give you a treatment that it does not give anyone else. For example, if you go to a healthcare place that only offers vision care, then they do not have to give you help for a skin rash.

These places can refuse to give you services if you pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other people. Still, they must try to decide if the risk you pose to others can be removed or reduced if the place changes its policies or gives you an auxiliary aid or other service. See below for an explanation of what an auxiliary aid is.

The ADA says your doctor must give you the same kind of care as everyone else. They must listen to what you have to say, do any tests that are medically needed, and give you appropriate treatment. You should not have to wait longer for help or go somewhere else for care. Your doctor cannot charge you more money for the same help they give other patients.

Doctors and other health workers must make reasonable changes to policies, procedures, and practices to make sure that you get the same services and care as other patients. For example, a nurse may need to change practices by taking more time to explain a procedure to you than they would for other patients.

An auxiliary aid is a way to communicate with people who have communication disabilities. Clear communication is important in healthcare. Hospitals and healthcare places must give aids, like sign language interpreters or large print materials, to help people with hearing, vision, speech, or other disabilities know what is being said or read. These aids must also be given to family members or others involved in your healthcare.

If you know you will need an aid when you meet with your doctor, let them know before your visit. Some aids are not on-site and take time to get. Hospitals should work with you to choose an aid that works for you. They do not have to give you the exact one you ask for. They only have to give you one that meets your needs.

If giving you a specific aid would be difficult or costly, the facility must still give you another way to help you communicate effectively.

No. Healthcare workers cannot make you bring your own interpreter or other aid. If you do bring someone with you, like a friend or family member, the healthcare staff should not use that person to interpret.

Yes. Hospitals and other healthcare places must let you bring your service animal with you in public areas like waiting rooms, exam rooms, and cafeterias. They may also be required to allow them in treatment areas, though that can be limited due to issues with safety and cleanliness.

The hospital can ask you to remove your service animal if it is out of control or not housebroken. Staff cannot ask for proof of training or certification, but they can ask: “Is this dog a service animal needed for a disability?” and “What task is it trained to do?”

Note: A service animal is a dog trained to help a person with a disability. Dogs that only give comfort or emotional support are not service animals under the ADA.

Go to the U.S. Department of Justice Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative at www.ada.gov/usao-agreements.htm

Yes. The ADA says every person, no matter what their disability, should be able to get into a hospital, doctor’s office, dentist, or other healthcare office.

This means these buildings must do things like make sure that there are wheelchair ramps next to stairs, floors do not have lots of objects blocking people, there is enough room for wheelchairs to move, and grab bars are in toilet stalls.

The only time a hospital or other healthcare place does not have to get rid of physical barriers is if doing so would be too hard or would cost a lot of money. But they do have to find other ways to make its building accessible to you.