The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Polyclinic, operating as Optum Care Washington, have reached a settlement following allegations that the clinic failed to provide sign language interpreter services for a patient who is deaf and blind, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the terms of the agreement, Polyclinic will pay $25,000 to the affected patient, whose appointments were either cancelled or inadequately supported by interpreter services.
In addition to this payment, Polyclinic has established a $350,000 fund to compensate other patients who may have been impacted by similar failures between January 1, 2021, and September 30, 2025. The clinic will implement several measures to improve ADA compliance. These include contracting with at least five companies for interpreter services and assessing patient needs for aids or services during intake. A designated staff member will oversee assistive devices and services with support from additional employees responsible for arranging such accommodations.
Mandatory training approved by the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be provided to relevant staff on identifying communication needs and securing appropriate interpreter services. All staff members who interact with patients will receive this training.
Polyclinic is required to keep a log documenting patients or companions needing assistive services and detailing what was provided. If services are not rendered, an explanation must be included in the log. This information will be included in periodic compliance reports submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Information about available auxiliary aids and services will be posted in Braille and printed signs at clinic locations as well as on the Polyclinic website.
Every six months, Polyclinic must prepare a compliance report for review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Any complaints regarding failures to provide auxiliary aids or services must be forwarded within 30 days.
To further enforce ADA requirements, Polyclinic will pay an additional $25,000 to the United States government. The clinic will appoint a Claims Administrator to review records from the claims period and identify other potentially affected patients. These individuals will be contacted about possible compensation from the established fund via direct outreach and information posted online. Unused funds after all valid claims are processed will revert back to Polyclinic.
The agreement between Polyclinic and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is set for two years.
This resolution marks the fourth instance in three years where medical groups have settled similar allegations involving patients who are deaf or deaf/blind with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Western Washington; previous settlements involved MultiCare Health Systems, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington, and University of Washington Medical Center – Northwest (UWMC-NW).
Assistant United States Attorney Susan Kas negotiated this settlement as Civil Rights Coordinator in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Copies of the settlement are available upon request.
