DJ 202-PL-00106

APR 29 1992

The Honorable Trent Lott

United States Senate
487 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2403

Dear Senator Lott:

This is in response to your recent letter on behalf of your

constituent, Carter Bise. Mr. Bise has asked about the
application of title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (ADA) to the operation of the professional office of a
health care provider.

The ADA authorizes the Department to provide technical

assistance to individuals and entities that have rights or
responsibilities under the Act. This letter provides informal
guidance to assist Mr. Bise in understanding the ADA and the
Department's regulation. However, this technical assistance does
not constitute a determination by the Department of Justice of
the rights or responsibilities of the physicians represented by
Mr. Bise under the ADA, and it is not binding on the Department
of Justice.

The professional office of a health care provider is a place

of public accommodation subject to title III of the ADA. Title
III applies to any private entity that owns, operates, leases, or
leases to a place of public accommodation. Coverage under title
III is not determined by the size of a business or the number of
people it employs. However, except for litigation initiated to
enforce the new construction or alterations requirements of title
III, no civil action alleging discrimination on the basis of
disability can be brought against businesses with 25 or fewer
employees and gross receipts of $1,000,000 or less before July
26, 1992; or against businesses with 10 or fewer employees and
gross receipts of $500,000 or less before January 26, 1993.

cc: Records; Chrono; Wodatch; Breen; Blizard; Arthur; McDowney,

Friedlander:udd:jonessandra:ada.interpretation.lott
01-00669​
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It appears that the office described by Mr. Bise is a
"commercial facility," but not a "place of public accommodation"
because it is a separate facility only for employees where
patients do not receive any treatment or services. Under title
III, new construction of (or alterations to) commercial
facilities must comply with the ADA accessibility standards, but
barrier removal in existing facilities is not required.

However, any operations at the office, such as billing

practices, fee policies, or scheduling of appointments, that
affect the delivery of services by the physicians in their
hospital practice would be subject to title III. Moreover, if
patients do, in fact, receive treatment or services of any kind
at the office, the office would be a place of public
accommodation subject to the full range of title III
requirements.

This Department recently issued a technical assistance

manual to assist individuals and entities subject to the ADA to
understand the requirements of title III. I have enclosed a copy
for your information.

I hope that this information is helpful to you in responding

to Mr. Bise.
Sincerely,

John R. Dunne
Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division

Enclosure
01-00670​ JAMES B. PERSONS & ASSOCIATES
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
8710 BEACH BOULEVARD, SUITE 8-B
P.O. BOX 4585
BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI 90585
JAMES B. PERSONS TELEPHONE
--------- (601)388-9430
CARTER O. BISE TELECOPIER
(601)388-6138
February 12, 1992

Hon. Trent Lott

Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Lott:

Please be advised that I represent a small firm which is a

professional medical group. Their practice is limited to a
hospital practice. They have one private office which is used
purely for billing purposes, and no patients are treated at that
office. There are less than five employees in that office. The
question has arisen whether they would be a private entity subject
to the regulations regarding public accommodations as defined under
42 USC Section 12181(7) (F).

I would appreciate it if you could give me some advice

regarding clarification of this matter, including but not limited
to the names of individuals, entities, or organizations with whom
I should correspond regarding this issue.

I would appreciate your prompt reply.

Very truly yours,

CARTER BISE

CB/sl
01-00671