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Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 15:49:33 -0400 (EDT)
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From: "Baur, Cynthia" <CBaur@osophs.dhhs.gov>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3731] Guidelines on translation services in federally funded healthcare
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FYI, the following news items on translation and bi-lingual healthcare care
services.
Cynthia Baur
Coverage and Access | Newspapers Look at Federal, State Efforts To Reduce
Language Barriers
[Jul 08, 2002]
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel on July 7 examined federal guidelines
that require hospitals, pharmacies and many doctors to provide free
interpretation services for patients who cannot speak English. The U.S.
Department of Justice two weeks ago issued a policy guidance document on the
guidelines, which apply to hospitals, pharmacies and providers and stem from
an executive order issued in August 2000 by former President Clinton. The
order states a 1964 law banning discrimination on the basis of national
origin also applies to people with "limited English proficiency" (LaMendola,
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 7/7). The order requires federal agencies to
examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to people
with limited English language skills and devise and implement a system to
provide language services. The policy guidance document aims to help
agencies with that requirement (Justice Department Policy Guidance Document
on Executive Order 13166). According to Clinton's order, doctors, hospitals
and pharmacies that accept federal funds (e.g. Medicaid and Medicare) are
required to offer interpretation services through a staff interpreter, a
trained bilingual employee, private contractors, community volunteers or
translation phone services. The guidelines do not permit family members or
untrained bilingual medical staff to provide interpretation services unless
patients waive their right to other resources. The regulations will increase
the average cost of a medical visit by 0.5%, according to the White House
Office of Management and Budget; however, many doctors believe the economic
impact on their practices will be much greater. In South Florida, private
interpretation services cost $50 to $75 per hour and will make treating
Medicaid beneficiaries, who often do not speak English, even less
economically desirable (LaMendola, South Florida, Sun-Sentinel, 7/7). The
Justice Department policy guidance document is available online.
Speaking Spanish in North Carolina
In related news, the Raleigh News & Observer on July 8 reports on a language
course offered at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill that will
"help health care providers communicate better with their Spanish-speaking
patients." The course, which is called "A su salud!" -- or "To your health!"
-- and is supported by a $470,000 grant from the U.S. Department of
Education, will be available to medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy, public
health and social work students who have an "intermediate" knowledge of
Spanish. The course contains an 80-minute video that focuses on providing
Spanish language health services in the South (Bowles, Raleigh News &
Observer, 7/8).
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