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You can view the Children's'Hospitals Webinar to learn how language services leaders provide quality care to LEP patients and their families. According to the paper, co-authored by experts from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and the Medical Research Institute in Minneapolis, approximately 2.3 million US children with special healthcare needs speak a language other than English at home. The authors identify the issue – children with special needs and children from LEP homes are at risk, with those in both categories in the most danger – and provide practical steps to improve outcomes for their pediatric patients: The authors found that “early identification and provision of adequate language services and culturally competent care are crucial” for success in a pediatric care setting. Two of the paper’s authors hail from the University of Texas Medical School, which has pioneered a pediatric model focused specifically on children with special needs.

Providers seeking to achieve 1557 compliance will ensure that their LEP patients do not receive interpretation from: HHS specifically states that a patient’s minor children may not act as interpreters during care, except in an emergency scenario where “an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of an individual or the public where no qualified interpreter is immediately available. The rule also prohibits adult family and friends from interpreting except in emergencies or when an LEP patient “specifically requests that the accompanying adult interpret or facilitate communication and the accompanying adult agrees to provide such assistance. HHS draws a distinction between “qualified bilingual/multilingual staff” and untrained bilingual/ multilingual staff, explaining that to act as an interpreter, a staff member must have demonstrated that he or she is proficient in speaking and understanding both spoken English and at least one other spoken language, including any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology, and phraseology, and: 1. is proficient in speaking and understanding both spoken English and at least one other spoken language, including any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology, and phraseology, andis 2. is able to effectively, accurately, and impartially communicate directly with individuals with limited English proficiency in their primary languages.

In mid-2016, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a rule to help medical and insurance providers comply with Section 1557. According to Section 1557 - and the subsequent clarifying HHS ruling - qualified interpreters should be: By changing verbiage on interpreters from “competent” to “qualified,” HHS placed emphasis on interpreters needing some form of qualification. As the leading provider of interpretation services to healthcare, CyraCom offers our partners assessment and training services to ensure your staff interpreters meet Section 1557's testing and training requirements. HHS's ruling specifically warned providers not to rely on bilingual staff unless their stated job duties include interpreting.

Now, the final section of the Affordable Care Act has added a new layer of complexity to language services, increasing the requirements for healthcare interpreters and giving LEP patients new rights. So, whether or not they have a great language services program or are just getting started, CyraCom believes providers need to be aware of the new rules and regulations: The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a rule to help medical and insurance providers comply with Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Check out our full ACA 1557 guide (above) for a comprehensive picture of Section 1557 as it relates to non-English patient care. - Provision of “meaningful access to each individual with limited English proficiency eligible to be served or likely to be encountered” from any organization receiving HHS funding, any HHS-administered health program, and any insurer on the Health Insurance Marketplace.