Bill > AB843

This bill requires health care service plans and health insurers to take significant steps to improve language access for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The bill mandates that these organizations provide meaningful language assistance services, including free qualified interpretation and translation services, to LEP individuals and their companions. Health care providers must offer professional interpreters and translators who are proficient in both English and the target language, and are prohibited from requiring LEP individuals to pay for or provide their own interpreters. The bill also restricts the use of family members, especially children, as interpreters, allowing this only in emergency situations or with specific consent. Additionally, the legislation requires organizations to provide language assistance information in multiple languages, translate vital documents into threshold languages based on population needs, and implement comprehensive language access policies. The bill specifies detailed requirements for remote interpretation services, including high-quality audio and video connections. Health care service plans and insurers that violate these provisions can face administrative penalties up to $10,000 for willful violations. The legislation aims to ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency can effectively access and understand health care services and information.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB843