Bill > H1289

This bill amends existing Massachusetts law to require that healthcare facilities licensed under specific sections of state law be reimbursed for the costs of providing interpreter services in both sign and spoken languages. The bill mandates that the state Division of Medical Assistance, contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms, and third-party contractors must separately recognize and reimburse these interpreter service costs. Specifically, the legislation ensures that facilities providing medical services will be compensated for the expenses associated with hiring qualified interpreters who can assist patients who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who speak languages other than English. This provision aims to improve access to healthcare communication for patients with language barriers by ensuring that healthcare providers can afford to offer professional interpretation services without bearing the financial burden themselves. The bill applies to facilities licensed under Chapters 19 and 111 of Massachusetts general laws, which typically cover healthcare and social service institutions.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1289