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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Begaye

 

DATE TYPED:

3/5/03

 

HB

785

 

SHORT TITLE:

Navajo Speaker for Las Vegas Medical Center

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Dunbar

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$50.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

Department of Health (DOH)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 785 appropriates $50.0 from the general fund to the Department of Health for expenditure in fiscal year 2004 for the purpose of hiring a clinical social worker for the Las Vegas medical center who is a native Navajo speaker.

    

Significant Issues

 

Currently a contracted interpreter provides Navajo language interpretation for patients.  DOH states that there have been no known difficulties reported by either the Patient Advocate or the Protection and Advocacy System with the contractor.  DOH emphasizes that patients at the Las Vegas Medical Center may have other language interpretation needs that are not addressed through HB 785. This bill limits interpretation services to only one language.  DOH suggests that the appropriation might be better utilized by contracting with a national company that could provide interpretation services not only for Navajo patients but also for patients with other language


needs.  It should also be noted that sign language for the deaf is also considered by the Las Vegas Medical Center under services required to provide appropriate patient care for those respective patients. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $50.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 04 shall revert to the general fund.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

Currently this service is contracted.  In Fiscal year 2002, the contractor provided 431 hours of Navajo interpretation.  In this current Fiscal year, 2003, the contractor has provided 450 hours of Navajo interpretation through January 16, 2003.  These services are provided as needed.

 

BD/njw