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

SPONSOR Sandoval

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/28/07

HB HM 31

SHORT TITLE Medicaid Client Translation Services

SB

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

The Human Services Department is directed to study ways to attract federal dollars for a

program that provides interpreters for Medicaid and children’s health insurance programs. After

the study the department is to apply for federal funds for the interpreter service plan it

endorses. HSD is to then report to the interim Legislative Health and Human Services

Committee and the Welfare Reform Oversight Committee on its proposal to the federal

government for funds for a state interpreter program.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Human Services Department reports the following facts on Medicaid interpreter services.

Recipients in Managed Care

For Medicaid recipients in SALUD! managed care, which is the majority of Medicaid recipients,

the Medical Assistance Division (MAD) requires that the managed care organizations provide

interpretive services for all populations that constitute more than 5 percent of their general

populations. However, each managed care organization has expanded the capability by

providing interpretive services on a much broader scale by including such languages as Navajo,

Vietnamese, Portuguese, Russian, oriental languages, mid-eastern languages, American Sign

Language, and others.

House Memorial 13 – Page

2

Presbyterian Health Plan and Lovelace Community Health Plan offer translation services for

multiple languages 24/7 by phone. Molina Health Care provides offers translation services

during regular business hours.

Providers Receiving Federal Funds

Providers who receive federal funds, which include many hospitals, non-profit clinics, and health

centers, have the primary responsibility of providing interpreter services under the requirements

of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Medical Assistance Division Initiative

In instances where translation services are not already provided, MAD is exploring possible

ways to provide such services. The state already contracts for translation services similar to

those provided through the managed care organizations. These lines are used when needed

during the recipient eligibility determination process. MAD is researching the possibility of

building on this service to include health care encounters between providers and recipients. The

costs of this expense are not known. However, in studying other states, it was determined that

the use of language lines is the most economical solution.

MW/nt