1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
.167230.1
HOUSE MEMORIAL 31
48
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2007
INTRODUCED BY
Edward C. Sandoval
A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT
TRANSLATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE EXTENT OF AVAILABILITY
OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR MEDICAID CLIENTS.
WHEREAS, the federal centers for medicare and medicaid
services cover language services, or interpreters, as an
administrative or optional service in both the medicaid and
state children's health insurance programs; and
WHEREAS, the federal centers directly reimburse providers
for costs of interpreters for medicaid and children's health
insurance services; and
WHEREAS, a language other than English is spoken in the
homes of more than seventeen percent of Americans; and
WHEREAS, Spanish is the native language of more than
twenty-eight percent and Navajo is the native language of four
pg_0002
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
.167230.1
- 2 -
percent of New Mexicans; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2000 census, more than thirty-
seven thousand households in New Mexico were "linguistically
isolated", or completely non-English speaking; and
WHEREAS, only approximately a dozen states are providing
reimbursement for interpreters with federal dollars; and
WHEREAS, without an interpreter, a medicaid or children's
health insurance client may make critical decisions based on a
faulty understanding of the situation; and
WHEREAS, research indicates that people with limited
English proficiency are less likely to have a regular source of
health care, receive preventive care and be satisfied with
their care; and
WHEREAS, language disparities in health result in poor
health outcomes; and
WHEREAS, federal funds for interpreters can be provided,
depending on the structure of a department's request, based on
an individual client's needs and upon the predictable needs of
public hospitals and health departments or even of providers
that are not public entities; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico health care providers who provide
interpreter services are not reimbursed by the state for their
services; and
WHEREAS, Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964
requires health care providers who receive federal funds to
pg_0003
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
.167230.1
ensure access to services for people with limited English
proficiency; and
WHEREAS, using a competent interpreter can improve a
patient's quality of care, decrease health care costs by
eliminating unnecessary diagnostic testing and medical errors
and by enhancing patients' understanding of and compliance with
treatments;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human
services department study ways to attract federal dollars for a
program that provides interpreters for medicaid and children's
health insurance programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department
apply for federal funds for the interpreter service plan it
endorses; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department
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; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the governor, the secretary of human services
and the chairs of the interim legislative health and human
services and welfare reform oversight committees.
- 3 -