The federal government requires all health care centers that receive federal financial assistance to provide language assistance to limited-English proficient persons.

In 2001, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Minority Health, published National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in order to guide the process of implementing culturally competent services.

The federal government pays 75 percent of the costs for translation and interpretation services. Twelve states have already taken advantage of the federal government’s offer and have made it possible for health care providers to receive federal Medicaid reimbursement for language interpretation services.

In order for New York health care providers to meet federal CLAS and professional mandates in health care, DCHI and its sister organizations are working with New York State lawmakers to pass needed language access legislation to enable the state to take advantage of the 75 percent federal Medicaid reimbursement for language interpretation services and enable patients not yet proficient in English to receive quality care.