Plain English Breakdown
The official status indicates a veto; it is unclear if lawmakers overrode it based on the provided metadata alone, though the last action suggests consideration was stricken.
Health Care Coverage Language Access
This vetoed bill proposed requiring health insurance companies and service plans to take reasonable steps to provide language help, including free interpreters and translated documents, for people with limited English skills.
What This Bill Does
- Requires insurers and service plans to take reasonable steps so that individuals with limited English proficiency can meaningfully access services.
- Mandates offering a qualified interpreter or using a qualified translator when needed.
- Prohibits requiring patients to pay for or provide their own interpreters.
- Sets rules for providing remote interpreting services.
- Allows plans to use sight translation of documents as one way to inform enrollees about required actions.
- Adds specific documents that must be translated if the company advertises in a non-English language, including notices about ending coverage or changing benefits, complaint forms, and billing communications.
- Requires notifying people seeking coverage, current members, and the public about available language assistance services.
- Requires posting information about language help in clear physical locations and on specific forms.
- Requires companies to report their internal policies on language access to state departments.
Who It Names or Affects
- Health care service plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care
- Health insurers regulated by the Insurance Commissioner
- Individuals with limited English proficiency who are eligible for services or likely affected by programs, including their companions
Terms To Know
- Limited English Proficiency
- A condition where a person's ability to speak, read, write, or understand English is not enough to fully use health care services.
- Qualified Interpreter
- A professional who can accurately translate medical conversations between languages when required by the bill.
- Sight Translation
- Reading a written document in one language aloud into another language to help someone understand it immediately.
Limits and Unknowns
- The governor vetoed this bill, so these rules are not currently law unless lawmakers override the veto.
- The text states penalties will be 'as specified' but does not list specific dollar amounts in the summary provided.
- The exact definition of what counts as 'reasonable steps' is left open and may depend on future regulations.