HB3286 Summary: Language Assistance Services Act

• Amends the Language Assistance Services Act to require health facilities to provide qualified medical interpreters for patients who are limited English proficient, non-English speaking, or deaf or hard of hearing.

• Defines "qualified medical interpreter" as an individual with medical interpreter techniques competency (including training in interpreting ethics, bilingual proficiency, specialized medical terminology, cultural awareness, and professional standards) or an ASL interpreter with appropriate licensure.

• Requires health facilities to adopt and annually review policies for language assistance services, including procedures to provide qualified medical interpreters 24 hours a day, and must submit updated policies to the Department of Public Health annually.

• Mandates facilities post notices in conspicuous locations informing patients of available qualified medical interpreter services, procedures for obtaining interpreters, and contact information for filing complaints about interpreter services.

• Allows patients to decline qualified medical interpreter services in favor of family or volunteer interpreters (with documentation in medical chart), and gives facility employees the right to use qualified medical interpreters when patient-employee communication would be jeopardized by volunteer interpreters.