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MA S1544
Bill
Status
Introduced
2/27/2025
Primary Sponsor
Cindy Friedman
Click for details
AI Summary
- Health care facilities must provide competent interpreter services to all non-English speaking patients seeking care or treatment
- Facilities must decide based on patient volume whether to employ interpreters, contract on-call interpreters, or use telephonic/televiewing services; remote interpretation is only permitted when in-person interpreters cannot reasonably be anticipated or are unavailable
- Interpreter services shall not be considered a "public benefit" that could be restricted based on immigrant status
- Compliance with interpreter requirements is mandatory for facility licensing and relicensing by the Department of Public Health
- Non-English speakers denied care due to lack of interpreter services may sue in superior court, with minimum damages of $250 per violation plus attorney's fees, within a 3-year statute of limitations
Legislative Description
Relative to patient access to certain health care services
Last Action
Hearing rescheduled to 09/29/2025 from 09:00 AM-11:30 AM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
9/29/2025
Committee Referrals
Public Health2/27/2025
Full Bill Text
No bill text available