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Calif. First To Require HMOs Provide Translators

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Jan 13, 2009 12:42 pm US/Pacific

Calif. First To Require HMOs Provide Translators

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A new law makes California the first state in the country to require health plans to provide translators for those with limited English language skills.

The law requires HMOs to provide interpreters and translated materials at no charge, in an effort to help non-English speaking patients to understand everything from their medications to doctor's orders.

The California Department of Managed Health Care expects the law to affect about one-third of California's 17 million HMO members.

One translation services provider said the top 10 requested foreign languages in California are Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Farsi, Arabic, Punjabi and Tagalog.

The law was passed in 2003 and went into effect Jan. 1.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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