Year: 2006
Resolution Number: 32
Action Taken: Referred to the Board
Status:
Author(s): Elizabeth H. Henry, MD
Sponsor: Domenic R. Federico, MD
On behalf of:
Committee: A (Medical Care Delivery)
Resolved Section(s):
RESOLVED: That MSMS work with the appropriate entities to ensure that a patientrequiring the translator service who fails to show up for his/her appointment may be billed and held accountable for the cost of the translator service unless he/she cancels his/her appointment well ahead of time where the translator service can be cancelled and not incur a cost to the doctor.RATIONALE: The MSMS Legal Alert states that the Americans with Disabilities Act requires physicians to “reasonably accommodate” hearing impaired patients, but does not specifically describe what would be such a reasonable accommodation. The Legal Alert also states that physicians who receive Medicare and/or Medicaid payments are required by a Presidential Executive Order to provide language assistance to their limited English proficiency (LEP) patients. Testimony reflected the fact that there may be emerging technologies that may lower the cost of translation services. In addition, there was concern about how physicians would be able to collect from patients if the patient did not show for a visit when a translator had already been scheduled.
RESOLVED: That MSMS work with the appropriate entities to ensure that a patientrequiring the translator service who fails to show up for his/her appointment may be billed and held accountable for the cost of the translator service unless he/she cancels his/her appointment well ahead of time where the translator service can be cancelled and not incur a cost to the doctor.RATIONALE: The MSMS Legal Alert states that the Americans with Disabilities Act requires physicians to “reasonably accommodate” hearing impaired patients, but does not specifically describe what would be such a reasonable accommodation. The Legal Alert also states that physicians who receive Medicare and/or Medicaid payments are required by a Presidential Executive Order to provide language assistance to their limited English proficiency (LEP) patients. Testimony reflected the fact that there may be emerging technologies that may lower the cost of translation services. In addition, there was concern about how physicians would be able to collect from patients if the patient did not show for a visit when a translator had already been scheduled.
Fiscal Note: NULL
Resolution: View PDF for Translator Services