Massachusetts HD 2064: An Act requiring reimbursement for the costs of providing competent interpreter services

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2064 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 929

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Gerard J. Cassidy
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act requiring reimbursement for the costs of providing competent interpreter services.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Gerard J. Cassidy 9th Plymouth 1/17/2019
Kay Khan 11th Middlesex 1/30/2019
Elizabeth A. Malia 11th Suffolk 2/1/2019
Michael D. Brady Second Plymouth and Bristol 2/1/2019
Jonathan Hecht 29th Middlesex 2/1/2019

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2064 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 929
By Mr. Cassidy of Brockton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 929) of Gerard J.
Cassidy and others relative to the reimbursement of interpreter services incurred by certain
hospitals. Financial Services.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 502 OF 2017-2018.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act requiring reimbursement for the costs of providing competent interpreter services.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 Section 1. Section 13F of Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2 adding at the end of the first paragraph the following sentence:
3 Provided however, the costs of providing competent interpreter services through sign and
4 spoken languages by facilities licensed under section 19 of chapter 19 of the general laws or
5 Section 51 of Chapter 111 of the general laws, shall be recognized and separately reimbursed by
6 the division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations,
7 behavioral health management firms and third party contractors under contract to a division
8 managed care organization or primary care clinician program.

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9 Section 2: Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary,
10 “Carriers” and “Behavioral Health Managers” as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 176O and their
11 contractors, shall recognize and separately reimburse facilities licensed under section 19 of
12 Chapter 19 of the general laws or Section 51 of Chapter 111 of the general laws for the costs of
13 providing competent interpreter services through sign and spoken languages.