United States. Congress

“ Effective Communication.— The term ``effective communication ́ ́ means an exchange of information between the provider of health care or health care-related services and the limited English proficient recipient of such services that enables limited English proficient individuals to access, understand, and benefit from health care or health care-related services. (5) Interpreting/Interpretation.— The terms ``interpreting ́ ́ and ``interpretation ́ ́ mean the transmission of a spoken message from one language into another, faithfully, accurately, and objectively. ”

“ Study on Medicare Payments for Language Services.— The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study that examines the extent to which Medicare service providers utilize, offer, or make available language services for beneficiaries who are limited English proficient and ways that Medicare should develop payment systems for language services. ”

“ Exemptions.— The requirements of clause (i) shall not apply— (I) in the case of a Medicare beneficiary who is limited English proficient (who has been informed in the beneficiary’s primary language of the availability of free interpreter and translation services) and who requests the use of family, friends, or other persons untrained in interpretation or translation and the grantee documents the request in the beneficiary’s record ”