California Language Access Compliance Map for Healthcare Organizations
A tiered overview of California's own healthcare language-access requirements for limited English proficient patients, which add to the federal baseline of Title VI and Section 1557: the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act, the Kopp Act for hospitals, SB 853 health plan and insurer Language Assistance Program, Medi-Cal threshold-language requirements, and AB 1195 cultural and linguistic competency continuing medical education.
CALIFORNIA · STATE EDITION
California Language Access Compliance Map
California's own healthcare language-access laws for limited English proficient (LEP) patients.
These add to the federal requirements (Title VI and Section 1557); they do not replace them.
1
FOUNDATION
· California's civil-rights basis for language access
Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act
GOVERNMENT CODE §7290+
Requires state and local agencies, including public health programs, to provide services and
materials in other languages where a substantial share of those they serve are LEP.
2
HOSPITALS
· Interpreter duties for acute care hospitals
Kopp Act
HEALTH & SAFETY CODE §1259
Every general acute care hospital must adopt an interpreter policy, provide interpreters for LEP
patients, and post notices, keyed to languages spoken by 5% or more of its service area.
3
HEALTH PLANS & INSURERS
· The core operating program, under SB 853
PRIMARY PROGRAM
SB 853 Language Assistance Program
Health plans and insurers must operate a Language Assistance Program:
• Qualified interpreters, available 24/7 at no cost to the enrollee
• Vital documents translated into the plan's threshold languages
• Assessment of each enrollee's language needs
• Enrollees notified of the availability of free language services
4
MEDI-CAL
· Public coverage language requirements
Medi-Cal threshold languages
DHCS · PUBLIC COVERAGE
Medi-Cal managed care plans must provide free interpreter services and translate member
materials into each county's Medi-Cal threshold languages.
5
CLINICIAN TRAINING
· Cultural and linguistic competency
Cultural & linguistic competency CME
AB 1195 · CONTINUING EDUCATION
Continuing medical education courses for California physicians must incorporate cultural and
linguistic competency in patient care.
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