The vendor is required to provide eligible users spoken language in-person (face-to-face) interpreting services and written translation services in accordance with the categories awarded.
- over-the-phone interpreting (OPI) and video remote interpreting (VRI) services may only be provided for emergency or medical-related situations, and only if awarded the medical in-person interpreting category.
- all medical-related interpreting services, including in-person, OPI, VRI, etc., must comply with all state of Medicaid requirements, policies, rules, etc. as may be promulgated and amended from time to time.
- The service categories are:
• General in-person interpreting (non-medical, non-legal)
• Legal in-person interpreting
• Medical in-person interpreting
• OPI and VRI interpreting for medical or emergency only (this is not a stand-alone category; this category is only available if medical in-person interpreting is also awarded)
• Document translation (this is not a stand-alone category; vendor must also be awarded one of the above in-person interpreting categories)
- Testing and training plan
• Develop objective language tests that screen prospective interpreters for competent ability to perform in both english and in each interpreter’s target language(s) and assign only qualified interpreters to requestors of services
• Develop interpreter skills programs and require that all interpreter’s complete annual skills development instruction.
• Specify the number of interpreting/translation hours, number of hours of required continuing education or training hours, etc.
• for medical interpreters, contractor shall ensure its interpreters pass any required examinations, obtain/retain any certifications, possess all qualifications, as may be required by law to perform medical interpreting services.
• Contractor shall ensure its interpreters for those eligible users have the appropriate certification.
• Contractor shall ensure all medical interpreters participate in the nationally recognized, bridging the gap medical interpreter training or similar training.
• For legal interpreters, the contractor shall ensure each qualified interpreter meets the state courts credentials and requirements for the appropriate designations of “certified”, “approved” and “registered”.
- Administrative support-
• Contractors are to have strong administrative support in place with at least one person identified as the main interpreter coordinator, and a clear system in place for accountability.
- Medicaid requirements for interpretive service:
• Medicaid interpretive service providers (ISP) shall submit invoices, via secure email, to the email address(es) designated by the department as noted on its website.
• Medicaid interpretive services invoices shall use the “Medicaid interpretive services invoice form” prescribed by the Medicaid agency.
• ISPs shall invoice Medicaid no more than once per month
• ISPs submitting both telephonic and in-person claims for payment shall submit separate invoices for each type of service which will allow, as an exception to subsection (3), a total of two invoices per month.
• ISPs shall submit invoices no later than the last day of the month following the month the service was provided
• Interpreters in group situations shall divide their time appropriately and shall avoid overlapping time periods.
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: May 19, 2025