Interpreter Services

All enrollees who are eligible for medical assistance through DSHS are eligible for interpreter services, including those who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of speaking. A complete guide on HRSA interpreter services may be found on the DSHS/HRSA web site.

Medical Provider Responsibilities

When Health and Recovery Services Administration clients need interpreter services to receive medical or health care services, the medical provider is responsible for:

  • Verifying that the patient is an eligible Health and Recovery Services Administration client.
  • Checking to see whether the medical service to be provided is covered by the client’s medical program.
  • Notifying the Health and Recovery Services Administration client that interpreter services are available to the client at no charge.
  • Coordinating the interpreter services.
  • Following Health and Recovery Services Administration medical service authorization procedures, whenever applicable.
  • Notifying the independent interpreter or interpreter agency when interpreter services are required.
  • Notifying the interpreter of any changes to scheduled appointments.
  • Verifying the interpreter’s picture identification with the interpreter.
  • Documenting in the client’s record that the person is deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or limited-English speaking (LEP) and that interpreter services were provided. Include the name of the interpreter and what form of identification was presented.

Other Provider Responsibilities

When necessary, the provider may also be responsible for:

  • Contacting the Health and Recovery Services Administration (1-800-848-5459) for connection to the AT&T Language Line for no more than 15 minutes, when a limited-English-speaking client requires urgent care that cannot be rescheduled and the medical provider has no other resource for an interpreter.
  • Contacting the Washington State Relay Service for TDD connection (1-800-833-6384 VOICE for deaf, or 1-800-833-6388 for deaf) to communicate with a person who is deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing.
  • Contacting the Health and Recovery Services Administration (1-800-562-3022) for help in obtaining an interpreter.