Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act has been a transformative legislation in healthcare, ensuring no one faces discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
This means providing meaningful access to healthcare services for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and effective communication for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Fortunately, LanguageLine is here to make compliance with these requirements straightforward and painless.
What’s New with Section 1557?
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that healthcare settings receiving federal funding cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
On July 5, new regulations under Section 1557 took effect, expanding protections for individuals with limited English proficiency in federally funded health programs, including Medicaid. These updates introduce provisions for language assistance, telehealth services, and fair use of artificial intelligence in patient care, with specific compliance deadlines.
How LanguageLine Can Help
We are often asked, “How can LanguageLine assist with specific Section 1557 requirements?” We’ve got you covered. Below are the various requirements and how LanguageLine is uniquely equipped to help you stay compliant.
Requirement: Provide meaningful access to individuals with LEP, including companions with LEP. Language services must be free, accurate, and timely. Reasonable accommodation must be made for individuals with disabilities using appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including the provision of qualified interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
How LanguageLine Can Help: LanguageLine OnDemand Interpreting provides access to reliable, fast, accurate, and fully scalable interpretation across 240 languages, 24/7/365. With over 20,000 LanguageLine Certified ® Interpreters ready to ensure compliance and effective communication, healthcare organizations can confidently meet the needs of individuals with LEP. LanguageLine Onsite Interpreting provides access to 10,000+ qualified interpreters in close to 150 languages including American Sign Language. All of our ASL interpreters are RID, NAD or BEI certified and hold appropriate state licenses where needed.
Requirement: Utilize qualified interpreters and translators. Covered entities cannot rely on staff who are not qualified interpreters or translators for communication with individuals with LEP or are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
How LanguageLine Can Help: LanguageLine Certified Interpreters pass stringent testing requirements and are subject to ongoing quality observation. Our translators meet standards set by our ISO 17100 certification, pass a linguistic competency evaluation, are ideally native speakers, and hold a recognized translation degree or equivalent qualification. Additionally, LanguageLine Testing and Training services provide language proficiency testing and training to verify your bilingual staff and interpreters have the necessary skills to be considered qualified.
Requirement: Prohibit discrimination in the delivery of telehealth services and ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities and LEP.
How LanguageLine Can Help: LanguageLine Telehealth enables access to a LanguageLine Certified Interpreter within many popular telehealth and virtual meeting platforms.
Requirement: Prohibit using audio and video interpreting services with low technical quality.
How LanguageLine Can Help: The LanguageLine App allows you to instantly and reliably connect to LanguageLine Certified Interpreters via audio in over 240 languages and video in 40 languages, including American Sign Language.
Requirement: Use a qualified human translator to review machine translation when accuracy is essential.
How LanguageLine Can Help: Following Machine Translation, LanguageLine has the ability to incorporate a qualified human to conduct post-editing according to our client’s needs.
Requirement: Provide notices of nondiscrimination and availability of language assistance services and auxiliary aids annually, upon request, and in prominent physical locations.
How LanguageLine Can Help: LanguageLine provides translation of non-discrimination notices, signage, accessible materials and localization of electronic information and websites. We also offer accessible materials and translation and localization of electronic information and websites.
Requirement: Develop policies, procedures, and staff training related to language access and designate a Section 1557 coordinator.
How LanguageLine Can Help: Consultative Implementation Services offer complimentary client support to train staff on language access policies and procedures, as well as consultative implementation services to ensure best practices, support materials, equipment and reporting needs.
How to Get Started
With LanguageLine by your side, navigating the complexities of Section 1557 compliance becomes a breeze. Let us help you ensure equitable access to healthcare for all individuals, regardless of language barriers.
For questions or to learn more about how LanguageLine can help your healthcare organization comply with Section 1557 requirements, contact your Account Executive or reach out to Customer Care at 1-800-752-6096 or CustomerCare@LanguageLine.com. Visit LanguageLine.com for additional information.