MA Health Disparities Council Working Group on Interpreter Services Update from Meeting #1

1. MA Health Disparities Council Working Group on Interpreter Services Update from Meeting #1 Measurable Standards of Practice Held September 23, 2009 (ppt rev. 9/24/09) Georgia Simpson May, Director, MDPH-Office of Health Equity (OHE) James Destine, Coordinator of Interpreter Services, MDPH-OHE Iyah Romm, Intern, MDPH-OHE MA HDC Meeting

2. Health Disparities CouncilInterpreter Services Working Group Today we will update on: • Impetus for this Work • Scope, Process, Work Plan • Future Decision Point MA HDC Meeting

3. Impetus for this Work • The 2007 Massachusetts Legislative • Commission to End Racial and Ethnic • Health Disparities - Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2004 • Three recommendations “to expand access • to quality health care:” • Uniform standards modeled after the national standards developed through the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC). • Reimbursement procedures for interpreter services by all payers, public and private. • Statewide regulations to certify medical interpreters MA HDC Meeting

4. September 2009 Meeting Update 2. Scope, Process, Work Plan MA HDC Meeting

5. Presented for Review “Hospital Interpreter Services: An Overview of Historical Perspectives, Current Initiatives, and Steps for Moving Forward” Provides… • History of Medical Interpretation • Certification Terms, Definitions and Processes • Reimbursement – Who and How • Standards of Practice – Current Efforts • Recommendations for Our (ISWG) Work MA HDC Meeting

6. I. Offered a Definition for Certification • II. Reviewed Models for Certification • - Washington State • - MA Courts • - Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc • - Language Line University • Reviewed Reimbursement for Medical Interpretation • - 12 states currently reimburse • - No two are exactly alike • IV. Reviewed Standards of Practice • - International Medical Interpreters Assoc/MDPH • - National Council on Interpreting in Health Care • V. Discussed The Work of ISWG • - Analytic Framework • - Five Areas of Work • - Expectations of Recommendations • - Meeting Schedule and Agendas MA HDC Meeting

7. Suggested Analytic Framework for ISWG What do people in the Commonwealth want and need in this area? What is this area’s current status in Massachusetts? (What do we know, or don’t know?) Are there documented “best practices” in this area (locally and nationally)? What has been tried (locally or nationally)? What has/hasn’t worked? What are the main barriers to good practice/ improvement? How can each of those barriers be overcome? What kind(s) of data exist or could exist to demonstrate quality in this area? What kind(s) of accountability for quality are possible that would drive/ensure improvement? What resources would be needed? What are possible sources? MA EOL Expert Panel, 2009 MA HDC Meeting

8. Recommendations for ISWG Five Areas of Work MA HDC Meeting

9. Expectations of Our (ISWG) Recommendations • That All Recommendations Be • Actionable • Achievable • Measurable • Equitable • Cost-Effective • Sustainable • Monitored MA HDC Meeting

10. ISWG Meetingsand Tentative Agendas September 23, 2009 √ October 28th, 2009 November 18th, 2009 (changed from Nov. 25th) December 16th, 2009 (changed from Dec. 23rd) January 27th, 2010 February 24th, 2010 March 24th, 2010* Location: 250 Washington Street, Boston Commissioner’s Conference Room, 2nd Floor Time: 3:15 – 4:45 MA HDC Meeting

11. October – December 2009 Oct 2009 – Mtg #2 (Certification Part I) • Consensus on Standards Recommendation • Presentation from IMIA on National Certification (proposed, not confirmed) • How Should MA Build A Certification • Mandate or Recommendation Nov 2009 – Mtg #3 (Certification Part II) • Continuation and completion of Mtg #2 Dec 2009 – Mtg #4 (Reimbursement Part I) • Consensus on Certification Recommendations • Cost Quality Analysis Presentation – the cost of medical errors resulting from language discordance in clinical settings (presenter to be identified) MA HDC Meeting

12. January – March 2010 Jan 2010 – Mtg #5 (Reimbursement Part II) • Continue and complete Feb 2010 – Mtg #6 (Wrap Up) • Consensus on Reimbursement Recommendation • Review Full Set of Recommendations • Draft A Presentation for HDC Meeting *March 2010 – If needed MA HDC Meeting

13. Future Decision Points • National Certification, State Certification, or both? • Who will serve as the state’s certifying and oversight body – existing or new? • Sustainability of effort, ongoing monitoring. • Need to explore and decide on mechanism for drawing down federal Medicaid dollars to reimburse for Interpreter Services. MA HDC Meeting