SENATE DOCKET, NO. 155        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 514

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Thomas P. Kennedy

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act requiring reimbursement for the costs of providing competent interpreter services.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Thomas P. Kennedy

Second Plymouth and Bristol

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 155        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 514

By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 514) of Thomas P. Kennedy and Ruth B. Balser for legislation to require reimbursement for the costs of providing competent interpreter services.  Financial Services.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act requiring reimbursement for the costs of providing competent interpreter services.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 13F of Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end of the first paragraph the following sentence: Provided however, the costs of providing competent interpreter services through sign and spoken languages by facilities licensed under section 19 of chapter 19 of the general laws or Section 51 of Chapter 111 of the general laws, shall be recognized and separately reimbursed by the division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third party contractors under contract to a division managed care organization or primary care clinician program.

SECTION 2: Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, Carriers as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 176O and their contractors, shall recognize and separately reimburse facilities licensed under section 19 of Chapter 19 of the general laws or Section 51 of Chapter 111 of the general laws for the costs of providing competent interpreter services through sign and spoken languages.