Amendment #8 to H4706

Language Access and Cultural Competency Standards

Mr. Hong of Lowell moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 1 the following section:

“SECTION 1A. Section 1 is hereby amended by adding the following subsection to section 16II of chapter 6A of the General Laws:

(g)(1) It is the intent of the Commonwealth to ensure that home care services are accessible, culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate for all residents of the Commonwealth, including individuals with limited English proficiency.

(2) All licensed home care agencies shall:(i) provide service plans, consumer rights information, and complaint procedures in the preferred language of each consumer, where such translation is reasonable and necessary to ensure meaningful access; (ii) make available oral interpretation services in the preferred language of the consumer at no additional cost; and (iii) post notice of the availability of language assistance services in the top ten languages spoken in the Commonwealth, as determined by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

(3) Each licensed home care agency shall ensure that all direct-care staff, supervisors, and administrative personnel receive annual training in: (i) cultural competency and implicit bias; (ii) communication with individuals from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds; and (iii) practices that promote dignity, respect, and equitable treatment in care delivery.

(4) The secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement this subsection, including standards for translation, training curricula, and reporting requirements.

(5) Compliance with this subsection shall be a condition of licensure under this section.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #8 to H4706

Language Access and Cultural Competency Standards