Rhode Island H7931 mandates hospitals to provide certified interpreters for non-English speakers, with exceptions for languages lacking certification.

Rhode Island H7931 amends current law to require hospitals and freestanding emergency-care facilities to provide certified interpreters for non-English speakers. If no national or state certification exists for a specific language, a qualified interpreter may be used. The bill mandates training for providers on accessing and utilizing interpretation services and requires facilities to post multilingual notices about interpreter services. It also mandates written translations of vital documents for language groups constituting five percent of the population or 1,000 persons, whichever is less.

Rhode Island H7931 mandates hospitals to provide certified interpreters for non-English speakers, with exceptions for languages lacking certification.

Rhode Island H7931 amends current law to require hospitals and freestanding emergency-care facilities to provide certified interpreters for non-English speakers. If no national or state certification exists for a specific language, a qualified interpreter may be used. The bill mandates training for providers on accessing and utilizing interpretation services and requires facilities to post multilingual notices about interpreter services. It also mandates written translations of vital documents for language groups constituting five percent of the population or 1,000 persons, whichever is less.