BILL NUMBER: S6288A
SPONSOR: LIU
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring general
hospitals to provide language assistance services
 
PURPOSE:
To ensure that patients with limited English proficiency, or vision or
hearing-impaired patients have adequate access to the hospital's
programs and services, including but not limited to health care, bill-
ing, and making appointments.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends the public health law by adding a new
section 2803-bb of the public health law titled "provision of language
assistance."
Subdivisions i - vii require hospitals to establish a language assist-
ance program with a designated Language Assistance Coordinator to over-
see services. Hospitals must implement clear procedural policies,
provide accessible patient materials, and offer ongoing staff training
on culturally competent care. Prominent signage must inform patients of
free language services, and hospitals must document language preferences
and acceptance or refusal of assistance in medical records.
Subdivisions viii - xi prohibit family members, friends, or non-hospital
personnel from serving as interpreters unless the patient consents, free
interpreter services have been declined, and additional considerations
of interest are met. Hospitals must maintain a skilled interpreter
resource, including professionals trained in vision and hearing-impaired
communication. Rural hospitals may apply for temporary exemptions if
compliance is unfeasible, provided they submit an alternative interim
plan.
This section also mandates an annual needs assessment to identify
language groups comprising over 1% of the hospital's service area,
ensuring translations of essential hospital forms and instructions.
Additionally, it requires hospitals to provide reasonable accommodations
for family members or representatives assisting patients with mental or
developmental disabilities.
Section two of the bill sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill is necessary to protect and better serve those residents and
visitors to New York who have limited English proficiency, or those who
are hearing or vision impaired. These New Yorkers need language assist-
ance services in order to adequately access medical services.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill
 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect immediately.