The Bulletin Board

Bill would extend translation services to telemedicine

By: Amanda Gokee - February 15, 2022 1:03 pm

The House is set to vote on House Bill 1390 this week. (Dave Cummings | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Health care facilities that provide translation services in person would need to also provide them for telemedicine if a provision the House is voting on Wednesday becomes law.

House Bill 1390 is poised to pass, having already gotten the green light from the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs committee in a 19-0 vote.

A federal rule already requires health care facilities to provide “meaningful language access” to people who have limited English proficiency as well as to the deaf or people who are hard of hearing. This bill would extend that requirement to telemedicine, which has become increasingly common due to the pandemic.

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Amanda Gokee

Amanda Gokee reported on energy and environment for New Hampshire Bulletin. She also previously reported on these issues at VTDigger. Amanda grew up in Vermont and is a graduate of Harvard University. She received her master’s degree in liberal studies, with a concentration in creative writing, from Dartmouth College. Her work has also appeared in the LA Review of Books and the Valley News.