- Senate Bill 853 (Martha Escutia, D – Whittier) – Would direct the Department of Managed Health Care, which regulates the State’s health plans (HMOs), to issue regulations requiring the health plans to assess the cultural and linguistic needs of their members, to develop standards for access to qualified health interpreters, to specify the documents that must be translated, and to regulate health plans’ conduct with regard to ensuring that services are provided in a culturally competent manner.
- Assembly Bill 801 (Manny Diaz, D – San Jose) – Would create a voluntary program to develop education classes for physicians, which would teach foreign languages and cultural practice and beliefs that impact health care. Funding would be derived from fees collected from the participants and local medical societies.
- Statement From The California Endowment in Response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Re-Issue of Policy Guidance on Language Access
Davis Signs Bills Benefiting Immigrants, Vetoes Others, Including Driver’s License and Language Access Legislation