1.1.................... moves to amend H. F. No. 1077 as follows:
1.2Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

1.3    "Section 1. [62Q.40] LANGUAGE INTERPRETER SERVICES.
1.4A health plan must cover sign language interpreter services provided to deaf and
1.5hard-of-hearing enrollees and language interpreter services provided to enrollees with
1.6limited English proficiency in order to facilitate the provision of health care services by a
1.7provider or health care facility. For purposes of this section, "provider" has the meaning
1.8given in section 62J.03, subdivision 8; and "health plan" includes coverage excluded under
1.962A.011, subdivision 3, clauses (6), (7), (9), and (10). Interpreter services may be provided
1.10in person, by telephone, or by video conference. The health plan shall reimburse either the
1.11party providing interpreter services directly for the costs of language interpreter services
1.12provided to the enrollee or the provider or health care facility arranging for the provision
1.13of interpreter services. Providers and health care facilities that employ or contract
1.14with interpreters may bill and shall be reimbursed directly by health plan companies
1.15for such services. Except where health plan companies are already reimbursing a party
1.16providing or a provider or health care facility arranging for interpreter services, required
1.17reimbursement by health plan companies for interpreter services shall be phased in over a
1.18three-year period beginning July 1, 2008, with a third of the cost reimbursed the first year,
1.19two-thirds of the cost reimbursed the second year, and full reimbursement the third year. A
1.20health plan company shall provide to enrollees, upon request, the policies and procedures
1.21for addressing the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing enrollees and enrollees with limited
1.22English proficiency. All entities providing interpreter services must disclose their methods
1.23for ensuring competency upon request of any health plan company, provider, or consumer.

1.24    Sec. 2. INTERPRETER SERVICES WORK GROUP.
1.25(a) The commissioner of health shall, in consultation with the commissioners of
1.26commerce, human services, and employee relations, convene a work group to study the
2.1provision of interpreter services to patients in medical and dental care settings. The work
2.2group shall include one representative from each of the following groups:
2.3(1) consumers;
2.4(2) interpreters;
2.5(3) interpreter service providers or agencies;
2.6(4) health plan companies;
2.7(5) self-insured purchasers;
2.8(6) hospitals;
2.9(7) health care providers;
2.10(8) dental providers;
2.11(9) clinic administrators;
2.12(10) state agency staff from the departments of health, human services, and
2.13employee relations;
2.14(11) local county social services agencies;
2.15(12) local public health agencies; and
2.16(3) the interpreting stakeholders group
2.17(b) The work group shall develop findings and recommendations on the following:
2.18(1) assuring access to interpreter services;
2.19(2) compliance with requirements of federal law and guidance;
2.20(3) developing a quality assurance program to ensure the quality of health care
2.21interpreting services, including requirements for training and establishing a certification
2.22process; and
2.23(4) identifying broad-based funding mechanisms for interpreter services.
2.24(c) The commissioner shall submit the findings and the recommendations of the
2.25work group to the chairs of the health policy and finance committees in the house and
2.26senate by January 15, 2008.

2.27    Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
2.28Section 1 is effective July 1, 2008, and applies to plans issued or renewed to provide
2.29coverage to Minnesota residents on or after that date. Section 2 is effective the day
2.30following final enactment."
2.31Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
2.32Amend the title accordingly