Washington State Reduces Interpreter Rates To Control Medicaid Spending

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 11 May 2005 - 10:00 PDT

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The Seattle Times on Monday examined Washington state's efforts to reduce Medicaid spending by lowering interpreters' wages and tightening billing and booking practices. Since 2003, Washington has reduced by $1 million each month spending on interpreter services for Medicaid beneficiaries with limited English-language skills. Such services are optional state expenses under Medicaid. To reduce spending, the state eliminated a system under which interpreters were able to book medical appointments on beneficiaries' behalf. The state cited a conflict of interest because interpreters were paid to translate during those appointments. Under current rules, beneficiaries must make their own medical appointments. In addition, the state now contracts with an independent broker to assign interpreting jobs among language agencies. Agencies in turn contact interpreters to assign appointments. In 2003, the state also lowered payments to language agencies from $36 per hour to $28 per hour. The state later raised hourly payments to $32, of which agencies earn a percentage. Administrative fees to brokers account for about 15% of total spending on interpreter services. According to the Times, beneficiaries are "much less likely" under the new system to be assigned the same interpreter they had worked with previously. In addition, some language agencies say the increasingly bureaucratic system makes it more difficult to avoid assigning interpreters of the opposite sex for Muslim patients or for women having a gynecological exam. From 2001 to 2004, the number of interpreter services for which the state paid decreased 15%, from 210,000 to 180,000. Those opposed to the changes say the savings are a result of fewer beneficiaries using interpreter services. However, the state says the decrease is a result of fewer appointments of a "questionable need," according to the Times (Song, Seattle Times, 5/9).

Seattle Times

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