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H 7931Healthcare: Licensing & Accreditation

Health and Safety - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals must provide certified interpreters for non-English speakers and translate vital documents based on specific population thresholds.

Held for study
Population
Affected
18
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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Health & Human Services

Plain-English Summary

This legislation updates the requirements for Rhode Island hospitals and freestanding emergency-care facilities regarding language services. It mandates that these facilities provide a "certified" interpreter for non-English speaking patients, replacing the previous standard which allowed for "qualified" interpreters or bilingual clinicians. If a certified interpreter is unavailable for a specific language, a qualified one with medical knowledge may be used. The bill adopts federal "Safe Harbor" standards for translating vital documents based on local population demographics. It also requires facilities to train staff on accessing these services and allows patients to use family members to interpret if they choose.

For younger readers

When people go to the hospital, it is very important that they understand what the doctors are saying to stay safe. Sometimes, patients do not speak English. This new rule says that hospitals must have a special person called a certified interpreter to help these patients. This person is trained to translate exactly what the doctor says so no mistakes are made. Even if a patient brings a family member to help translate, the hospital can still bring in the certified interpreter to make sure everyone understands the medical instructions perfectly.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Non-English speaking patientsHospital administratorsCertified medical interpretersMedical providersFreestanding emergency-care facilities
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Enhances health equity by mandating "certified" interpreters rather than just "qualified" ones or bilingual staff, ensuring that non-English speakers receive the same quality of care and understanding as English speakers.
  • Explicitly states that receiving interpreter services does not count as a benefit regarding immigrant status, protecting undocumented individuals from fear of "public charge" repercussions when seeking medical help.
  • Requires hospitals to conduct community needs assessments and translate vital documents for specific language groups, ensuring systemic inclusion for demographic minorities.
  • The threshold for mandatory written translation (1,000 people or 5% of the population) may still leave smaller, marginalized language groups without access to vital documents in their primary language.
  • Allows for "qualified" (non-certified) interpreters if a certification doesn't exist for a language, which could potentially result in lower quality care for speakers of rare or indigenous languages.
  • While it allows patients to use family members, the provision permitting hospitals to insert a certified interpreter to "observe" could be perceived as intrusive or paternalistic by some cultural groups.
For Conservatives
  • Aligns state regulations with existing federal "Safe Harbor" standards (Affordable Care Act), creating consistency in compliance requirements rather than creating a unique, conflicting state standard.
  • Potentially reduces medical malpractice liability and costs for hospitals by ensuring instructions are accurately understood, preventing accidents caused by miscommunication.
  • Preserves the right of the patient to decline the certified interpreter in favor of a family member or friend, maintaining a degree of personal choice in their healthcare experience.
  • Imposes additional regulatory burdens and costs on private healthcare facilities by mandating specific staffing credentials (certification) and staff training requirements.
  • Explicitly decouples these services from immigration status restrictions, which may be viewed as state-mandated accommodation for individuals who may not be in the country legally.
  • Removes the flexibility hospitals previously had to utilize available bilingual clinicians for translation, potentially decreasing operational efficiency.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 29 additions · 11 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 23-17-54 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17 entitled "Licensing of Healthcare Facilities" is hereby amended to read as follows: 23-17-54. Provisions of interpreter services.

(a) Every hospital and freestanding emergency-care facility shall, as a condition of initial or continued licensure, provide a qualified certified interpreter, if an appropriate bilingual clinician is not available to translate, in connection with all services provided to every non-English speaker who is a patient or seeks appropriate care and treatment and is not accompanied or represented by an appropriate, qualified interpreter or a qualified sign-language interpreter who has attained at least sixteen (16) years of age.

(1) In instances where a national or state certification for a specific language does not exist, the facility shall provide a qualified interpreter who has demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language, and is familiar with biomedical terminology and ethical principles of interpretation.

(2) A patient may decline the services of a certified or qualified interpreter in favor of a family member or friend; provided, however, the facility shall document such a request in the medical record. The facility reserves the right to provide a certified or qualified interpreter to observe the encounter to ensure clinical accuracy and safety, at no cost to the patient.

(b) Each hospital and freestanding emergency-care facility shall post a multi-lingual notice in conspicuous places and on its public website, setting forth the requirement in subsection (a) in English and the, at minimum, three (3) most-common foreign languages used by the hospital or freestanding emergency-care facility as determined by the hospital or freestanding emergency-care facility. The determination of languages for the translation of vital documents and notices shall be governed by the Safe Harbor standards established under Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (45 CFR Part 92), specifically:

(1) The facility shall provide written translations of vital documents for each limited English proficient (LEP) language group that constitutes five percent (5%) of the population of persons eligible to be served or likely to be affected or encountered, or one thousand (1,000) persons, whichever is less.

(2) If there are fewer than fifty (50) persons in a language group that reaches the five percent (5%) threshold, the facility is not required to translate vital written materials but shall provide written notice in the group’s primary language of the right to receive competent oral interpretation of those written materials, free of cost.

(3) These determinations shall be updated following the community needs assessment conducted by the facility every three (3) years, utilizing the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data and the Rhode Island division of statewide planning’s limited English proficiency plan metrics.

(c) The receipt by a non-English speaker of interpreter services shall not be deemed the receipt of a benefit under any provisions of law restricting benefits or assistance on the basis of immigrant status.

(d) Every hospital and freestanding emergency-care facility shall, as a condition of initial or continued licensure, provide mandated training to providers on how to access and utilize certified and qualified interpretation services. (d)(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect or limit any rights, remedies, or obligations under chapter 24 of title 11 or under chapters 87 or 112 of title 42.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.