LRB-3018/1
TJD:amn
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
May 11, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Petrowski, Vinehout and Wanggaard,
cosponsored by Representatives
VanderMeer, Tauchen, Kulp, Ripp, Mursau,
E. Brooks, Billings, Ballweg, Snyder, Petryk, Skowronski, Tittl, Sinicki,
Edming and Felzkowski. Referred to Committee on Health and Human
Services.
SB243,1,2
1An Act to create 146.675 of the statutes;
relating to: grants for language
2interpretation in health care settings.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Health Services to create a grant program
for language interpretation services provided in medical clinics and hospitals that
are located in rural areas or that serve medically underserved populations.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB243,1
3Section
1. 146.675 of the statutes is created to read:
SB243,1,4
4146.675 Grants for interpretation services. (1) In this section:
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(a) “Medically underserved population” has the meaning given in
42 CFR
651c.102 (e).
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(b) “Rural area” means any of the following:
SB243,2,3
11. A city, town, or village in this state that has a population of less than 20,000
2and that is at least 15 miles from any city, town, or village that has a population of
3at least 20,000.
SB243,2,54
2. An area in this state that is not an urbanized area, as defined by the federal
5bureau of the census.
SB243,2,9
6(2) The department shall create a program to provide grants to reimburse
7medical clinics and hospitals for language interpretation services provided to
8patients at those clinics and hospitals. To be eligible for a grant under this section,
9a medical clinic or hospital shall satisfy all of the following criteria:
SB243,2,1110
(a) The medical clinic or hospital is located in a rural area or serves a medically
11underserved population.
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(b) The language interpretation services provided at the medical clinic or
13hospital comply with
42 USC 2000d.
SB243,2,17
14(3) The department shall allow a medical clinic or hospital that receives a grant
15under this section discretion in the provision of language interpretation services,
16including allowing services to be provided in-person by a clinic or hospital employee
17or by a contractor or over an Internet connection.
SB243,2,19
18(4) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (b), the department shall
19distribute $100,000 in each fiscal year for grants under sub. (2).
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(b) The department shall seek any available federal Medical Assistance
21participation moneys to match the grants distributed under sub. (2). If the
22department receives federal Medical Assistance participation moneys for that
23purpose, the department shall distribute the moneys received under this paragraph
24as grants under sub. (2) in addition to the moneys distributed under par. (a).
