Can I use my bilingual staff as interpreters?

Cigna does not delegate interpreter Services:

• The law obligates health plans to provide and monitor the delivery of qualified interpreter services to LEP patients at all points of contact in order to ensure meaningful access to health care. Cigna provides telephonic interpreter services.
• The law neither requires a LEP participant to access the health plan’s interpreter services, nor prevents a LEP participant from speaking with bilingual health care professional staff.
• It is strongly recommended that health care professionals help LEP patients make informed decisions about when to use highly skilled, qualified interpreters at no cost to LEP patients or health care professionals.
• The plan’s interpreters are trained in medical and insurance terminology, in addition to being proficient in—and culturally sensitive to—diverse ethnic and linguistic nuances.
• LEP patients may prefer to rely upon the objectivity, accuracy, and confidentiality of professional interpreter services.
• However, if the LEP patient refuses to access Cigna’s interpreter services, it is recommended that the health care professional document that refusal in the patient’s medical record.

Do these regulations prohibit family members from serving as interpreters for participants?

No. Family members are not banned from serving as interpreters for participants under this legislation however, the availability of free, quality interpretation services must be offered. Refusal of an interpreter needs to be documented in the patient’s medical record.

Which staff needs training regarding the LAP program?

To ensure compliance with the law, it is recommended that staff who interact with patients be trained on the Language Assistance Program regulations and how to access language services from Cigna.