TAHIT Publishes Case Study on Healthcare Interpreter Legislation in Texas

Language access advocates document legislative efforts in Texas. End Quote

Austin-San Marcos, TX (1888PressRelease) December 29, 2010 - The Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators (TAHIT) has published a case study documenting their efforts to support legislation that promotes effective communication and meaningful access to health care for the 6.8 million Texas residents that speak a language other than English at home.

Since TAHIT's foundation in 2004, its members have been spreading the word about legislative requirements concerning language access in healthcare settings and the need for qualified interpreters. These efforts culminated on June 19th, 2009 when Governor Rick Perry signed a bill establishing a committee to oversee healthcare interpreter & translator qualifications in the state of Texas. The underlying goal of this bill is to improve access to health services and quality of such services for people with limited English proficiency.

TAHIT Secretary and case study author, Esther Diaz, writes, "the passage of HB 233 is a major step on the road toward eliminating disparities, improving efficiency, and reducing the risk of adverse events in healthcare in Texas."

The case study gives a detailed account of multiple attempts and the obstacles faced at each juncture. Also included with the case study is a step-by-step guide, 'Advocating for Language Access to Health Care' (reprinted from The ATA Chronicle) and links to several language access related bills proposed in Texas between 2005 and 2009. The case study is available free of charge at http://www.tahit.us.

The Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators is a 501(c)(6) non-profit association whose mission is to promote language access within healthcare by facilitating training, education, and communication between government, provider, and individual stakeholders.

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