Roster Information
Why did the Minnesota Department of Health create a Roster of spoken language interpreters?
To address access to health care services, particularly in rural areas, the 2008 Legislature passed the Interpreter Services Quality Initiative. Minn. Stat. §144.058 requires the Commissioner to establish a voluntary statewide roster.What is the Roster?
The Roster contains lists of spoken languages, persons available to interpret those languages, health care subjects and specialty health care settings. By using a search tool in the Roster, a health care practitioner can see a list of persons available to interpret a language spoken by a patient in a particular health care setting.Who is on the Health Care Interpreter Roster?
Everyone who applies by completing an application and paying the fee will be included on the roster. At this time, there are no qualifications required to be on the roster. The roster will not include interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing.Interpreters on the health care roster may include persons also listed on the court system's roster and on the Department of Education roster. Information about other interpreters on these rosters may be found by clicking on the links under "Interpreters" in the left column.
What qualifications do interpreters on the Roster have?
Persons on the roster have varying levels of qualifications. Currently, there is no "certification" available in Minnesota, or nationally, for health care interpreters.Is interpreter information on the Roster verified?
No. Currently none of the information is verified. References and background checks are the responsibility of the person employing the interpreter.Who sets interpreter payment and makes transportation arrangements?
Payment and transportation of the interpreter are the responsibility of the person employing or hiring the interpreter, unless otherwise provided by law.Are all interpreters required to be on the Roster?
No. Health care interpreters in Minnesota are not required to be listed on the roster in order to interpret in Minnesota. However, in 2010 Legislation, a change was made to the Medical Assistance statute so that beginning January 1, 2011 Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare will no longer cover face-to-face oral language interpreter services if the interpreter is not listed on the Roster.The community of health care providers and the Minnesota Department of Health strongly encourage all interpreters to apply to be listed on the roster. Consider these reasons:
- A Roster is a single source accessible to everyone for finding available spoken language health care interpreters.
- It will be especially helpful in a public health or personal emergency.
- It will help health care providers in Greater Minnesota find interpreters for rural residents.
- It will help persons speaking languages not commonly found in Minnesota by assisting the health care provider in finding an interpreter.
- It will provide access to information about professional opportunities including:
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- training
- networking
- employment - Providers may give preference to interpreters on the Roster.