Healthcare providers are required by their Humana contracts and federal regulations to comply with all applicable laws, which includes ensuring their Humana-covered patients have “equality of opportunity for meaningful access to healthcare services and activities.” Healthcare providers must also have policies in place to protect patients from discrimination. The information below may assist providers in meeting these requirements.
Federal laws (ADA and Section 1557) require that healthcare providers have the following in place:
- Over-the-phone interpretation in at least 150 languages. There are many vendors that offer this service to healthcare providers on a pay-as-you-go basis.
- Sign language capabilities, either in-person or via video remote interpretation.
- A notice of nondiscrimination per Section 1557; this must be posted and presented to patients. The notice should state that the practice or facility does not discriminate and provides limited English proficiency (LEP) services and auxiliary aids and services.
Oral interpretation and sign language requirements
Oral interpretation services (including American Sign Language) must be available in the member’s language at no cost to the member. Please note:
- More than 300 languages are spoken in the United States.
- A notification of the availability of oral interpretation services should be posted or distributed to patients.
- If patients with limited English proficiency request an interpreter in their language, oral interpretation may be delivered over the phone, in person or via video remote interpretation.
- If a deaf or hard-of-hearing patient requests sign language interpretation, this should be delivered in person or via video remote interpretation.
Humana language assistance and alternative formats services
View Humana’s cultural competency training, PDF opens new window for Florida Medicaid, Illinois dual Medicare-Medicaid, Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky™ and Humana Healthy Horizons™ in South Carolina.
Questions?
Healthcare providers with questions about Humana's language assistance requirements should call Humana at the phone number listed on the patient's Humana ID card or send an email to
accessibility@humana.com.