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The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted proposed interpreter fee schedule regulations to its online forum where members of the public may review and comment on the proposals. The draft regulations include:

• An objective, uniform fee structure based on the federal court system. Higher rates are paid for certified interpreters over provisionally certified, to encourage use of certified interpreters. 
• Reduction in double billing fees for multiple interpretations during the same time slot.
• Detailed invoice information and billing codes. The independent bill review procedure will be required to quickly resolve disputes over bill amounts.
• An emphasis on the use of qualified interpreters. Specific documentation of efforts to obtain a certified interpreter is required to ensure that the injured worker is provided with a qualified interpreter.
• Requirements clarifying the selection and arrangement of interpreters.
• New credentialing identification requirements.

The organizations approved to certify interpreters remains unchanged from the current regulations. For hearings and depositions, an interpreter must be listed as a certified interpreter on either the State Personnel Board or California Courts websites. For medical treatment or medical-legal evaluations, the interpreter must be either certified for hearings and depositions, certified as a medical interpreter by the California Department of Human Resources, or has a current certification or credential in specific languages by either the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters or the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters.

The forum can be found on the DWC forums web page under “current forums.” Comments will be accepted on the forum until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 2018.

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Lonce Lamonte, journalist, lonce@adjustercom.com, and the California Department of Industrial Relations' Newsline; dir.ca.gov