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Senate bill would create work group to set standards for health care interpreters
Summary
Senate File 2043 would establish a spoken-language health care interpreter work group to recommend standards for training, certification, reimbursement and workforce development to improve access to qualified interpreters statewide; the committee recommended the bill pass and re-referred it to State and Local Government.
Senator Wicklund introduced Senate File 2043, which would create a spoken-language health care interpreter services work group to assess workforce shortages, training and certification requirements, reimbursement structures, and rural access barriers. The Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee recommended the bill pass and re-referred it to the Committee on State and Local Government.
Proponents described inconsistent interpreter quality and gaps in access, especially in rural areas, and urged a stakeholder-driven process to build minimum educational requirements and career pathways. Rosa Tak, executive director of the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs, told the committee that limited-English proficient patients can face significant hurdles interacting with the health system and that trained interpreters improve outcomes and reduce overall costs. "The need for professional and high-skill interpreters will continue to be needed," Tak said.
Clinical perspective: Dr. Tali Vang, vice president of health equity at Hennepin Healthcare, testified that mistrained interpreters have caused harm in sensitive encounters, citing a patient who nearly discontinued therapy after an interpreter used inappropriate language. "A trained medical interpreter would know how to navigate these sensitivities using culturally appropriate terminology while ensuring accurate, respectful, and effective communication," Vang said.
Interpreter representatives: Yvonne Narayza, president of the Upper Midwest Translators and Interpreters Association, urged the work group to assess minimum educational requirements and to develop recommendations to create consistent, statewide standards and career ladders for interpreters.
Committee action and next steps: Senator Wicklund moved the author's amendment, which was adopted by voice vote, and the committee recommended passage and re-referral to State and Local Government. Members encouraged rigorous public input and specified goals for the work group to produce actionable recommendations the Legislature could adopt in future sessions.
Ending note: The bill establishes a formal process for state policymakers, clinicians and interpreter professionals to propose standards intended to increase patient safety, improve provider confidence and grow the interpreter workforce across Minnesota.
