In the event of a federal government shutdown, individuals enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board, and School Employees Benefits Board coverage—and those accessing behavioral health services—will not experience a disruption in care. In addition, health care providers will continue to be paid for the services they provide.
If a shutdown occurs, we will share more information at that time.
Providers are required to ensure spoken and sign language access according to Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Health Care Authority's (HCA) interpreter services (IS) supports these efforts by offering spoken and sign interpreter services for Apple Health (Medicaid) health care appointments.
The interpreter services data dashboards display utilization data for services provided through HCA's interpreter services program.
There are two dashboards, one for spoken language and one for sign language services.
Privacy notice: HCA is required to protect the privacy of individuals receiving services. For that reason, the report for spoken language suppresses both the number and percentage of interpreter service requests with less than 50 requests. HCA is required to suppress the number and percentage on sign interpreter requests with less than 11 requests.
In 2020, HCA switched from a single coordinating entity for sign language interpreter requests to using a dedicated state contract managed by the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) and Department of Social and Health Service's Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSHS ODHH). HCA's eligible Medicaid providers may request sign language interpreters for Apple Health appointments. Request are made through ODHH's online form.
HCA designed the sign language dashboard to track, identify and report metrics for Apple Health sign language interpreter requests using the data from the ODHH request form. By tracking the volume of requests received, filled, canceled and un-filled, HCA can continue to improve access to sign language services.
The dashboard is updated monthly via data reports provided by ODHH. The information provided tracks and reports the metrics of HCA Apple Health Medicaid sign language interpreter requests. HCA in partnership with ODHH continue to use this data for program improvements and utilization.
View the sign language dashboard
Completed appointment: A request has been filled by an interpreter, and the appointment was completed with the client and provider.
Fulfilled rate: The percentage of total service requests where an interpreter was assigned when compared to total service requests.
ACH regions: Accountable Communities of Health (ACH)are independent, regional organizations. They work with their communities on specific health care and social needs related projects and activities. ACHs play an integral role in Washington's Medicaid projects.
Suppressed numbers: HCA does not publish products that include small numbers. As the reported number of data gets smaller, the risk of re-identifying an HCA client or member increases. This is especially true when a combination of variables are included in the data product to arrive at the small number (e.g. location, race/ethnicity, disability, age, or other demographic informational.) Any field on the dashboard that contains *** is suppressed for the client protection. Protecting Apple Health client's privacy is a priority for the Heath Care Authority.
To change a data range:
The spoken language data dashboard was created to provide data on spoken language fill rates. HCA receives many requests for data reports from state agencies, stakeholders, and the community. The dashboard provides data information for the HCA, DSHS and DCYF on medical and social service appointments.
HCA receives the data from the coordinating entity, Universal Language Service. The data is updated monthly and can be filtered for the most current 2 year span. HCA and its partners use the data to maintain contract compliance, make program updates, and to increase language accessibility and number of available interpreters statewide.
View the spoken language dashboard
Completed Rate: measures whether an interpreter filled a request and if the appointment was completed with the client and provider.
Contract fill rate: measures whether an interpreter was assigned to and accepted a request.
Language Testing and Certification rate: identifies what language is above or below the 90% contract fill rate.
Small number suppression: any field that contains *** is suppressed for privacy. This provides security and safety to our residents of Washington. HCA adopted a data governance practice of organizing and implementing policies, procedures, standards, and roles across the entire data life cycle that enable the effective use of HCA's data assets across organizational nd technological boundaries.
To move between dashboard reports, use the navigation tools at the bottom of the page.
To change a data range:
To filter reports by category, language, job county, program, or fill rate:
It can be helpful to understand how people with color blindness experience the dashboards. Google Chrome's free extension, Spectrum, allows you to view the dashboards based on a variety of color deficiency types including protanopia (red color deficiency), deuteranopia (green), tritanopia (blue), and achromatopsia.
You must use the Google Chrome browser to install and use Spectrum.
To install Spectrum:
Once Spectrum is install, you can view any webpage, including the dashboards, based on different color deficiencies.
To use Spectrum:
Email: Interpreter services
Email: Power BI technical assistance