An update from the HCA:

As of January 1, 2020, the Health Care Authority (HCA) will begin using the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing's contract to fill all Sign Language (SL) interpreter requests for Apple Health (Medicaid) clients.

How to Request a SL Interpreter

SL Interpreter requests with a date of service for January 1, 2020, and after will need to be submitted directly to HCA. All providers will be able to use the Prior Authorization system (ProviderOne) to request appointments. 

HCA will be providing two training webinars to assist providers in this transition:

January 7, 2020 at 9 a.m., register here
January 9, 2020 at 11 a.m., register here

The webinar will be posted to the HCA SL Transition webpage after January 9, 2020. 

If you need to request an interpreter before you are able to attend or view the webinar, please follow the instructions for the manual or temporary process.

If You Need Assistance

You can email questions about the transition to interpretersvcs@hca.wa.gov. If you would like to speak with someone directly about these changes the HCA will be hosting the following call in or rapid response meetings:

• Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 2:30 to 3 p.m.
• Friday, January 10, 2020 at 11 to 11:30 a.m.
• Friday, January 17, 2020 at 9 to 9:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 1:30 to 2 p.m.

You can join these meetings by calling 360-407-3811, conference ID#1089895.