Please read the following information from the HCA:

The Health Care Authority (HCA) has entered into an emergency contract with Universal Language Service (Universal) to offer OPI, for Medicaid clients only, during the Governor's Stay Home - Stay Healthy order resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Medicaid providers will be able to request OPI through Universal's scheduling portal, just like they do now for face-to-face interpreting.

Through an abundance of caution, HCA will no longer allow in-person interpretation for Medicaid clients during the Stay Home - Stay Healthy order. All requests for an interpreter will be completed with an OPI interpreter. If extenuating circumstances require an in-person interpreter, providers must contact Universal directly. This policy is targeted to go live effective for dates of service on and after April 16, 2020. HCA and Universal will provide more details over the next few days.

In the meantime, HCA continues to encourage providers to provide phone and/or video options so that interpreters may participate remotely. To do so, please add the phone number and/or link to the "interpreter notes" field in your request.

Please check the HCA Interpreter Services website often for updates. If you do not currently have access to the Universal scheduling portal, be sure to register with Universal and are able to receive their communications.