Member Languages and Interpreters
Serving Members Better by Speaking Their Language
At Buckeye Health Plan, treating the whole person, not just their conditions, is central to delivering high-quality healthcare. Understanding who our members are, including their language and cultural needs, helps ensure care is accessible, equitable and responsive.
We are please to share with you our:
Working With Interpreters in Your Practice
To request an on-demand telephonic interpreter, please call 1-866-246-4358 and provide your patient’s Member ID number. Not sure of your patient’s language? Go to our website and click on “Language Assistance” in the footer at the bottom of the page, and have the member point to their language. If it’s not listed, you can work with the interpreter service to identify the right language.
Using the speakerphone function is recommended for communication efficiency between you, your patient and the interpreter.
Providers that use bilingual staff to communicate with patients must ensure that bilingual staff can interpret effectively, accurately, and to and from the language of the patient and English, using any necessary specialized vocabulary terminology and phraseology.
Providers are strongly encouraged to document in the medical record the use of family, friends and minors as interpreters. If an interpreter is offered and the patient declines, the provider should also document this in the medical record.
All participating Buckeye Health Plan providers are required to comply with certain interpreter requirements.
- Providers must ensure that bilingual staff who act as interpreters are qualified and meet the quality standards, which includes documentation that the staff member’s proficiency was assessed.
- Patients can never be required to bring their own interpreters.
- Minors may not interpret, even if their parent or other relative consents, unless there is an emergency and there is not a qualified interpreter immediately available.
- An accompanying adult may interpret if the patient agrees and if it is appropriate to the situation.