Find your client’s language, organized by countries of the world.

• Infoplease.com
• Ethnologue: Languages of the World

In short, if you are receiving federal funding of any sort, you have an obligation to provide reasonable accommodation for interpreter services.

The Department of Justice provides planning tools, sample language access plans, and examples of how legal mandates have been implemented in various branches of government.

MaineCare provides full reimbursement for interpreter services. The MaineCare Manual explains reimbursement policies and provides billing codes. Click on Ch. I – Section 1 – General Administrative Policies and Procedures and then scroll down to section 1.06-3 Interpreter Services. The Code of Ethics is in the Appendix at the end of the document.

There are a variety of cultural profiles available to help you understand your client’s background and culture.

• Ethnomed
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada
• CultureGrams

Nationwide

International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) – The country’s largest medical interpreter professional association. They have advocated successfully for a national medical interpreter certification. Their website has many resources, and their annual conference in Boston, MA has many sessions useful to healthcare administrators.

National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters – The nation’s largest Introducing the first ever medical interpreter certification for spoken-language interpreters! Currently available only in Spanish, it soon will be expanded to 12 other languages.

National Council on Interpreting in Health Care – They offer a list serve that enables you to consult with other professionals in the field about best practices, legal liabilities, and resources.

National Consortium of State Courts – Working to establish consistent court interpreter certification nationwide.