A new federal rule, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, protects individuals from discrimination in health care on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including discrimination based on pregnancy, gender identity, and sex stereotyping. The rule requires providers to ensure interpreter services are available for patients who are not English proficient or who are hearing-impaired. ADA and MDA have provided resources to assist dentists in complying with Section 1557.

Resources from ADA and MDA:

ADA.org/1557

Montana language interpreters

Montana sign language interpreters

Montana’s top 15 non-English languages and notice translations