55B - RESO - COMMUNI-CAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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SRC 03/26/2014 RESOLUTION NO. 2014- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA URGING THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO SIGN ASSEMBLY BILL 2325, WHICH CREATES "COMMUNI -CAL" - A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES RELIABLE ACCESS TO LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION FOR MEDI -CAL BENEFICIARIES WHO ARE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, California has been long recognized as one of the most racially and linguistically diverse states with residents who speak over 200 languages; and approximately one in five Californians is limited English proficient (LEP) and identifies as speaking English less than well; and language access and the right to interpretation services is required under Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Dymally - Alatorre Bilingual Services Act of 1973 (Chapter 17.5 (commencing with Section 7290) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code), the Knox -Keene Healthcare Services Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code), Section 11135 of the Government Code, Section 1259 of the Health and Safety Code, and California Civil Rights law; and WHEREAS, The demand for medical interpretation services by Medi -Cal beneficiaries is significant, with 45.2 percent of Medi -Cal beneficiaries speaking a language other than English; and the state will experience an even greater demand for language services as health care reform measures are implemented over the next few years and 35 percent of Californians expected to become newly eligible for Medi -Cal as a result of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111 -148) will speak English less than well; and WHEREAS, In California, language assistance services are currently provided in an uncoordinated manner that lacks transparency and accountability, and a majority of services are currently provided ad hoc by family members and friends or untrained staff; and California has the opportunity to meet the growing demand early on by accessing millions of dollars in federal matching funds to provide medical interpretation services to LEP Medi -Cal beneficiaries; and professional medical interpretation services help reduce avoidable medical errors and provider malpractice liability for physicians and other healthcare providers; and a coordinated program to offer medical interpreter services will improve health care outcomes for LEP Californians and help control healthcare costs that result from a lack of access to preventative and primary care, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of Santa Ana supports and encourages the Governor of the State of California to sign Assembly Bill 2325 and hereby directs the Clerk of the Council to send a copy of this resolution to Governor Jerry Brown, Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, and Speaker of the Assembly John A. Perez. 55B -3