Skip to main content

Any provider receiving federal funds, such as Medicare, can’t legally require patients with limited English proficiency to use a family member or friend as an interpreter. Even the use of bilingual staff who are not trained medical interpreters should be avoided.

Review National CLAS guidelines from HHS.

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.


Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.


You Might Also Like...

Column

Defining Moment | When My Father's Neck Pain Became My Calling

Apr 1, 2026

How a moment in eighth grade set one clinician on the path to physical therapy.

News

APTA Continues Fighting For Federal Student Loan Access for Future PTs

Apr 1, 2026

The American Physical Therapy Association continues its advocacy against the U.S. Department of Education's proposal that would sharply limit federal student

Article

From Capitol to Clinic: How APTA's Unified Advocacy Is Advancing Our Payment

Apr 1, 2026

A look at the APTA advocacy updates from the past year across three areas: federal, payer, and state.