Workers’ compensation interpreters work with limited English speaking employees that have been injured at work

Employees injured on the job are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits pursuant to the employer’s obligation. Workers’ compensation interpreters are professionally trained interpreters that work with limited English speaking injured workers throughout their treatment and recovery. In many states when the injured employee does not speak English, he or she is entitled to a workers’ compensation interpreter and the employer is required to provide reasonably required interpreter services during medical treatment appointments for an injured worker who is unable to speak, understand, or communicate in English.

Workers’ compensation interpreters may be necessary for the following settings:

• Telephone calls and recorded statements
• Initial meetings between the injured workers and the insurer, QRC or Case Manager
• Medical appointments
• Physical and/or occupational therapy appointments
• Independent medical exams (IME)
• Adverse medical exams (AME)
• Depositions
• Mediations
• Arbitrations

Currently, the State of Minnesota does not mandate payment regulations in regards to interpreter services but it is a general practice that workers’ compensation interpreters are reimbursed for their professional services by the employer or workers’ compensation insurer. Typically workers’ compensation interpreters are reimbursed pursuant to standard payment rates including:

Medical Appointments

• 2-hour minimum pay per on-site appointment
• Appointments scheduled for 2+ hours are billed for the scheduled time
• Appointments that last 2+ hours when not initially scheduled for that length of time are billed in 30 minute increments past the 2-hour minimum
• Hourly rate depends on a variety of criteria including language, location and certification requirements
• Mileage (Federal mileage rate) and parking reimbursed when applicable
• Appointments cancelled with less than 24-business hours notice are billed at the 2-hour minimum rate
• Appointments cancelled with more than 24-business hours notice are not billed

Legal Appointments

• 3-hour minimum pay per on-site appointment
• Appointments scheduled for 3+ hours are billed for the scheduled time AND require 2 interpreters
• Appointments that last 3+ hours when not initially scheduled for that length of time are billed in 30 minute increments past the 2-hour minimum
• Hourly rate depends on a variety of criteria including language, location and certification requirements
• Mileage (Federal mileage rate) and parking reimbursed when applicable
• Appointments cancelled with less than 24-business hours notice are billed at the 3-hour minimum rate
• Appointments cancelled with more than 24-business hours notice are not billed

The “Working With Interpreters: A Multicultural Experience” workshop was held to help stakeholders become more familiar with the issues surrounding the use of interpreter services in the workers’ compensation context. The workshop was geared toward helping all workers’ compensation professionals learn how to make the best use of interpreter services and what to expect from an interpreter in a variety of situations.

INGCO International has 15+ years of professional experience within the workers’ compensation system. While we are base in Minneapolis, Minnesota, our service area extends across Minnesota and the United States. Our wide network of professional workers’ compensation interpreters in all major languages paired with our breadth of understanding of the unique and specialized vocabulary make us WC industry experts.

Reach out to us now to set up a workers’ compensation interpreter.