(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a health care provider shall work with a health care interpreter from the health care interpreter registry administered by the Oregon Health Authority under ORS § 413.558 when communicating with a patient who prefers to communicate in a language other than English, unless the health care provider is a doctor or clinician who is proficient in the patient’s preferred language.

(2) A health care provider who is otherwise required to work with a health care interpreter from the health care interpreter registry may work with a health care interpreter who is not listed on the health care interpreter registry only if the provider:

(a) Verifies, in the manner prescribed by rule by a board or agency described in ORS § 413.561, that the provider has taken appropriate steps needed to obtain a health care interpreter from the health care interpreter registry in accordance with rules adopted by the authority under ORS § 413.558; or

(b) Has offered the patient the services of a health care interpreter from the health care interpreter registry and the patient declined the offer and chose a different interpreter.

(3) A health care provider shall give personal protective equipment, consistent with established national standards, to health care interpreters providing services on-site at no cost to the health care interpreter and may not suggest to the health care interpreter that the health care interpreter should procure the health care interpreter’s own personal protective equipment as a condition of working with the health care provider.

(4) A health care provider shall maintain records of each patient encounter in which the provider worked with a health care interpreter from the health care interpreter registry. The records must include:

(a) The name of the health care interpreter;

(b) The health care interpreter’s registry number; and

(c) The language interpreted.

(5) The boards and agencies described in ORS § 413.561 shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this section, which may include additional exemptions under subsection (2) of this section. [2021 c.453 § 2]

See note under 413.550.