Department of Labor and Industries’ New Interpreter Scheduling System Now Live

Based on legislation passed in 2018 and designed to improve access to spoken language interpreter services when providing care to injured workers, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has launched a new spoken language interpreter scheduling system. As such, providers should now request all interpreters for scheduled, in-person appointments for injured workers through L&I’s new interpretingWorks online system. Each health care provider is responsible for deciding whether an interpreter is needed and must arrange and confirm all interpreter appointments. The provider is also responsible for ensuring that the patient has an accepted, open claim with L&I, and that the interpreter is certified with an active, L&I provider ID.

Through interpretingWorks, providers can complete the interpreter request online, via smart phone or computer. The only exceptions where it is permitted to schedule interpreters through an alternate method are on-demand interpretation situations (for appointments that do not have a pre-scheduled time) such as an emergency, urgent care, or walk-in appointment, or for telehealth or telephone appointments. For on-demand scenarios, the L&I Lookup Tool can be used for last minute appointments. In the latter case, the CTS Language Link should be used to find an interpreter, and this can be done by calling 1-877-626-0678.

L&I has put together frequently asked questions to provide additional guidance. Providers can sign up for the portal here, and for specific questions, may request a live interpretingWorks assistant through the “Email Us” feature on the interpretingWorks website, or email questions to onboarding@interpreting.works.