MultiCare Health System - Interpreter Services Settlement

The Department of Justice and HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) reached settlement with MultiCare Health System of Washington for systematic failures to provide appropriate interpreter services to deaf and deaf-blind patients, violating Title III ADA and Section 504. Violations: - Failed to provide qualified sign language interpreters for deaf patients - No available video relay services - Required patients to provide their own interpreters (including family members) - Forced family members to act as medical interpreters despite clinical risks - Created barriers to emergency care access - Compromised patient confidentiality when family members interpreted Settlement compensation distribution: - $100,000 each to two primary complainants - $40,000 each to family members forced to interpret medical information - $95,000 civil penalty to federal government - Claims administrator appointed to identify additional affected patients - Provision for future patient compensation from settlement fund Required changes: - Establish qualified interpreter service protocols - Implement video relay service integration - Staff training on interpreter availability requirements - Monitoring and compliance mechanisms - Accessibility coordinator appointment