Common use of Communication Standards Clause in Contracts

Communication Standards. ‌ All written material provided to Members or potential Members, including all Marketing materials, plan booklets, descriptions and information, instructional materials, policies and procedures disclosures, notices and handbooks must meet requirements specified under 42 C.F.R. § 438.10 and meet the following requirements: 1. Documents are comprehensive yet written to meet a ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or other Division-approved standard, total readability level that does not exceed the sixth (6th) grade level of reading comprehension. Materials must set forth the ▇▇▇▇▇▇- ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or other approved standard, score and certify compliance with this standard. (These requirements shall not apply to language that is mandated by Federal or State laws, regulations or agencies.) 2. Documents are available in the prevalent non-English languages in the State of Mississippi, which is defined as five percent (5%) of the Contractor’s enrolled Members who speak a common, non-English language, in compliance with the Division’s Limited English Proficiency Policy. 3. Documents are available in alternative formats and in an appropriate manner that takes into consideration the special needs of those who, for example, are visually limited in accordance with 42 C.F.R. § 438.10(d)(1)(ii). All Enrollment, Disenrollment and educational documents and materials made available to Members by the Contractor must be submitted to the Division for review and approval prior to release, unless specified elsewhere in this Contract. The Contractor must review all materials on an annual basis and provide a list of these materials to the Division annually indicating the review date. If the Contractor revises these materials, the Contractor will submit the updated materials to the Division for review and approval highlighting and using a redlined format for changes. The Contractor must meet the Division’s required time frames for the submission of Deliverables in the event that requested Deliverables do not have a submission time frame specified, in accordance with Section 10.U, Deliverables, of this Contract. In such cases, the Division will specify the time frame for submission of Deliverables. The Division will notify the Contractor of the time frame it will require for review of Deliverables. The Contractor shall also make verbal interpretation services available free of charge to each Member for all non-English languages and shall institute a mechanism for all Members who do not speak English to communicate effectively with their PCP and with Contractor staff and Subcontractors. Verbal interpretation services must be available to ensure effective communication regarding treatment, medical history, or health education [42 C.F.R. § 438.10(c)(4)]. The Contractor must provide TTY/TDD services for the hearing impaired. Trained professionals shall be used when needed where technical, medical, or treatment information is to be discussed with the Member, family member of the Member, or a friend of the Member. The Contractor shall notify Members that verbal interpretation services and interpretation services for the hearing impaired and vision-impaired are available and how to access those services. The Contractor shall participate in the Division’s efforts to promote the delivery of services in a culturally competent manner to all Members including those with limited English proficiency and diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Communication Standards. ‌ All written material provided to Members or potential Members, including all Marketing materials, plan booklets, descriptions and information, instructional materials, policies and procedures disclosures, notices and handbooks must meet requirements specified under 42 C.F.R. § 438.10 and meet the following requirements: 1. Documents are comprehensive yet written to meet a ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or other Division-approved standard, total readability level that does not exceed the sixth (6th) grade level of reading comprehension. Materials must set forth the ▇▇▇▇▇▇- ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or other approved standard, score and certify compliance with this standard. (These requirements shall not apply to language that is mandated by Federal or State laws, regulations or agencies.) 2. Documents are available in the prevalent non-English languages in the State of Mississippi, which is defined as five percent (5%) of the Contractor’s enrolled Members who speak a common, non-English language, in compliance with the Division’s Limited English Proficiency Policy. 3. Documents are available in alternative formats and in an appropriate manner that takes into consideration the special needs of those who, for example, are visually limited in accordance with 42 C.F.R. § 438.10(d)(1)(ii). All Enrollment, Disenrollment and educational documents and materials made available to Members by the Contractor must be submitted to the Division for review and approval thirty (30) calendar days prior to release, unless specified elsewhere in this Contract. The Contractor must review all materials on an annual basis and provide a list of these materials to the Division annually indicating the review date. If the Contractor revises these materials, the Contractor will submit the updated materials to the Division for review and approval highlighting and using a redlined format for changes. The Contractor must meet the Division’s required time frames for the submission of Deliverables in the event that requested Deliverables do not have a submission time frame specified, in accordance with Section 10.U10.X, Deliverables, of this Contract. In such cases, the Division will specify the time frame for submission of Deliverables. The Division will notify the Contractor of the time frame it will require for review of Deliverables. The Contractor shall also make verbal interpretation services available free of charge to each Member for all non-English languages and shall institute a mechanism for all Members who do not speak English to communicate effectively with their PCP and with Contractor staff and Subcontractors. Verbal interpretation services must be available to ensure effective communication regarding treatment, medical history, or health education [42 C.F.R. § 438.10(c)(4)]. The Contractor must provide TTY/TDD services for the hearing impaired. Trained professionals shall be used when needed where technical, medical, or treatment information is to be discussed with the Member, family member of the Member, or a friend of the Member. The Contractor shall notify Members that verbal interpretation services and interpretation services for the hearing impaired and vision-impaired are available and how to access those services. The Contractor shall participate in the Division’s efforts to promote the delivery of services in a culturally competent manner to all Members including those with limited English proficiency and diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.