Health facility prohibited from using certain persons as interpreters; exceptions.

1. A health facility shall not: (a) Require a person with limited English proficiency to provide his or her own interpreter or pay the cost of an interpreter; (b) Utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 449.147 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2 or 3; (c) Utilize a child who is less than 18 years of age to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2; or (d) Utilize an employee, a contractor or a volunteer of the health facility who is not an interpreter or a translator qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency. 2. A health facility may utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 449.147 or a child who is less than 18 years of age to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency on a temporary, emergency basis if: (a) There is an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of any person or the public; (b) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147 is not immediately available; (c) The health facility is attempting to find an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147; and (d) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147 later confirms or supplements the initial communications with the interpreter utilized pursuant to this section. 3. A health facility may utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 449.147 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency if the person with limited English proficiency requests for the adult to interpret or facilitate communication for him or her. Such a request must be: (a) Made without the adult present to an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147; (b) Agreed to by the adult; (c) Documented in the record of the person with limited English proficiency; and (d) Deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the person providing the program or service on behalf of the health facility. (Added to NRS by 2025, 1067)