Dear Cristy,

We, the undersigned interpreters, are writing to express concerns regarding the current practices related to the assignment of interpreters for surgeries and other medical procedures. Some clinics have been requesting specific interpreters to cover these surgeries, which contradicts the L&I policy stating that specific interpreter requests are only allowed for mental health appointments and crime victims. This practice creates an unfair distribution of appointments and affects many interpreters' opportunities for equitable work. We urge L&I to address this issue to ensure that assignments are distributed fairly and according to the established guidelines.

Additionally, we have encountered significant payment issues with SOSI. Many of us are not being compensated for all the appointments we cover. Despite our best efforts to provide quality services, this lack of payment negatively impacts our livelihood and the quality of the interpretation services we can provide.

Furthermore, as contractors, we currently do not have access to information regarding whether the appointments we cover are for state-insured or self-insured patients. We believe it would be beneficial and fair for contractors to have visibility into the type of insurance associated with the appointments.

Several other problematic practices are also contributing to unfairness and lack of compliance with L&I policies:

There are certain interpreters who, after obtaining assignment numbers from clinic receptionists, call SOSI to have those specific jobs assigned to them. This indicates that some SOSI employees are not following the rules.

Interpreters are often unable to see all the appointments on the SOSI platform after they are posted, even if we are in close proximity to the clinics. SOSI does not release these appointments immediately, restricting access and creating an uneven playing field.

Some clinics send out job alerts with only their preferred interpreter selected, allowing that interpreter to be the only one who receives the alert. SOSI employees have informed these clinics that such practices are permissible, which contradicts the intended fair distribution of assignments. The clinics involved in these practices include High Desert Surgery Center, Pine Family Clinic, and Columbia Physical Therapy in Pasco.

Certain clinics, such as Kadlec Northwest Orthopedic Surgery Center, have been using tablets instead of in-person interpreters. This practice undermines the quality of service provided to patients who require in-person interpretation and reduces the opportunities for interpreters to secure assignments. Tri-City Orthopedics has four surgeons who operate weekly, yet we never see job alerts for these surgeries. This lack of transparency raises concerns about whether these assignments are being made available to interpreters in a fair and consistent manner.

We request that L&I take immediate steps to:

Enforce existing policies regarding interpreter requests to ensure fair distribution of assignments. Address the ongoing payment issues with SOSI to ensure all interpreters are compensated for their work. Provide contractors with access to information distinguishing between state-insured and self-insured appointments. Investigate the improper assignment practices and ensure that SOSI employees and clinics adhere to L&I policies. Monitor the use of in-person interpreters and discourage reliance on tablets for interpretation services where it is not appropriate. Ensure that all surgery-related job alerts, including those for Tri-City Orthopedics, are posted and made accessible to qualified interpreters. We are hopeful that you will consider these requests and implement the necessary changes to support a fair and transparent system for all interpreters.

We look forward to your response and are open to discussing these matters further to find a resolution.