New American Sign Language English Interpreter Service Available

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared new American Sign Language (ASL)-English Interpreter services available to individuals in the Consolidated, P/FDS, Community Living, and Adult Autism Waivers starting January 1, 2025. It is excluded from the waiver limits for P/FDS and Community Living waivers.

ASL-English Interpreter is a vendor service that can be provided by an agency or an individual through an Organized Health Care Delivery System, participant direction (both Employer Authority and Budget Authority), or provider. This service must be entered in the Individual Support Plan (ISP) and billed as a 15-minute unit of service. There is an error in the waivers that indicates the ASL-English Interpreter service may be billed as an hour unit of service. The ASL-English Interpreter 15-minute procedure codes listed in the table, ODPANN 24-126, are set up as outcome-based services with an individualized rate. This means HCSIS allows this service to have a different rate per service, per individual, and per provider.

Supports Coordinators should refer to ODP Communication Number 100-16 for guidance on vendor rates and Administrative Fee Services related to the delivery of vendor services. This guidance outlines how SCs should properly enter and follow the instructions for these services.

Providers who wish to enroll directly with ODP to provide this service (not through an Organized Health Care Delivery System or participant-direction) must enroll as Provider Type 58, Specialty 580.

See the announcement for new procedure codes and descriptions for clarity and consistency.

Questions can be sent electronically to ODP’s Deaf Services inbox.