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Bill

A 3697

Requires providers of insurance policies to maintain a database of health care providers offering foreign language services

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Weprin

Requires insurers to maintain a database of health care providers offering foreign language services, helping insured patients locate language-accessible care.

REFERRED TO INSURANCE
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 3697

Summary of Assembly Bill A 3697

Overview

  • Bill number: A 3697
  • Title: Requires providers of insurance policies to maintain a database of health care providers offering foreign language services
  • Status: REFERRED TO INSURANCE (Assembly)
  • Introduced: January 30, 2025
  • Classification: Bill
  • Related/Companion: S 3404 (companion); other related bills listed from prior sessions (S 7740, S 3587, S 3245, S 3679, A 6377)

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill aims to improve access to language services in health care by ensuring insurance policy providers maintain and presumably make available a database of health care providers that offer foreign language services. This is intended to help insured individuals identify providers who can communicate in languages other than English.

Key Provisions (as stated)

  • Insurers or providers of insurance policies would be required to maintain a database of health care providers who offer foreign language services.
  • The summary provided does not include additional specifics about:
    • which entities must maintain or oversee the database
    • what data fields the database must include (e.g., languages offered, provider locations, contact information)
    • how the information would be accessed by consumers or regulators
    • update frequency, accuracy standards, or verification processes
    • privacy, security, or data-sharing requirements
    • enforcement mechanisms or penalties for noncompliance
  • Because the text provided is limited, the exact operational details and timelines beyond the introductory action are not specified here.

Affected Parties

  • Insurance policy providers (the entities responsible for maintaining the database)
  • Health care providers who offer foreign language services
  • Insured individuals seeking language-accessible care
  • Potentially regulators or state health/insurance authorities overseeing compliance

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Action taken: January 30, 2025 — referred to the Assembly Committee on Insurance
  • Next steps: The bill would advance through the Insurance committee with potential amendments, hearings, and votes before moving to the floor for full chamber consideration. Timeline beyond referral is not provided in the available information.

Related Legislation

  • Companion bill: S 3404
  • Other related bills from prior sessions: S 7740, S 3587, S 3245, S 3679, A 6377
  • The presence of a companion bill suggests parallel consideration in another chamber and ongoing interest in language-access provisions for health care.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Positive impact: Greater visibility of language-access options for insured patients; potential reduction of language barriers in health care.
  • Administrative considerations: Insurers would incur compliance costs to create and maintain the database; standards for data quality and privacy would need to be established.
  • Gaps to watch: Clarification on data scope, user access, privacy protections, enforcement, and any interaction with existing provider directories or state privacy laws.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize compliance requirements or potential fiscal impacts once the bill’s full text becomes available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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