Who is Universal Language Service?
How do I request interpreters?
How do I request Family Member/Sibling Appointments?
Do I have to use UniversalLanguage?
What if UniversalLanguage cannot provide an interpreter?
How do I find an interpreter on my own?
How do I know if the interpreter is qualified?
What is the Collective Bargaining Agreement?
Does UniversalLanguage provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters?
How do I get reimbursed for Behavior Health (BH) services?
Can I request an interpreter with a short notice?
What is a National Provider Identification (NPI)?
How do I submit a complaint about an interpreter?
Who can use the HCA Interpreter Services program?
Are we legally responsible for providing interpreters?
My organization already has an existing account with Universal. Do we still need to register?
In what situations can a specific interpreter be requested?
What is considered medically necessary when requesting specific interpreters?
What happens if I forget to check an interpreter in / out for a job?
What if two interpreters arrive for the same job?
What are Non-Covered Services?
What type of job should I choose?
I have submitted an HCA registration request. When will I receive my login/user account?
Why am I not able to see certain screens?
How do I order phone interpretation?
How do I add additional locations and users to my account?
Where can I find out more information about HCA Requester OPI/VRI – K4724? (PDF)
Who is Universal Language Service?
Universal Language Service (UniversalLanguage) is the contractor that provides interpreter services to Washington State Medicaid eligible clients for Healthcare appointments and Social Service appointments for the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and Department of Children, Youth and Family (DCYF) offices.
How do I request interpreters?
In order to request an interpreter through the HCA contractor, you must register with Universal’s online scheduling platform.
Once you are registered, Universal will email your login information to you along with a link to the Customer User Guide that will help you navigate the site.
The HCA Interpreter Services program is available to healthcare providers serving limited English proficient (LEP), and individuals applying for or receiving Medicaid, DSHS or DCYF services. For more information, contact accounts@ulsonline.net.
How do I request Family Member/Sibling Appointments?
Requests for Family Member Appointments are submitted online via Universal Language’s online platform. Please see the Customer User Guide for detailed instructions on how to submit this type of appointment.
Do I have to use UniversalLanguage?
No. However, if you use a private contractor, you will be solely responsible for the cost of interpreter services.
What if UniversalLanguage cannot provide an interpreter?
Per the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VI, which states: providers receiving federal funds, are required to assure language access to limited English speaking recipients. If Universal is unable to provide an interpreter, you are required to provide this assistance at your own cost.
How do I find an interpreter on my own?
If you are unable to locate an agency or interpreter on your own, you can access multiple Department of Enterprise Services (DES) language contractors throughout Washington State.
However, you will be required to pay for these contractors directly. HCA will not reimburse you for services accessed through DES language contracts or private contractors/agencies.
An exception to this process is for Behavior Health appointments, see How do I get reimbursed for Behavior Health (BH) services.
How do I know if the interpreter is qualified?
HCA has many requirements for an interpreter to provide services under the HCA Universal contract. They must be certified, authorized, or recognized in their language, meet standard immunization requirements, background checks, and sign many other documents to meet the contract requirements.
For more information about certified, authorized or recognized interpreters, you can visit the DSHS Language Testing and Certification web page.
What is the Collective Bargaining Agreement?
In 2011, The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was established between spoken language access provider (LAP) interpreters and the Governor of Washington to ensure equal access to pay, professional development, union management meetings and grievances. The CBA was determined to be the contract that DSHS, DCYF and HCA will comply with when providing services to Medicaid DSHS and DCYF LEP clients utilizing LAPs.
For more information about the CBA, you can review the document on the OFM website, WFSE Language Access Providers.
Does UniversalLanguage provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters?
No, Universal no longer provides Sign interpreters for HCA Medicaid jobs. Visit HCA Sign language interpreters for more information.
How do I get reimbursed for Behavior Health (BH) services?
Behavior Health services are eligible for reimbursement by HCA in the event that Universal is unable to provide an interpreter for Medicaid eligible clients. These services include Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder. HCA will reimburse services at the current CBA rate; you are responsible for the remainder balance.
To receive reimbursement, you must submit the following documents to Universal:
Once the claim is processed, Universal will reimburse the provider up to the approved CBA rates. For more information, contact billing@ulsonline.net.
For additional information on Behavioral Health reimbursement from HCA, please see: Behavioral Health guide
Can I request an interpreter with a short notice?
Yes. However, it is best to request an interpreter in advance to allow interpreters the opportunity to review their schedule. Universal cannot guarantee a last-minute request will be filled.
What is a National Provider Identification (NPI)?
A NPI is a unique 10-digit identifier issued to health care providers in the United States by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
It is required to file all insurance claims, including Medicaid reimbursement, and is a requirement for any provider of medical or social service encounters. For more information, visit National Plan & Provider Enumeration System.
Home health care coordinators who need an NPI to submit interpreter requests should ask their Care Coordination Organization (CCO), which NPI is appropriate to use.
How do I submit a complaint about an interpreter?
Feedback regarding interpreter performance can be submitted on the Universal scheduling platform, directly from the interpreter request (job). Universal’s WeCare Program can be reached at WeCare@ULSonline.net.
What are Non-Covered Services?
HCA does not pay for interpreter services for:
Providers are responsible for providing these services at their own cost.
Who can use the HCA Interpreter Services program?
The HCA Interpreter Services program is available to health care providers serving Limited English Proficient (LEP) Medicaid clients and individuals applying for or receiving DSHS benefits.
Are we legally responsible for providing interpreters?
Yes! In order to be in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, interpreters must be provided for any client that has difficulty speaking or understanding English.
My organization already has an existing account with UniversalLanguage. Do we still need to register?
Yes, we need to have an Authorized Requester from your organization register before we start accepting HCA interpreter requests from you. Our scheduling platform and user interface will be updated to allow you to enter HCA / DSHS / DCYF jobs under this contract. Please look for email confirmation that your account has been approved for this contract. This confirmation will indicate that you are ready to begin requesting jobs under this contract.
In what situations can a specific interpreter be requested?
What is considered medically necessary when requesting specific interpreters?
What happens if I forget to check an interpreter in / out for a job?
We will send you a reminder in the event you forget to enter a start or end time for a job that has passed. You will have 14 days to enter service start and end times for that job. If no times are provided, the scheduled start / end time or the alternate time(s) provided by the interpreter will be accepted. It is very important for requesters to enter start and end time(s) for all jobs to ensure interpreters are paid correctly for their services, and to help ensure all Interpreter No Shows are properly reported.
What if two interpreters arrive for the same job?
Call Universal’s Scheduling Department so we can check to see which interpreter was scheduled first, and that interpreter will stay to provide services.
What type of job should I choose?
I have submitted an HCA registration request. When will I receive my login/user account?
After we create your account(s) we will create your personal user profile and send an email prompting you to create your personal password and at that point you can log in. For medical providers, there will be an additional step of verifying your National Provider Identifier (NPI) prior to sending the email prompting you to create a password.
Why am I not able to see certain screens?
Please make sure you are using an up-to-date, supported browser to ensure all screens load properly.
Universal’s scheduling platform is supported with Google Chrome™, Apple® Safari® version 10.x on Mac OS X, the most recent stable versions of Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla® Firefox®.
How do I order phone interpretation?
In order to request over the phone interpretation (OPI) through HCA and UniversalLanguage, your facility must have signed the new contract agreement for OPI and VRI services, contract #K4724. See our FAQ on the K4724 OPI/VRI Contract here, (PDF).
Instructions on how to request an Over-the Phone Interpreter (OPI) through the UniversalLanguage Portal can be found in our OPI VRI Requester Platform Users Guide (PDF).
How do I add additional locations and users to my account?
Please complete the HCA Registration form noting that you have an existing account with Universal. Under ‘Additional Locations, Departments, Divisions’, there will be a section to add additional users.
Some staff at my facility already have user accounts, but I don’t. Can I still request an interpreter?
Please make sure that you complete the HCA Registration form (link) so that we can work on issuing your login information. While you wait, you may reach out to our Scheduling Department directly at scheduling@ulsonline.net to request interpreter services.
Do you have a user guide?
Click here to access the current platform user guide. Check back regularly, as this guide will be updated significantly in the coming weeks.
What is my password?
As a security measure, Universal does not store user passwords in our database. If you have forgotten your password, there is a link at the bottom of the login window that says ‘Forgot your password?’ Click this link and follow the prompts to reset your password.
