9.1 Certified Interpreter, Certified Deaf Interpreter, Communication Assistant, and Deaf Communication Assistant Services

Per the Consumer Protection Act, Article 6, specifically section 6-1-707(1)(e), https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2018-title-06.pdf:

6-1-707. Use of title or degree -- deceptive trade practices. (1) A person engages in a deceptive trade practice when, in the course of such person's business, vocation, or occupation, such person:

(e) Claims to be a "sign language interpreter", "interpreter for the deaf", "deaf interpreter", "ASL-English interpreter", "American sign language (ASL) interpreter", "transliterator", "certified sign language interpreter", "certified interpreter for the deaf", "certified deaf interpreter", "certified ASL-English interpreter", "certified American sign language (ASL) interpreter", or "certified transliterator", unless they hold a current certification issued by the registry of interpreters for the deaf or a successor organization. A registry of interpreters for the deaf, or successor organization, membership card that shows proof of current membership and certification shall be made available for immediate inspection and review by any consumer or agent of the state of Colorado.

ASL interpreting services at DVR are always provided by RID or BEI-certified sign language interpreters to assure the most accurate and impartial interpretations.

NOTE: Proof of current membership and/or certification shall be made available for immediate inspection and review by any individual or agent of the State of Colorado.

Non-RID communication assistants help or assist the individual with expressive and receptive language through oral, manual, or written communication techniques.

NOTE: A certified interpreter may provide services in addition to interpreting, but not simultaneously to providing interpreting services (please see page 4 in the “Introduction” of this Fee Schedule. Communicating one-on-one with an individual who is deaf is not interpreting but is instead considered communicating.

A service provider who is qualified as an ASL interpreter may provide other services to the same individual but may not bill separately for simultaneously providing ASL interpreting or foreign language interpreting. Please see section 14.8 for the payment rates for job coaching with a RID-certified interpreter or sign language communication assistant.

(Procedure codes 51000-01, 51000-02, 51000-03, 51000-07)

Interpreting services should be scheduled and authorized as far in advance as possible to assure the availability of appropriate interpreting at the least possible cost. It may be necessary to procure the services of two interpreters when interpreting services are needed for more than two consecutive hours or depending on the content of the meeting (e.g., content is complicated or intensive). The industry standard requires a two-hour minimum to be authorized and paid, even if the event is expected to last less than two hours. When a vendor has an internal contract for interpreting services, DVR staff shall authorize at these rates. Internal contract rates can be found here. If a contract rate is not available, DVR staff will authorize at a usual and customary rate that is deemed fair and reasonable. 

Payment Rate (51000-01)

• According to internal contract or lowest available usual and customary rate

• 2- hour minimum

• Purchased in 15-minute increments thereafter 

Payment Rate for Special Circumstances (51000-02, 51000-03)

• Evening, Weekends or Holidays

  • According to internal contract or lowest available usual and customary rate

  • 2-hour minimum

  • Purchases in 15-minute increments thereafter 

Late Notice Payment Rate (51000-07)

• A higher hourly rate for short notice scheduling that is less than 48 hours can be paid at the lowest available usual and customary rate

(Procedure codes XX-01, XX-02, XX-03)

The cancellation fee is 100% of the planned amount for the first day when DVR, an individual, or the host of the assignment site (e.g., employer) cancels an interpreter assignment with less than 24 hours’ notice. If an assignment is scheduled with specific time frames (e.g., the assignment was scheduled for 8 AM to 4 PM, but only required to provide services from 8 AM to 3 PM), with less than 24 hours’ notice, the original assignment amount will be paid. If a Rehabilitation Counselor authorizes more hours than needed, only originally scheduled hours of services will be paid.

To avoid a cancellation fee, an interpreting assignment must be canceled during DVR business hours (Monday – Friday, 8 A.M. – 5 P.M.) and not less than 24 hours prior to the start of the assignment. The cancellation fee is 100% of the authorized interpreter fee for the first day of the assignment. Colorado state holidays or weekend days are not counted towards 24 hours’ notice.

Please also consider the following:

• If the interpreter arrives at the assignment and the individual is a “no-show,” DVR pays 100% of the planned amount for the first day only.

• Assignments after 5 P.M. Friday through before 8 A.M. Monday needs to be canceled by 5 P.M. Thursday to avoid late fees.

• Colorado state holidays are the following:

  • New Year’s Day: January 1

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Third Monday of January

  • President’s Day: Third Monday of February

  • Memorial Day: Last Monday of May

  • Independence Day: July 4

  • Labor Day: First Monday of September

  • Frances Xavier Cabrini Day: Second Monday of October

  • Veterans Day: November 11

  • Thanksgiving Day: Fourth Thursday of November

  • Christmas Day: December 25

Example cancellation scenarios:

• An assignment scheduled for 4 P.M. Wednesday incurs a cancellation fee if the assignment is canceled after 5 P.M. of the previous Tuesday.

• An assignment scheduled for 6 A.M. on Saturday incurs a cancellation fee if the assignment is canceled after 5 P.M. of the previous Thursday.

• An assignment scheduled for 10 P.M. on Tuesday incurs a cancellation fee if the assignment is canceled after 5 P.M. of the previous Monday.

• An assignment scheduled for 7 A.M. on Tuesday following President’s Day (Monday) incurs a cancellation fee if the assignment is canceled after 5 P.M. of the previous Thursday.

NOTE: For cancellation of Job Coaching with Interpreter services, the fee is based on the interpreter fee, not to include the job coaching premium.

(Procedure codes 51000-04, 51000-05, 51000-06, 51000-07)

Deaf communication services may be purchased from an uncertified provider in some circumstances, for example, if no certified interpreters are available and the provider is fully capable of delivering adequate communication services to the individual, and/or a DVR individual selects a provider through informed choice. It may be necessary to procure the services of two providers when communication services are needed for more than two consecutive hours or depending on the content of the situation.

Payment Rate

• Up to $31.00 per hour for each full hour

• Up to $7.75 for each 15-minute increment thereafter

• No 2-hour minimum

Payment Rate for Special Circumstances

• Up to $41.00 per hour on the weekends

• Up to $51.00 per hour on holidays

• No 2-hour minimum

Late Notice Payment Rate (51000-07)

• A higher hourly rate for short notice scheduling that is less than 48 hours can be paid at the lowest available usual and customary rate.

(Procedure codes XX-04, XX-05, XX-06)

The cancellation fee is 100% of the planned amount for the first day when DVR, an individual, or the host of the assignment site (e.g., employer) cancels an interpreter assignment with less than 24 hours’ notice. If an assignment is scheduled with specific time frames (e.g., the assignment was scheduled for 8 AM to 4 PM, but only required to provide services from 8 AM to 3 PM), with less than 24 hours' notice, the original assignment amount will be paid. If a Rehabilitation Counselor authorizes more hours than needed, only originally scheduled hours of services will be paid. See section 9.1.2(a) for additional details.

Sign language communication services from a family member should be obtained at no cost whenever reasonable and possible. However, DVR can pay family members for communication services, when appropriate.

Payment Rate

• Up to $21.00 per hour

• Partial hours are purchased in 15-minute increments

• No 2-hour minimum