Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations                  
Health Information Privacy
  HIPAA for Individuals
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Filing a Complaint
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HIPAA for Professionals
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Newsroom

              

    



Breadcrumb
    HHS
                              HIPAA Home
                              For Professionals
                              FAQ
                              536-May a provider share a patient’s health information with an interpreter to communicate with the patient


    

    

    Navigate to:
  Authorizations (30)
          Business Associates (41)
          Compliance Dates (2)
          Covered Entities (14)
          Decedents (9)
          Disclosures for Law Enforcement Purposes (5)
          Disclosures for Rule Enforcement (1)
          Disclosures in Emergency Situations (2)
          Disclosures Required by Law (6)
          Disclosures to Family and Friends (28)
          Disposal of Protected Health Information (6)
          Facility Directories (7)
          Family Medical History Information (3)
          FERPA and HIPAA (10)
          Group Health Plans (3)
          Incidental Uses and Disclosures (10)
          Judicial and Administrative Proceedings (8)
          Minimum Necessary (14)
          Notice of Privacy Practice (20)
          Preemption of State Law (10)
          Privacy Rule: General Topics (12)
          Protected Health Information (2)
          Public Health Uses and Disclosures (13)
          Research Uses and Disclosures (20)
          Right to an Accounting of Disclosures (8)
          Right to File a Complaint (1)
          Right to Request a Restriction (4)
          Safeguards (13)
          Security Rule (24)
          Smaller Providers and Businesses (145)
          Student Immunizations (8)
          Transition Provisions (3)
          Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations Disclosures (30)
          Workers Compensation Disclosures (5)
          Limited Data Set (6)
          Marketing (17)
          Marketing - Refill Reminders (16)
          Personal Representatives and Minors (12)
          Right to Access and Research (58)
          Mental Health (35)
          Health Information Technology (41)
          Telehealth (11)Text resize icon

                    




May a health care provider share a patient’s health information with an interpreter to communicate with the patient or with the patient’s family, friends, or others involved in the patient’s care or payment for care?








  
  
    

  
      





Yes.  HIPAA allows covered health care providers to share a patient’s health information with an interpreter without the patient’s written authorization under the following circumstances:
A health care provider may share information with an interpreter who works for the provider (e.g., a bilingual employee, a contract interpreter on staff, or a volunteer).For example, an emergency room doctor may share information about an incapacitated patient’s condition with an interpreter on staff who relays the information to the patient’s family.
A health care provider may share information with an interpreter who is acting on its behalf (but is not a member of the provider’s workforce) if the health care provider has a written contract or other agreement with the interpreter that meets HIPAA’s business associate contract requirements.For example, many providers are required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to persons with limited English proficiency.  These providers often have contracts with private companies, community-based organizations, or telephone interpreter service lines to provide language interpreter services.  These arrangements must comply with the HIPAA business associate agreement requirements at 45 C.F.R. 164.504(e).
A health care provider may share information with an interpreter who is the patient’s family member, friend, or other person identified by the patient as his or her interpreter, if the patient agrees, or does not object, or the health care provider determines, using his or her professional judgment, that the patient does not object.For example, health care providers sometimes see patients who speak a certain language and the provider has no employee, volunteer, or contractor who can competently interpret that language.  If the provider is aware of a telephone interpreter service that can help, the provider may have that interpreter tell the patient that the service is available.  If the provider decides, based on professional judgment, that the patient has chosen to continue using the interpreter, the provider may talk to the patient using the interpreter.

Created 9/16/08

                    
  


Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Content last reviewed July 26, 2013Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​