Blogs

Water, one of California’s most precious resources, is in short supply these days, and drastic measures have been taken to conserve water and prohibit waste. The State Water Resources Control Board passed emergency regulations that place mandatory restrictions on outdoor water use. Recent regulations include prohibitions against the following: Any employee of a public agency charged with enforcing laws could write and issue a ticket for a fine up to $500 to a violator. Violations of prohibited activities would be considered infractions. Visit this link http://www.acwa.com/content/local-drought-response to discover more ways in which local California water agencies are coping with drought conditions. Many residents and businesses are unclear on the latest water restrictions, stages, rationing and penalties for noncompliance. Adding to the confusion is the fact that each water district has different bans, restrictions and emergency measures in place. It is up to each local water agency to communicate their district’s drought management initiatives so that the community understands and complies with them. In case you are wondering what water restrictions have to do with translation, the truth is, water conservation is all about communication. Getting the word out to LEP community members is imperative so that everyone understands how, why and where to conserve. Accurate translation is key to promoting water conservation and getting information out to all community members. California’s population is diverse, with approximately 44% of California residents speaking a language other than English at home. For this reason, translation into threshold languages is essential to communicate the latest water rules and regulations. When community residents fully understand emergency regulations on water use, they are more likely to comply and support water conservation. To read a case study on how Avantpage previously provided translation solutions for the ACWA (Association of California Water Agencies), click here For more information on how Avantpage can help with translations for water agencies, visit our website at https://avantpage.com/. To receive a free translation quote, click here.

Are You in Compliance With CMS? Medicare Marketing is a specialized area that requires strict attention to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines and requirements. Designed to protect Medicare enrollees and prospects from overly aggressive sales and marketing techniques, CMS guidelines for marketers cover a variety of Medicare marketing materials. These include brochures, direct mail, general consumer advertising, promotional materials, presentation materials, membership communication materials, member handbooks, communications directed to members, website content, and much more. For more information on CMS Medicare Marketing compliance, visit http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/ManagedCareMarketing/FinalPartCMarketingGuidelines.html Avantpage Offers Expert, Knowledgeable, Cost-Effective Translation for All Medicare Marketing Needs: Medicare Advantage Plans (MAs), Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PDs), Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) and 1876 Cost Plans Turn to Avantpage for accurate, culturally sensitive translation that is in full compliance with CMS guidelines, rules and regulations. Our translators, project managers, technical specialists, proofreaders and support personnel have worked extensively in the healthcare industry. The knowledge and experience they bring to the table ensures that sensitive marketing materials are communicated just the way you intend them to be, while fully complying with all CMS requirements. Marketing in the healthcare industry is playing a more important role than ever before, especially in the Medicare, Health Plan and HMO sectors. Customer retention and new enrollment initiatives depend on clear communication, savvy marketing strategies and careful, dedicated attention to special marketing requirements as put forth by CMS. Accurate, high-quality translation is key to getting your message across to Medicare enrollees who are Limited English Proficient. At Avantpage, we specialize in translation for the healthcare industry, and handle translation duties for some of today’s most important healthcare entities. We offer: When you partner with us, you can be certain your translations are done properly: every word, every paragraph, every document, every time.

Avantpage has long been a leader in the health care translation space. Our expertise and experience ensures that health plans, hospitals, HMOs, PPOs and other healthcare organizations receive accurate, high-quality cost-effective translation, every time, every project. Our certified translators are experts in medical, insurance and health care language, in addition to being fluent in both English and the target language. When it comes to health plans, we’ll work closely with our customers to ensure that all of your standard and vital documents are translated accurately, and comply fully with government regulations. We specialize in compliance issues, and are prepared to work with health plans to deliver documents that are translated in compliance with Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) requirements. The DMHC, in accordance with SB 583, requires that all health plans and insurers provide services, materials and information to LEP (Limited English Proficient) members in a language that they speak and understand, at no cost to them. We work with our health plan clientele to create a translation program that fits their needs, budgets, deadlines and compliance requirements. Our focus on the healthcare industry has given us a leading edge over other translation firms: We’re experienced, prepared and fully qualified to handle healthcare translation projects of any scope and complexity. The Affordable Care Act has transformed health care in the United States. It has provided health care access to millions of Americans who were unable to afford or qualify for health insurance prior to its implementation. As part of this implementation, it is up to health plans nationwide to ensure their materials are translated to ensure compliance with the ACA, DMHC, SB 583 and other state and federal regulations. Contact us today and find out how Avantpage can help your organization succeed and thrive in the coming months.

Open Enrollment Ends – More Than 7 Million Sign Up for Health Insurance Through the Nation’s Health Exchanges Health insurance sign-ups surged forward as Americans rushed to meet the final March 31st open enrollment deadline.  More than 7 million Americans have enrolled in health coverage through the health insurance exchanges that are either state- or federally run. This number represents a victory for the Affordable Care Act, its supporters and everyone who has worked tirelessly to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health insurance coverage. Using a combination of marketing, advertising, grass roots outreach programs, social media and other methods on the national, state and local levels, healthcare proponents were able to successfully persuade millions of health care consumers to enroll for coverage. Covered California, California’s state-run health benefit exchange, also saw a major surge in last-minute enrollees. As of 5 p.m. on Monday, March 31, Covered California’s website recorded a record 7.7 million page views, quadruple its last highest number on December 23. Because of the unprecedented website traffic, enrollees who began their applications online but were unable to finish them by the deadline may return later and complete them by April 15^th. Covered California has reached out to Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals through the translated information on its website, available in 12 threshold languages, and also through printed materials produced in those languages. But with more than 200 languages spoken in California, there are definitely some California residents who are not receiving the information they need to purchase affordable health care. Avantpage translates into more than 150 languages, and our linguistic services can help health plans and other health organizations communicate in virtually any language. For more information on our services, or a free quote, click here or contact [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!

Covered California: For Californians who hope to sign up for health care coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act, now is the time to act.  March 15 is the last date to purchase a policy for coverage that will begin on April 1.
March 31 marks the official end of open enrollment for purchasing policies for 2014. Those who purchase a policy by the 31^st will be able to start their coverage
on May 1. Deadlines: After these deadlines pass, the next open enrollment period for purchasing health insurance policies through Covered California will be
November 15 – January 15, 2015. According to Covered California, by mid-February, more than 828,600 Californians had signed up for new policies. Of these people, about 86% were eligible for federal subsidies. Reaching LEP health care consumers has been paramount for Covered California, and there is a Spanish version of this site, at https://www.coveredca.com/espanol/ to enable Spanish-speaking consumers to apply for coverage. For speakers of other languages, there are fact sheets and information provided on the English site in Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. To access these fact sheets, visit www.coverdca.com and click on “Languages” in the upper right hand corner, or visit https://www.coveredca.com/fact-sheets/  to go directly to the fact sheets. Another way LEP people can receive help is by going to Covered California’s site, typing in their zip code, and accessing a list of local organizations and insurance agents who are certified to sell the policies, as well as the languages in which they are fluent, including Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin and Vietnamese. While consumers have complained about long delays, website glitches and other sign-up issues, the website is now functioning smoothly and additional staffers have been hired to handle live chat and call-in center volume. Accurate translation into other languages is one key factor in getting more people to sign up for healthcare through Covered California.  The Spanish version of the national healthcare site, CuidadoDeSalud.gov, encountered numerous communication difficulties due to faulty translation, detailed in this Avantpage blog entry: https://avantpage.com/problems-spanish-version-healtchare-gov/ These translation issues point to the need to provide translation that is accurate, grammar-free, culturally appropriate and fully understandable by the target audience. Using skilled translators who are fully fluent in both English and the target language, as well as familiar with healthcare language and terms, is critical when reaching out to LEP individuals and encouraging them to purchase health insurance.  Whether you are conducting healthcare outreach programs, preparing onsite materials, or providing written information, forms or other healthcare documentation, selecting the right translation company is a large part of your successful campaign. Choosing an organization such as Avantpage ensures that your translated documents are flawlessly presented in your target language. Reading level, comprehension, cultural differences and shades of meaning are all taken into account. As a result, your translated materials read as if they were produced in the target language, enabling your audience to comprehend and understand information more easily.

This week, we’d like to take a moment and encourage you to visit, like and follow us on Facebook.  Our Facebook presence is growing steadily, and we have found it’s a fantastic way to stay connected with others who share our passion for and interest in language and global communication. We post and share links to a variety of fascinating articles, information and insights on the topics near and dear to our heart – linguistics, speech and translation.  Our posts range from lighthearted musings to revealing articles packed with relevant news and information. Best of all, Facebook enables us to connect with our clients as well as interested folks looking to see what Avantpage is all about.  Facebook gives us an opportunity to interact with you through your own comments and postings. We hope you’ll join us, and we’ve got a wealth of new, intriguing material we’re posting every day. Highlights from recent posts include a look at “Why Outsourcing Legal Services Is Important”; an article that reveals how a Georgetown professor is working against the clock to preserve dying languages for future generations; a tongue-in-cheek look at “Practical English”; an article on how the Cherokee Nation plans to honor translators; The use of forensic linguistics to track down writers who wish to remain anonymous; a video of a gentleman who speaks 22 languages; and much, much more. Stop by and see what we’re talking about this week! We guarantee you won’t be disappointed – or bored. After you’ve finished reading this blog entry, click our Facebook icon above, and visit our page. We’re excited to interact with you, and hope you’ll “like” what you find!

Avantpage to Work With The State of Washington Department of Enterprise Services (DES) and Oregon Cooperative Procurement Program (ORCPP)! We’re always looking for new opportunities to bring our translation and language services to those who need them. Recently Avantpage was awarded the State of Washington DES Contract for Translation Services #04312 (formerly 10006). The Contract Award covers Translation (Written Word) Services for all State Agencies, Institutions of Higher Education, Political Subdivisions and non-profit Corporations of the States of Washington and Oregon. Categories 1-5 of the DES contract are to be utilized only by the Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS), and the Health Care Authority (HCA).  State Agencies, Institutions of Higher Education, Political Subdivisions, and Non-Profit Corporations (MCUA) as well as the Oregon Cooperative Purchasing Program (ORCPP) may use categories 6-8. Those wishing to work with Avantpage through these contracts may select Avantpage for their translation purposes per the available categories. No formal competition is required; purchasers need not use a work order or post anything on WEBS.  If a quote is requested, Avantpage will provide one free of charge. Avantpage is very proud to be the only winner in all contract categories and is excited to work with these new state agencies. We have our team of translators, project management specialists and IT experts assembled to ensure that we meet all contract user translation needs swiftly, accurately and cost-effectively. This contract award represents a wonderful opportunity for Avantpage to expand into the Pacific Northwest, and deliver the translation, localization, DTP services, and quality customer service we are known for. We are looking forward to working with our new Oregon and Washington State customers, and hope to build supportive, positive, long-lasting relationships with new folks in need of our services. According to David Serra, Avantpage’s Director of Sales and Marketing, “Our new partnerships with Washington State and Oregon give us a chance to bring our translation expertise and experience to a whole new group of clients. We are excited to begin work with both the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services and the Oregon Cooperative Procurement Program.”

2013 was a watershed year for health care, with the implementation of federal and state-run health insurance exchanges, as well as the advent of federal subsidies designed to help consumers afford coverage. However, 2014 promises to be a year of change in healthcare as well, with a quartet of important new changes to be aware of that take effect this year. The Small Business Tax Credit applies to employers with less than 25 full-time equivalent workers who earn an average of $50,000 per year or less.  These employers could qualify for a tax credit worth up to 50 percent of their employer contribution toward their employees’ premium costs.  This credit is only available to employers who pay at least half of full-time employees premium costs, and obtain coverage through the Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP. Medicaid is the state-federal health insurance program that protects the poor and the disabled. In 2014, 25 states and the District of Columbia are implementing a significant expansion of Medicaid, which will allow an estimated nine million more Americans to gain health insurance through the program.  Under new guidelines, non-elderly adults who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level will qualify for Medicaid coverage. In 2014, new rules guarantee consumers have access to individual and small-group coverage regardless of past or current health conditions.  Health plans are also required to cover at least 60 percent of medical costs, limit the amount that older policy-holders can be charged, and do away with annual and lifetime benefit-spending limits. All individual and small-group plans must cover “essential health benefits” according to the Affordable Care Act, which include substance abuse services, pediatric dental and vision care, mental health treatment, preventative and wellness care and maternity and newborn care. The individual mandate requires individuals and their dependents to carry health insurance in 2014 or pay a penalty for noncompliance in 2015. People who enroll for coverage by March 31, 2014, will avoid penalties. The 2014 penalty is 1 percent of annual income, or $95 per person, whichever is greater. The penalties will increase each year until they reach 2.5 percent of income, or $695 per person. As these changes take effect, communication is key to promoting understanding and compliance with new rules and regulations. Clear, accurate translation of website materials, documentation and outreach materials plays an increasingly important role in accurately communicating new information.  Communicating to Limited English Proficient (LEP) consumers in their primary languages increases understanding, awareness and compliance, which enables the government to more effectively do its job, and consumers to benefit more readily and directly.

Although Covered California continues to boast strong enrollment numbers, Latino sign-ups are not keeping pace with general population numbers. Out of 400,000 Covered California customers who responded when asked about their ethnic background, less than 20 percent identified themselves as Latino, Hispanic or Spanish. These numbers are concerning, especially since Latinos make up more than half of California’s 7 million uninsured residents. The success of Covered California rests in part on strong numbers of young, healthy enrollees, and California’s Latino population tends to fit this profile. This discrepancy between Latino healthcare enrollees and the actual number of eligible, uninsured Latinos in California underscores the importance of providing LEP customers with information in their primary language. Latinos face both linguistic and cultural barriers when attempting to read, understand and navigate the Covered California website. Aside from translation errors that caused difficulty in understanding the website and online enrollment portal, cultural barriers are also a problem. Potential Hispanic applicants are wary of divulging personal and financial information they feel could be used against their families in a deportation situation.  Some families have mixed-immigration status: undocumented parents with documented children – and these families fear that by providing the personal information required to enroll, they risk deportation. Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement has assured applicants that this information cannot be used for enforcement purposes, Latino groups remain skeptical. To encourage Latinos to sign up for healthcare, Covered California is seeking to address many of these problems. Fixing translation issues on the website, hiring more bilingual counselors, and providing greater outreach to Latino populations all play a part in encouraging more Spanish-speaking customers to sign up. As both Covered California and CuidadoDeSalud.gov grapple with issues related to translation, it is clear that choosing a translation company that provides exceptional, high-quality translation is critical to a successful outcome.

As customers accessing the federal government’s healthcare portal, healthcare.gov, finally see positive improvements in the online enrollment process, the Spanish version of the website, CuidadoDeSalud.gov, is undergoing its own unique set of problems. According to the Associated Press, typos, confusing sentence structure, grammatical errors and non-working links are causing confusion and frustration for Spanish speaking healthcare consumers attempting to navigate CuidadoDeSalud.gov. The awkward, difficult-to-understand sentences are so full of grammatical mistakes that critics have concluded they must have been done through computer-generated translation, rather than through the use of “live” translators who are fluent in the nuances of the Spanish language. Adding to the frustration, when users clicked on links that compared insurance plans, they were taken to the English version of the comparisons. Far from being the consumer-friendly site government officials hoped for, the problem-plagued CuidadoDeSalud.gov has most likely hindered Spanish-speaking consumers from signing up for healthcare.  New Mexico has the nation’s highest percentage of Latino residents, yet in October and November, fewer than 1,000 Latinos signed up for coverage. Other states with high Spanish-speaking populations experienced disappointing numbers as well. Approximately 15 million Hispanics are uninsured, and their participation is crucial to the success of Obamacare. However, unless the problems with CuidadoDeSalud.gov are addressed, Spanish-speaking individuals will continue to lag behind in their attempts to enroll in health insurance. The problems with CuidadoDeSalud.gov underscore the critical importance of providing translation that is accurate, grammar-free, culturally appropriate and fully understandable by the target audience. This is accomplished by employing skilled translators, not by using machine or computer-generated translation. Using computer-generated translation typically results in documents that are difficult to read and understand. Using “real” translators – people who are translators by trade, fluent in both English and the target language and experts in linguistic nuances – are always a better choice, especially when the stakes are as high as they are with CuidadoDeSalud.gov. Choosing an organization such as Avantpage ensures that your translated documents are flawlessly presented in your target language. Reading level, comprehension, cultural differences and shades of meaning are all taken into account. As a result, your translated materials read as if they were produced in the target language, enabling your audience to comprehend and understand information more easily. Read also: Medicare Marketing translations  anish translations  bsite Localization  * This blog entry is based on information gleaned from an article written by Russell Contreras and Kelli Kennedy of The Associated Press. It appeared in the Sacramento Bee on Monday, January 13, 2014 under the headline, Health Site in Spanish Falls Short.

According to data just released by Covered California, more than 625,000 Californians have enrolled in Covered California health plans so far, and Medi-Cal enrollment has topped 1.2 million individuals. Demand for affordable, accessible health care is strong in California, and numbers are expected to continue to rise. Of those enrolled so far, 424,936 are eligible for federal subsidies. While the numbers are impressive, there is still much work to be done. Covered California continues to make improvements to their website and plans to increase staff numbers to handle calls, questions and eligibility concerns. December data has shown improved trends in the number of Latinos enrolling, a group which is critical to the overall long-term success of the program. Latinos account for more than half of California’s 7 million uninsured residents, and Covered California must ensure that outreach programs, bilingual enrollment counselors and fully translated materials are readily available to this demographic. Out of a grand total of 389,739 individuals who enrolled in October, November and December with subsidy status, 24,391 indicated Spanish as their preferred language; 34,234 indicated Asian and Pacific Islander languages; 955 indicated Indo-European languages and 330,159 indicated English. On the small business side of things, Covered California’s Small Business Health Options Program reports that more than 289 small businesses have applied for coverage, and a total of 2,155 employees and their dependents were provided coverage through their employers. Overall, what do these numbers and statistics mean to the translation industry?  Essentially, we can conclude that there is strong interest in healthcare coverage across cultural and ethnic demographics in California, and communicating to these groups in their preferred languages is crucial to helping them sign up for the healthcare they need.  Health plans must ensure that translated materials are accurate, culturally appropriate and ready to be distributed when needed to the ethnic groups requiring them. Avantpage offers a complete suite of translation and linguistic services in over 150 languages. You’ll find a wealth of great translation information on our website. For example: Medical & Healthcare translations Spanish translations Case Study: Spanish Translation for Healthcare 

While computer crashes, glitches, and other technological difficulties have plagued the federal government’s HealthCare.gov site, California’s exchange site is experiencing much less-severe growing pains. HealthCare.gov is a federally run health care marketplace serving 36 states. Because of the technical issues, the federal government has set up an IT task force. However, it will be some time before the site is fully operable. IT experts continue to work on the site and officials with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have set a November 30 deadline for having a fully functioning site. In contrast, the California’s state-run exchange, Covered California (CoveredCA.com), is running a much more smoothly as it ramps up to serve the state’s uninsured. California was one of the first states to begin planning and implementing a health insurance exchange website. According to Peter Lee, Covered California’s Executive Director, 2.2 million people have visited the Covered California site and about 126,000 have created accounts through October 19^th. (Tracy Seipel, San Jose Mercury News, 10/28/2013) Consumers have been able to access CoveredCA.com to compare plans, examine health care options and rates and begin the application process. Covered California helps individuals determine whether they are eligible for premium assistance that is available on a sliding-scale basis to reduce insurance costs, or whether they are eligible for low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal. Covered California serves the state’s uninsured and offers access to 11 health plans serving the state of California.