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Replying to Thread: Interpreters for spanish speaking applicants
Created On Wednesday 8, October, 2008 4:33 PM by danpelin

danpelin
Member

Posts: 24
Joined: May 2007

Wednesday October 08, 2008 4:33 PM

Has anyone had clients that want to object to interpreters billing at $120 per hour with the 2 hour minumum of $240? My client was very upset with Communicaid for charging at this rate. However, I have found out that Multilingual charges $90 per hour with the 2 hour minimum of $180. Since the Labor Code allows the interpreters to overcharge the defense so long as they can prove they have been paid this...why are people paying them it? Any thoughts?

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gaiassoul1@yahoo.com
Senior Member

Posts: 1275
Joined: Feb 2004

Friday October 31, 2008 5:25 PM

since the Labor code allows it ---it is not overcharging it is then legal.

People are paying it becaused the Labor Code established the minimum, judges are then obliged to uphold the law.....??? right?

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AGInterpreter
Junior Member

Posts: 1
Joined: Nov 2008

Tuesday November 04, 2008 2:26 PM

Hi--new to this post---

Why is the Fee Schedule 9795.3 used as the maximum amount that is paid for interpreter services specially when the bills are reviewed by Bill reviewing companies. They dont seemed to factor in language, certification, start and end times, type of assignment and the time it takes to source an interpreter---

Has anyone found a way around that or do we have to follow the appeal process for each bill?

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Interpreter
Member

Posts: 40
Joined: Apr 2005

Wednesday November 05, 2008 9:31 AM

The answer is in AD Rule 9795.3(b)(2). Since the Administrative Director does not want to bother updating the fee schedule every few years (last update was on 4/1/97), his office back then introduced the concept of "market rate," which, of course, gives rise to dispute every time and eventually has to be resolved by a WCJ, a crapshoot in itself. When deciding market rate, you have to be reasonable and not think you can clean up just because you can speak an "exotic" language. That's what the oft-cited Chang case is all about, not no compensation at all.

Inasmuch as adjusters hold the purse string to compensation for services, the key to collecting is to make it more expensive for them not to pay you, but to achieve that, you need to know your way around the WCAB.

Edited: Wednesday November 05, 2008 at 10:21 AM by Interpreter

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