NRS 629.670: Interpreters: Duties to provide and pay cost; duty to utilize qualified interpreter; exceptions.

1. A provider of health care shall not:

(a) Require a person with limited English proficiency to provide his or her own interpreter or pay the cost of an interpreter;

(b) Utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 629.690 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2 or 3;

(c) Utilize a child who is less than 18 years of age to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2; or

(d) Utilize a person under the supervision of the provider of health care who is not an interpreter or a translator qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency.

2. A provider of health care may utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 629.690 or a child who is less than 18 years of age to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency on a temporary, emergency basis if:

(a) There is an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of any person or the public;

(b) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690 is not immediately available;

(c) The provider of health care is attempting to find an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690; and

(d) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690 later confirms or supplements the initial communications with the interpreter utilized pursuant to this section.

3. A provider of health care may utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 629.690 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency if the person with limited English proficiency requests for the adult to interpret or facilitate communication for him or her. Such a request must be:

(a) Made without the adult present to an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690;

(b) Agreed to by the adult;

(c) Documented in the record of the person with limited English proficiency; and

(d) Deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the provider of health care.