Many State Departments of Health require providers and their office staff who have regular contact with members to certify annually the completion of Cultural Competency Training.
Versant Health believes Cultural Competency and Sensitivity is an essential part of the member’s experience. Training resources are delivered via multiple channels to all providers.
Provider Manual
Providers agree to cultural competence when accepting the expectations as laid out in the Versant Health Provider Manual provided upon joining the network. Cultural Competence and Sensitivity is addressed on pages 42-43 of the Versant Health Provider Manual.
As established by the Participating Eye Care Professional Agreement, Eye Care Professionals must provide covered services in a culturally competent and sensitive manner to all Versant Health members, including those with limited English proficiency and diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Eye Care Professionals will only be able to provide culturally competent services if cultural knowledge and sensitivity is incorporated into the office policies, procedures and service manuals.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health has established fifteen (15) standards to advance health equity, improve quality, and eliminate health care disparities. These standards may be reviewed by going to www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov and reviewing the Office of Minority Health’s Cultural Competency information.
Translation services at no cost to the patient during the provision of services are available through Versant Health for members requiring communication in a language other than the languages available at the participating Versant Health office. As a best practice, Eye Care Professionals should contact Eye Care Professional services 877-235-5317 at least seven (7) business days prior to the patient’s appointment to request translation services. The patient’s language preference must be documented in the patient’s clinical files. Refusal by a patient to accept access to language assistance through the Company at no cost to the member should also be documented in the clinical files.
Provider Resource Center
In addition, providers have access to Cultural Competency trainings 24/7 via the Provider Resource Center (links below). These trainings are available for review for the provider and their staff.
Think Cultural Health
Cultural and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Training Program and the Special Needs Plans (SNP) Model of Care Training are provided by the Minority Health (OMH) at the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/resources/library
Please check your specific state guidelines to ensure you and your office are compliant with any training and attestation guidelines.