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CLAS Standards

With the increasing diversity of the United States’ population, physicians are more and more likely to encounter situations that require the delivery of culturally competent care, access to a vast array of language services, and supportive health care organizations.

Heritage Health - Nebraska Total Care 

Any health and healthcare organization addressing mental, social, spiritual and physical well-being can benefit from the adoption and implementation of the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards from the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. The Standards aim to advance health equity, improve quality and help eliminate health care disparities by providing a framework for implementing culturally and linguistically (language) appropriate services throughout an organization.

Free Services for Provider Offices’ Use

Nebraska Total Care is committed to ensuring the linguistic needs and cultural differences of our members are met and provides an array of services through internal sources and external partnerships.

  • Access to individuals who are trained, professional interpreters. Nebraska Total Care offers face-to-face or telephonic interpreter services that may be arranged through Member Services. We request a five-day prior notification for face-to-face services. This includes interpretation for spoken languages as well as for hearing impairment. All providers (Medical, Behavioral, Pharmacy, etc.) can call Member Services at 1-844-385-2192 (TTY 711) to help arrange interpreter services.
  • Over-the-phone interpreter services are available 24/7, in approximately 150 languages, to assist providers and members in communicating with each other when there are no other translators available for the language. In addition, TDD/TTY access is available to members who are hearing-impaired. All providers (Medical, Behavioral, Pharmacy, etc.) can call Member Services at 1-844-385-2192 (TTY 711) to help arrange interpreter services.
  • The free Nebraska Total Care 24/7 Nurse Advice Line can assist members with medical questions and triage care. Call 1-844-385-2192 (TTY 711).
  • Community Health Services helps Nebraska Total Care members that need social services to facilitate successful medical treatment. Call 1-844-385-2192 (TTY 711).

Think Cultural Health is dedicated to advancing health equity at every point of contact. 

Nebraska Office of Health Disparities and Heath Equity (OHDHE) works to improve health outcomes for Nebraska's culturally diverse populations through a vision of health equity for all Nebraskans. Their website includes training, reports and resources. 

Health Resources and Services Administration offers health literacy tools for providers to address the unique culture, language and health literacy of diverse consumers and communities. 

CLAS in Maternal Health Care On-Demand Training helps guide maternal healthcare professionals by training them on delivering culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS). This free, 2-hour e-learning program is designed for providers seeking knowledge and skills related to cultural competency, cultural humility, person-centered care, and combating implicit bias across the continuum of maternal health care.

"I Speak" Language Identification Tool (PDF) assists individuals who are not proficient in English to identify a preferred language. This poster contains more than 15 languages. Nebraska Total Care provides interpretation for all members in whatever language they prefer.

Provider Effective Communication (PDF) guide is intended to show you and your staff how to help patients understand their health and health care, so they can manage their health needs and feel comfortable discussing those needs with you.