CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
                          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                         Washington, DC 20515-4603

                                June 25, 1992
Mr. John Wodatch
Director
Office on the Americans With Disabilities Act
Department of Justice
P.O. Box 66738
Washington, D.C. 20036-9998

Dear Mr. Wodatch:

        I am writing to you in regards to the Americans With
Disabilities Act (ADA) and the effect it will have on small
business, and, more specifically, doctor's practices.

        It has come to my attention that the requirements concerning
auxiliary aids contained within the ADA legislation are both
unclear in their nature, and potentially detrimental to other
health care programs. Doctors in my district have voiced
uncertainty about the situations in which they would be required to
obtain the services of an interpreter. Not only do these question
present a problem, but, should an interpreter be necessary, the
cost of the interpreter, about $50.00, is placed on the practice's
shoulders. When the patient in question is covered by Medicaid,
the doctor could end up paying $50.00 for an interpreter while
attending to a $18.00 visit. If this becomes the norm, the
Medicaid program could find itself losing a good number of doctors.

        I have enclosed a letter from my constituent, Mr. Paul E.
Galanti, the Deputy Executive Vice President of the Medical Society
of Virginia, concerning this problem. I would appreciate your
attention and comments on the matter, and I look forward to hearing
your thought. I thank you in advance.

        With kindest regards, I am

                                Sincerely,

                                Thomas J. Bliley, Jr. 
                                Member of Congress
01-01462