Key stakeholders agree that better data on patients’ language are needed to effectively address language-related barriers to timely, high-quality healthcare.
- In 2008, 74.0% of health plans collected language data (commercial 60.0%, Medicaid 89.1%, Medicare 91.7%); an increase since 2003.
- Health plans cited a variety of strategies for improving the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services and nearly all plans reported offering language services in 2008.
- Health plans may be uniquely positioned to implement and test interventions that aim to improve appropriate utilization of language services.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Mei Leng, MS, for her assistance with data analysis. Ms Leng is affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and her time was supported through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program. The authors also thank Claire B. Gibbons, PhD, MPH, Project Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Foundation Project Director, Barbara D. Lardy, MPH, for their guidance and support. Information related to this study was presented in a poster session at the AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting held on June 12- 14, 2011, in Seattle, WA.
Author Affiliations: From David Geffen School of Medicine (EHL, JJE), University of California, Los Angeles; America’s Health Insurance Plans (RC, GV), Washington, DC.
Funding Source: Support for this study was provided by a grant (#62295) from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Additionally, Dr Lawson’s time was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program.
Author Disclosures: Drs Lawson and Escarce report receiving an honorarium from the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Foundation to perform this work. Ms Carreón and Mr Veselovskiy report employment with AHIP and payment for involvement in the preparation of this manuscript from the foundation.
Authorship Information: Concept and design (EHL, RC, GV, JJE); acquisition of data (RC, GV); analysis and interpretation of data (EHL, GV, JJE); drafting of the manuscript (EHL, RC, GV, JJE); critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content (EHL, RC, JJE); statistical analysis (EHL, JJE); obtaining funding (RC); administrative, technical, or logistic support (EHL, RC); and supervision (JJE).
Address correspondence to: Rita Carreón, BS, Deputy Director, Clinical Strategies & Health Care Equity, America’s Health Insurance Plans, 601 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, South Building, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20004. E-mail: rcarreon@ahip.org.
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