Hearing Without Understanding: A Proposal to Modify Federal Translation Guidelines to Improve Healthcare for Citizens with Limited English Proficiency
Posted: 21 Feb 2003
Abstract
Individuals with limited english proficiency have significant difficulties in obtaining access to necessary health care services in the United States. Guidelines have been issued by the federal government in an effort to address this need. However, these guidelines have created controversy in terms of provider cost and, in particular, when telephone-based language interpretation use by providers is acceptable for these patients. The authors review the background and debate in these areas. They propose a policy that allows for the use of telephone-based language interpretation services by providers through an alteration of federal policy, financial incentives via the Medicare and Medicaid system, and a federal/state certification process for telephone-based language interpretation providers.
Keywords: limited english proficiency, telephone-based interpretation, Medicare/Medicaid incentives, federal/state certification
JEL Classification: I0, I18, K23
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation