The United States’ health care system consistently fails people whose primary language is not English, frequently known as individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP).
These breakdowns result in increases in both unnecessary care due to misdiagnoses and poor health outcomes.
Luckily, there are clear and actionable policy interventions that Congress and federal agencies can take to address these health disparities. By increasing the quality of languages services, making them more available, and strengthening both provider and patient understanding of existing rights and tools, we can improve the health of millions of families in the U.S.
Read MoreBipartisan Language Access Developments in Congress Pave the Way for Change
Nov 6, 2023 In August, NILC documented the dire need to address health disparities through our report, Expanding Health Care Access for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). In the past month, two bipartisan bills have been introduced in...
States Need to Improve Language Access for Medicaid Renewals
Aug 9, 2023 In March 2023, after a three-year pause, states resumed terminating the eligibility of...
Improving Access to Medicaid for People with Limited English Proficiency
Apr 26, 2024 This resource presents recommendations for both state Medicaid agencies and HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve language access for individuals with limited English proficiency to promote participation in and...
New Policies Strengthen Language Access Protections in Health
Ben D’Avanzo and Gabrielle Lessard
Apr 30, 2024 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil rights (OCR) has posted its finalized regulation updating Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as the Health Care Rights Law. The final rule...