Link to the University of Pittsburgh Homepage
Link to the University Library System Homepage Link to the Contact Us Form
D-Scholarship @ Pitt Banner and Links to Homepage

Ensuring meaningful health care access for persons with Limited English Proficiency: A policy brief and future directions

Whalen, Michael (2020) Ensuring meaningful health care access for persons with Limited English Proficiency: A policy brief and future directions. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

This is the latest version of this item.

[img] Microsoft Word
Submitted Version
Download (67kB)

Abstract

In the United States, more than 25 million individuals have Limited English Proficiency, or LEP, which has a large impact upon interactions with the health care setting. The language barriers faced by these individuals impact their receipt of a wide range of health care services, ranging from preventative, primary, and emergency care, while also impacting medication adherence and management of care. Ultimately, those with LEP incur great disparities in health outcomes. Both federal and state law have evolved since the 1960s to reflect better understanding of such disparities and to ensure better access to care for those facing language barriers. Laws continue to evolve, primarily at the state level, to mandate provision of quality, reimbursable interpretive services for patients with LEP. In May of 2019 the Department of Health and Human Services announced proposed revisions to its regulations implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. These changes would relax requirements that covered health care entities notify patients and members of their rights to interpretive services and relax quality standards for remote interpretive services, among other changes. These proposed changes would disincentivize the provision of meaningful language access and are not in line with the policy direction that state and organizational leaders are pursuing. As technological advancements continue to impact the manner in which care is provided, it is of great public health significance that policymakers craft legislation on the national level that ensures patients with LEP are provided meaningful access to care and that the benefits of such technological advancements are realized in an equitable fashion.

Share

Citation/Export:
Social Networking:
Share |

Details

Item Type: Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Whalen, Michaelmaw322@pitt.edumaw3220000-0001-7331-1465
Contributors:
ContributionContributors NameEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairHershey, Tinatbh16@pitt.edutbh16UNSPECIFIED
Committee MemberDocumet, Patriciapdocumet@pitt.edupdocumetUNSPECIFIED
Date: 8 April 2020
Date Type: Submission
Submission Date: 17 April 2020
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 39
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Public Health > Health Policy & Management
Degree: MHA - Master of Health Administration
Thesis Type: Master Essay
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: n/a
Date Deposited: 26 Aug 2020 15:20
Last Modified: 26 Aug 2020 15:20
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/39032

Available Versions of this Item

  • Ensuring meaningful health care access for persons with Limited English Proficiency: A policy brief and future directions. (deposited 26 Aug 2020 15:20) [Currently Displayed]

Metrics

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item