CALIFORNIA LEADS THE NATION IN PATIENT HEALTH RIGHTS

[Harold Schiffman]

CALIFORNIA LEADS THE NATION IN PATIENT HEALTH RIGHTS April 7, 2009
Posted by louisprovenzano


Monterey – In an unprecedented effort to improve health care quality
for millions of Californians with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
the California Language Assistance Program (SB 853), the first law of
its kind in the country, requires that all health insurers provide
interpreters and translated materials at no charge to help patients
better navigate the health care system and effectively communicate
with their doctors and other health care providers in their own native
languages.

This initiative marks the second and final phase of the California
Language Assistance Program (SB 853), which required health plan
compliance for HMO’s beginning January 1. Effective April 1, these
requirements extend to Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO’s) and
other health insurance organizations. According to the state’s Managed
Health Care Department, an estimated one-third of the 21 million HMO
and PPO members in California could benefit from the law.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 43 percent of California
residents do not speak English at home, a proportion far higher than
in any other state in the country. Latinos account for 19 percent of
total HMO enrollment, followed by Asians (12%), African Americans
(7%), and Native Americans and others (3%).

“We are very proud to be part of this groundbreaking effort and assist
millions of Californians who do not speak English with interpretation
and translation materials to effectively communicate with their
doctors,” said Louis Provenzano, President and Chief Operating Officer
of Language Line Services, the leading provider of over-the-phone and
video interpretation services working with the state’s top health care
plans such as Anthem Blue Crossin. “This landmark law will
significantly improve the quality of care received by patients and is
an important step in reducing language and cultural barriers that get
in the way of good medicine.”

The absence of language services restricts access to and decreases the
quality of health care for limited-English speaking individuals. One
study found that over 25 percent of limited-English speaking patients
who needed, but did not get, interpreter services could not understand
their medication instructions.

“Now every Californian with private health coverage will receive care
in the language that they speak and can understand,” said Marty
Martinez, Policy Director for the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
(CPEHN), which sponsored Senate Bill 853, the law establishing the
language access requirement. “In today’s complex medical world, it is
crucial to improve the communications between patients and doctors.
California is making history through the implementation of this
language access law, which will end the unnecessary distress and
confusion many LEP health plan members have when attempting to
communicate with their health care providers.”

Health care plans are responsible for ensuring that qualified
interpretation services are offered to and/or arranged for LEP
enrollees in a timely manner, at no cost, and at all points of
contact.

“We started notifying the contracted physicians, medical groups and
hospitals who participate in our health plans late last year in
preparation for Senate Bill 853 so we could be in compliance with the
new regulation,” said Laura Reno, Regulatory Compliance Director for
Anthem Blue Cross. “Helping our members get important interpretation
services can lead to better, more effective communication and
ultimately better health care. We now have the capability to help our
members communicate with plan representatives, their doctors and other
health care staff in more than 100 different languages. We are a
company that champions diversity, and having such a capability allows
us to simplify the connection between health, care and value for our
members.”

In addition to health plan providers such as Anthem Blue
Cross,advocates and consumer groups in California are working with
communities to ensure that patients know their new rights, demand them
from their providers, and know the process for filing a complaint if
they are denied their rights.

Limited English Proficient health plan members should tell their
plans, doctors, or other providers that they need language assistance
when they make an appointment. Many hospitals already provide this
type of assistance for emergency services. Patients can call the
California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Help Center at
1-888-466-2219 , or visit www.healthhelp.ca.gov, if they have
questions about the program.

http://louisprovenzano.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/california-leads-the-nation-in-patient-health-rights/

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