Health Affairs, 24, no. 2 (2005): 435-444 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.24.2.435 © 2005 by Project HOPE	New Online   May/June Issue: Health Reform Revisited   Reform and '08 Election   Promoting off-label drug use information

This Article Full Text (HTML) Reprint (PDF) Submit a response to this article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Archive Download to Citation Manager Reprints & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ku, L. Articles by Flores, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ku, L. Articles by Flores, G. Related Collections Access To Care Business Of Health Consumer Issues Determinants Of Health Minority Health Quality Of Care

Insurers' Response

Pay Now Or Pay Later: Providing Interpreter Services In Health Care

Research amply documents that language barriers impede access to health care, compromise quality of care, and increase the risk of adverse health outcomes among patients with limited English proficiency. Federal civil rights policy obligates health care providers to supply language services, but wide gaps persist because insurers typically do not pay for interpreters, among other reasons. Health care financing policies should reinforce existing medical research and legal policies: Payers, including Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurers, should develop mechanisms to pay for interpretation services for patients who speak limited English.

                      What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. P. Derose, J. J. Escarce, and N. Lurie Immigrants And Health Care: Sources Of Vulnerability Health Aff., September 1, 2007; 26(5): 1258 - 1268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Bradshaw, S. Tomany-Korman, and G. Flores Language Barriers to Prescriptions for Patients With Limited English Proficiency: A Survey of Pharmacies Pediatrics, August 1, 2007; 120(2): e225 - e235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Divi, R. G. Koss, S. P. Schmaltz, and J. M. Loeb Language proficiency and adverse events in US hospitals: a pilot study Int. J. Qual. Health Care, April 1, 2007; 19(2): 60 - 67. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Z. Kuo, K. G. O'Connor, G. Flores, and C. S. Minkovitz Pediatricians' Use of Language Services for Families With Limited English Proficiency Pediatrics, April 1, 2007; 119(4): e920 - e927. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Hambidge, C. B. Emsermann, S. Federico, and J. F. Steiner Disparities in Pediatric Preventive Care in the United States, 1993-2002 Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, January 1, 2007; 161(1): 30 - 36. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E. Nailon Nurses' concerns and practices with using interpreters in the care of latino patients in the emergency department. J Transcult Nurs, April 1, 2006; 17(2): 119 - 128. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. L. Cohen, F. Rivara, E. K. Marcuse, H. McPhillips, and R. Davis Are Language Barriers Associated With Serious Medical Events in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients? Pediatrics, September 1, 2005; 116(3): 575 - 579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]