HEALTH DISPARITIES BLOG

January 15, 2009

Interpreters in the doctor's office

In an earlier post we linked to an article in the Tennessean that reported on the challenges some doctors face when providing care to those with limited English skills.

Today, LATimes.com is reporting on a new California law that requires health insurers to provide interpreters for those with little or no English language ability.

Because [Maribel Pantoja] speaks only Spanish, there is usually an added level of anxiety when she visits a clinic. But a new first-in-the-nation state law requiring health insurers to provide interpreters for members with limited English skills spared Pantoja the confusion of trying to communicate with her doctor Tuesday.

Pantoja's face relaxed when she peered at a computer screen equipped with a webcam and saw an interpreter. After patient and interpreter greeted each other in Spanish, the nurse asked questions and Pantoja answered.

Afterward, Pantoja said the webcam made her latest visit to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center better than the rest; she actually understood every word.

In addition to providing interpreters the law also requires health insurance companies to translate their forms into the top 2 languages of their members.

The law, Senate Bill 853, was originally signed in 2003 but shelved by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

While the law requires insurers to provider translation services there seems to be no mention of how the uninsured in California can obtain those same services.