It’s simple, but true: Patients need to be able to trust their healthcare providers. From routine doctor’s appointments to calling their insurance provider, it’s important that patients are confident in their provider’s ability to give them the highest quality of care possible. After all, the healthcare system can be daunting — fostering a sense of … Continue reading
For millions of immigrants and refugees living in the United States, navigating essential federal programs poses quite a challenge. Individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) often struggle to access critical services like Medicare — even though these agencies are required by law to offer language access services, individuals with LEP often have trouble accessing them … Continue reading
8 Steps to Improve Inclusion for LEP Populations An inclusive community is one that welcomes and embraces people from all sorts of diverse backgrounds—race, religion, age, and even language. Here in the United States, individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) often face significant struggles to access even the most fundamental services such as government aid … Continue reading
As we enter the new year, there are a handful of important regulatory changes to keep in mind about Medicare and Medicaid. With these changes, the demand for language services like translation and localization is sure to rise in the field of healthcare. On a national level, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) … Continue reading
Every year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) release a series of star ratings that patients can use to evaluate the quality of the services that a Medicare Advantage health plan offers. As a health insurance provider, it’s important to make sure your CMS star rating is in tip top condition. CMS star … Continue reading
Public libraries are a lot more than just book repositories. Historically, public libraries in the United States have served as safe havens for community members from all walks of life. Beyond providing us with a wealth of free literature and knowledge, they also host programming, events, and resources that aim to promote a sense of … Continue reading
Language justice goes beyond language access, providing true equity for people who have limited English proficiency. Although language access — that is, enacting policies that ensure an individual’s access to important communications in their preferred language — is an important component of providing legal services to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP), it’s just a starting … Continue reading
To improve equity, one step your organization can take is to provide or expand language access for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals and communities. Language access may present itself in many ways: translated website or content, interpreters at healthcare appointments, language assistance during election time, and more. We’ve provided six essential ways to improve equity through language … Continue reading
California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) California lawmakers approved the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) in 2016, known as Senate Bill 450. The VCA “modernizes elections in California by allowing counties to conduct elections under a model which provides greater flexibility and convenience for voters.”1 The VCA expands the options for how, when, and where voters can cast ballots in … Continue reading
Providing language access to election materials helps to ensure more equitable elections in the U.S. If a person has a hard time understanding a ballot, that person will be less likely to vote. Unfortunately, this leaves a portion of the limited English proficiency (LEP) population out of the voting process – and being able to … Continue reading
Based on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, everyone is permitted the right to receive Federal financial assistance and not be discriminated against race, color or national origin. Laws have been passed at the Federal, state, and local levels to ensure equal access to services by people with limited English proficiency (LEP). In the … Continue reading
By Joanna Oseman Let’s face it–navigating our healthcare system can be a challenge for anyone. From finding a provider to searching for the right form, it’s almost never a simple activity. Now imagine that you don’t speak or read English as you try to navigate through our healthcare system. Think about what a challenge that … Continue reading
