Non-English Speaking People With Medicare Receive Improper Care Due To Language Barriers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must do more to ensure that people with Medicare have access to interpreters in medical settings, according to a new report by the AARP Public Policy Institute. Language barriers between patients and doctors can result in poor access and quality of care. Lack of care or improper care is especially problematic in the Medicare population, since many people with Medicare have chronic, complex conditions. Federal law requires that people with limited or no English proficiency have access to interpreter services. The Civil Rights Act, Supreme Court decisions, and a 2000 Executive Order all grant CMS the authority to require that Medicare providers and private Medicare plans provide appropriate interpreter services. CMS has taken a few steps to ensure that people have access to language services, but can do more, according to the report. For example, AARP recommends that CMS establish demonstration projects that include language access components. Another recommendation calls for reimbursement of interpreter services in Original Medicare. State Medicaid programs can receive federal matching funds for providing interpreter services to enrollees; under current Medicare regulations however, neither hospitals nor doctors are required to provide such services, nor can they seek reimbursement for the services from Medicare. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), interpreter services would cost about $4.04 per visit through Original Medicare. Further, OMB estimates that any increased cost would likely be offset by savings that would result from fewer emergency room visits, elimination of unnecessary tests, and improved treatment. AARP also recommends that CMS include questions about access to language services in the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey, which asks people with Medicare to evaluate their experience with a health care provider. This survey is currently available in only English and Spanish, and AARP recommends administering the survey in more languages. Link to Full Report