Earlier this year Alce Su Voz published "Enhancing Infrastructure for Equitable Healthcare Language Access Services in Kansas." This white paper gives insight into the current state of language access in Kansas hospitals and proposes several actions that state agencies. Its suggestions and framework on how to improve language access in Kansas serves as a model for other states as well.
Here are some of the suggestions:
- Support development of institutional language access policy and procedures
- Provide reimbursed for interpreting services that are not covered under the MCOs,
- Assess the accessibility and quality of the interpreting services funded by the MCOs
- Gather data on needs and demographics using local health departments
- Create culturally-responsive educational materials
- Promoting the availability in the community of language access services at health
- fairs and community events
- Educate healthcare providers on the unique needs of specific cultural and linguistic groups present in their region
- Oversee state Medicaid and contracted MCOs compliance with the new Section 1557 regulations including Section 1557 coordinators, information in the top fifteen languages, and providing qualified interpreters.
- Expand outreach to Medicaid enrollees about the availability of language services
- Provide financial support for interpreter training and certification
- Programs to build a statewide workforce of qualified interpreters so jobs stay local,
- Ensure language access for speakers of less common languages and dialects
Read the full white paper and learn more about Alce Su Voz, their work, and resources here:
https://alcesuvoz.com/2025/02/26/read-our-white-paper/