Access to Language Interpretation Services at Health Care Facilities Providing Care to Adults Diagnosed with HIV in the United States, 2019.

introductionPeople with limited English proficiency (LEP) experience barriers to healthcare access and optimal outcomes. Language interpretation services can facilitate clear communication- which is key to effective HIV care and treatment.

methodsWe analyzed weighted data from the 2019 cycle of the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP), a cross-sectional, complex sample survey of U.S. adults with diagnosed HIV, and data from the 2021 MMP Facility Survey, a survey of facilities providing care to 2019 MMP respondents. We estimated the percentage of people with HIV (PWH) with LEP who received care at facilities offering language interpretation services and facilities providing language interpretation services, overall and by selected characteristics.

resultsOverall, 89.9% of PWH with LEP received care at a facility with language interpretation services, and 83.6% of facilities provided language interpretation services. PWH with LEP who were unemployed were less likely than those who were employed to receive care at a facility with language interpretation services. Facilities that were Federally Qualified Health Centers, were not private practices, received Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding, and accepted public health care coverage were more likely to provide language interpretation services than facilities without these characteristics. DISCUSSION: Most PWH with LEP obtained HIV care at health care facilities providing language interpretation services, a positive finding as language is a common barrier to accessing care for people with LEP. Most facilities also provided language interpretation services, an important step towards ensuring meaningful access for people with LEP, as required by law.

conclusionOur findings demonstrate that most HIV care facilities are providing access to language services to PWH with LEP in the United States.