Specialty Care Utilization Among Adults with Limited English Proficiency.

ABSTRACT:

Background

People with limited English proficiency (LEP) face greater barriers to accessing medical care than those who are English proficient (EP). Language-related differences in the use of outpatient care across the full spectrum of physician specialties have not been studied.

Objective

To compare outpatient visit rates to physicians in 28 specialties by people with LEP vs EP.

Design

Multivariable negative binomial regression analysis of nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (pooled 2013-2018) with adjustment for age, sex, and self-reported health status.

Participants

149,611 survey respondents aged 18 and older.

Exposure

LEP, defined as taking the survey in a language other than English.

Main measures

Annual

SUBMITTER: Himmelstein J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9708984 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature