Culture, Health and the HMO:Bridging cultural and language barriers to improve health – A Health Plan's perspective

There are 311 different languages spoken in the United States, and in California, over 42% of the population over the age of five speaks a language other than English at home. The recent increase in newly immigrant populations, including Hmong resettlement in the Central Valley and the growing indigenous population throughout California who are from Mexico and Central America, has added to these numbers and has created challenges for health care agencies. Some of theses challenges for these recent immigrants include the lack of understanding of public charge, the lack of interpreters in indigenous languages, and lack of understanding the managed care system and how to access it. Providers also find themselves frustrated because there is a cultural disconnect. Many of these newly arrived immigrants into California are so new to the United States, that cultural information has not been circulated to many care givers. Health Net will share their successes and barriers to establishing programs in support of recent arrivals. Participants will learn the critical steps we took in working with diverse groups and organizations, and how it can be replicated for various organizations. An example in California's Central Valley has been Health Net's involvement in the Hmong Refugee Resettlement Project. As a health plan, we understand the importance of partnering with local community based organizations and building community connections to ensure we build a support network to address the different health needs of all newly immigrant populations.