In the last five years, a pandemic and a rise in demand for telemedicine have proven how life-changing virtual care can be for patients across the country. While technology is a marvel, five years later, millions struggle to access these services. Language barriers act as a prevalent obstacle to receiving the quality care many people need and deserve.
In 2025, that’s far from acceptable, but Congress has the opportunity to correct this oversight by passing the bipartisan Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge (SPEAK) Act.
This patient-critical measure would require the Department of Health and Human Services to advise hospitals and health systems on how to improve multi-language telehealth services for Americans with limited English proficiency. Guidance would include best practices on the distribution of accessible instructions in multiple languages, integration of interpreters during appointments, and accessibility to non-English telehealth and patient portals.
The benefit of telehealth affects patients of all backgrounds. The extraordinary flexibility gives patients the opportunity to visit their doctor in person or online. This is especially critical for those facing extenuating family circumstances, chronic health conditions, and limited access to care, especially those in rural communities.
Telehealth opens new means of assessing how patients are doing in their home lives. For example, cardiologists can accurately observe a patient’s diet and exercise patterns, while mental health specialists can facilitate diagnosis of psychological conditions while patients are in the comfort of their own homes.
In fact, telehealth is now the standard across many medical specialties. Over 60% of psychiatric care in the U.S. is performed virtually, and multiple online check-ins with primary care providers are commonplace for patients who need extended treatment plans for chronic diseases.
Our delivery systems, however, have fallen short.
While telehealth works for many, there is a lack in accessibility for millions of Americans. More than 25 million Americans lack a working proficiency in English; therefore, interfacing with doctors and nurses in person already presents a challenge. Adding a layer of technology on top makes navigating the healthcare system more difficult.
Language barriers are significant obstacles to care that healthcare organizations must overcome. Though providers have been largely accommodating to these needs in person, these accommodations should be extended to telemedicine.
For many patients, the SPEAK Act is not just a desired solution; it is a necessity to ensure they are able to access their healthcare.
As more patients seek care in virtual spaces, we must offer equal access to the world of telemedicine. This legislative solution will issue critical guidance to providers on best practices for improving telehealth, specifically for non-English speakers.
The good news is that the cutting-edge technology is already here. Real-time translation for healthcare exists in person for thousands of hospitals around the country, and innovations such as translation carts are ready to extend those capabilities virtually.
Expanding access to these tools is a win-win. Hospitals and doctors’ offices practicing telehealth have shorter wait times for appointments and lower administrative costs. Patients who interface with telehealth providers encounter lower costs when they get their medical bills. The SPEAK Act can even cut down on healthcare waste by eliminating some of the over $1.7 billion in medical malpractice suits arising from navigating language and disability barriers.
Congress spoke for those who cannot always speak for themselves when the House passed the SPEAK Act last year. This was a step in the right direction, but patients forced to forego quality telemedicine care have been stuck in the waiting room for far too long. Together, we will work to ensure passage of this bill without further delay and send it to President Donald Trump’s desk as soon as possible.
Monica De La Cruz represents Texas’s 15th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Daniel Garza is the founder and president of the LIBRE Initiative.