Regional, language differences affect Hispanics’ health-care experiences

“Hispanics face multiple barriers to health care, but their experiences in the health-care system can vary widely by language and geographical area, according to a new University of Florida study.

In the study of Hispanics enrolled in Medicare-managed care programs, Spanish-speaking patients reported more negative experiences with care than did English-speaking Hispanic patients. However, Spanish speakers in Florida were more satisfied with their health-care experiences than their peers in California and the New York/New Jersey region ”” a finding that could be attributed to the “Miami effect.” The results appear in the October issue of the journal Health Services Research.

“Eighty-six percent of the Spanish-speaking survey respondents from Florida live in the Miami area, the U.S. city with the highest proportion of Hispanic residents,” said lead investigator Robert Weech-Maldonado, an associate professor in the department of health services research, management and policy at the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions. “Spanish is one of the primary languages in Miami and there is an excellent network of Spanish-speaking health providers.””

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