Cultural Competency as It Intersects With
Racial/Ethnic, Linguistic, and Class Disparities
in Managed Healthcare Organizations
Cultural Competency as It Intersects With
Racial/Ethnic, Linguistic, and Class Disparities
in Managed Healthcare Organizations
Publication or External Link
Date
2004
Authors
Zambrana, Ruth Enid
Molnar, Christine
Munoz, Helen Baras
Lopez, Debbie Salas
Advisor
Citation
Zambrana, R. E., Molnar, C., Munoz, H. B., and Lopez, D. S. (2004). Cultural Competency as It Intersects With
Racial/Ethnic, Linguistic, and Class Disparities
in Managed Healthcare Organizations. The American Journal of Managed Care, 10 Spe. SP37-44.
DRUM DOI
Abstract
Culture in and of itself is not the most central variable in the
patient-provider encounter. The effect of culture is most pronounced
when it intersects with low education, low literacy skills,
limited proficiency in English, culture-specific values regarding the
authority of the physician, and poor assertiveness skills. These
dimensions require attention in Medicaid managed care settings.
However, the promise of better-coordinated and higher quality
care for low-income and working-poor racial/ethnic populations—
at a lower cost to government—has yet to be fully realized. This
paper identifies strategies to reduce disparities in access to healthcare
that call for partnerships across government agencies and
between federal and state governments, provider institutions, and
community organizations. Lessons learned from successful precedents
must drive the development of new programs in Medicaid
managed care organizations (MCOs) to reduce disparities.
Collection of population-based data and analyses by race, ethnicity,
education level, and patient’s primary language are critical
steps for MCOs to better understand their patients’ healthcare status
and improve their care. Research and experience have shown
that by acknowledging the unique healthcare conditions of lowincome
racial and ethnic minority populations and by recruiting
and hiring primary care providers who have a commitment to treat
underserved populations, costs are reduced and patients are more
satisfied with the quality of care.