March 9, 2026
Executive Summary
The 2025 California Primary Care Language Access Survey (CPCLAS), sponsored by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), is the first statewide assessment of language access infrastructure within California’s safety-net clinics, addressing a critical data gap as federal protections for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) populations face potential rollback. Leveraging survey data from 101 clinic leaders and 14 in-depth qualitative interviews, the report illuminates the operational realities of Community Health Centers (CHCs) and independent primary care practices serving linguistically diverse communities.
The findings reveal a disconnect between high linguistic need and available resources, but also illuminate examples of innovation and resilience that point toward a viable path forward for Medi-Cal to improve language access for LEP populations in California.
Access Challenges
- Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan (MCP) language lines require advance scheduling, administrative routing, wait times up to 30 min
- 54% of clinics pay out-of-pocket for privately contracted vendors to fill MCP gaps
- 85% of clinics do not provide multilingual staff with training for interpretation.
- Indigenous language speakers face major interpreter access gaps
Innovation and Leverage Points
- 53% of clinics report a majority-multilingual physician workforce
- Licensed Physicians from Mexico Pilot Program (LPMPP), Assembly Bill 1045 recruits bilingual MDs via Mexico pathway to curb challenges hiring and retaining bilingual primary care physicians
- 61% of clinics report 90-100% multilingual non-clinical staff
- Multi-role employed interpreter model may help clinics advance culturally competent patient care