Health care that responds to the health beliefs and practices of patients can improve health outcomes. Because the newly insured will be from diverse communities, providers’ cultural and linguistic competence will be key to meeting their care needs.

*Milestone details:

*Full name: Develop a plan to enlist and retain adequate numbers of culturally and linguistically competent providers.

*Relevance to the ACA:

The ACA does not require a state plan to attract culturally and linguistically competent providers. It does include resources states can use to improve cultural and linguistic competence among healthcare providers.

§5307 – Funds development, evaluation, and distribution of cultural competency training for health professionals. Requires HHS to collaborate with health professional societies and schools, licensing and accreditation agencies, and others.

§5401 – Funds recruitment and training for minorities interested in health careers.

§5402 – Raises the repayment amount eligible to disadvantaged minorities under the Faculty Loan Repayment Program.

§5403 – Grants to Area Health Education Centers to recruit individuals from minority, disadvantaged, or rural backgrounds to health professions.

§5404 – Expands the allowable uses of workforce diversity grants.

§3502 – Requires states that choose to form federally-funded health teams to ensure those teams help providers deliver culturally-appropriate care.