HHS Launches Spanish Version of mHealth App, Boosts Care Access for Latinos

The Department of Health and Human Services has introduced a Spanish version of its mHealth app to improve healthcare access for Latinos and help patients prepare for in-person and telehealth visits.

The HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is launching the app during Hispanic Heritage Month and Health Literacy Month to ensure that Spanish-speaking Latino patients have equal access to healthcare resources. 

“Making healthcare easily accessible is critical to boosting health outcomes and getting more people covered,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a press release. “The QuestionBuilder app in Spanish will be a gamechanger for many Latinos who struggle to communicate with their providers due to language barriers.”

Latinos are more likely to be uninsured compared to other racial or ethnic groups in the country, highlighting the need for targeted intervention and support. The Affordable Care Act increased access to coverage for this population, but it is still common for Latinos, especially Spanish-speaking Latinos, to delay care, according to HHS officials.

QuestionBuilder allows individuals to select questions they have for their doctors ahead of in-person or telehealth appointments. Individuals can customize the provided questions to reflect their specific health needs. 

Patients can use the mHealth app to record appointment details and take notes during the visit. They can then e-mail the information to themselves or other people.

The new version of the app offers all of these actions in Spanish. Spanish-speaking Latinos who have limited knowledge of English are less likely to access outpatient care and receive prescriptions compared to Latinos who can speak English, HHS officials noted. Spanish-speaking Latinos are also more likely to worry about medical bills.

The Spanish version of the mHealth app has the potential to improve health equity for patients who communicate best in Spanish. If patients can ask questions and prepare for appointments in their native language, they may be more comfortable accessing care. The app may also help Spanish-speaking individuals make decisions regarding their health. 

“Research clearly shows that when patients communicate effectively with their healthcare team, clinical care and outcomes improve,” David Meyers, MD, Acting Director of AHRQ, said in the press release. “Given that most US medical visits average 20 minutes or less, the app helps patients maximize the value of the time they have with their healthcare providers.”

The app offers access to information and questions which are divided into groups for different medical situations. Patients can also access educational resources that highlight the importance of asking questions and sharing information with providers. 

Individuals can upload pictures using the app to share information about a physical condition or insurance or medication information, the press release noted. The app also provides COVID-19 information in Spanish, including the most recent guidelines and vaccination information. 

Mobile phone use is popular among Latinos, HHS officials said, which makes an mHealth app a promising strategy for addressing health equity. A past analysis from Anthem also revealed that Hispanic and Latino communities used telehealth for mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic at a high rate compared to other populations. 

Individuals can download the Spanish version of the mHealth app for free through the Apple App Store or Google Play, using a smartphone, laptop or tablet.