Provider Updates for MHS
Date: 02/13/25
Welcome to Provider Updates for Managed Health Services (MHS). We strive to ensure that all network providers have the information and resources they need to serve our members.
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Serving Members Better by Speaking Their Language
Treating the whole patient – not only their conditions – is a major component of delivering quality healthcare. MHS offers you information and tools to help make that possible.
Member Demographics and Our Members
MHS members are racially and ethnically diverse. In 2020, 75.50% of Indiana residents identified as White, while 9.40% and 8.20% identified as Black or Hispanic respectively. The remaining 6.90% of Hoosiers identify as some other race or ethnicity not yet listed. MHS members largely identify as White (55.20%), Black (18.60%), Asian (2.20%) or Hispanic (1.5%); with the Race of members being unknown for 23.70% of members.
The MHS member population speaks more than seven languages and grows more diverse each year. In 2022, 91.40% of Indiana residents reported English as their preferred language, and 8.60% prefer another language. MHS identified two languages meeting threshold requirements among the population in 2023. MHS threshold languages include English and Spanish.
Table 1: State-level Race and Ethnicity Composition, N = 6,785,528
| Reported Race and Ethnicity | Percent of Population |
|---|---|
| Race | |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 0.2% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 2.5% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 9.4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 0.0% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 75.5% |
| Some Other Race alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 0.4% |
| Two or More Races, not Hispanic or Latino | 3.9% |
| Ethnicity | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.2% |
| Non-Hispanic or Latino | 91.8% |
| Diversity Index | |
| Racial and Ethnic Diversity Index | 41.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020
Table 2: Member Reported Race and Ethnicity Composition Compared to Service Area Estimates
| Reported Race and Ethnicity | Percent of Population |
|---|---|
| Race | |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 0.20% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 2.20% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 18.60% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 0.00% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 55.20% |
| Unknown/Not reported | 23.70% |
| Ethnicity | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1.50% |
| Non-Hispanic or Latino | 6.40% |
| Unknown/Not reported | 92.10% |
Source: State 834 File
Table 3: Indiana Household Language Census Data
| Top 10 Household Language Census Data | Percent Population |
|---|---|
| Speak only English | 91.40% |
| Spanish | 5.20% |
| Persian (incl. Farsi, Dari) | 0.50% |
| Bengali | 0.40% |
| Tagalog (incl. Filipino) | 0.20% |
| Russian | 0.20% |
| Haitian | 0.20% |
| Portuguese | 0.20% |
| Swahili or other languages of Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa | 0.10% |
| Other Indo-European languages | 0.10% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2022
Table 4: Threshold Language Analysis (>1% of MHS member population speaking a language)
| Language | Percent Population |
|---|---|
| English | 92.40% |
| Spanish | 6.10% |
| Haitian | 0.50% |
| Burmese | 0.50% |
| French | 0.15% |
| Arabic | 0.12% |
Source: State 834 File
Working With Interpreters in Your Practice
MHS is committed to providing staff and interpreters to help members who speak a language other than English. Not sure of your patient’s language? You may find out a patient’s language by logging on to our Provider Portal and downloading your Patient List, or by contacting MHS Member Services at the toll-free number located on the back of the member’s ID card. You may also work with the interpreter service to identify the right language.
MHS offers the following language assistance services. All interpreters are trained professionals.
Over-the-Phone Interpretation
Telephonic interpreter services are available 24/7 and in approximately 150 languages to assist providers and members in communicating with each other when there are no other interpreters available. Providers may call MHS Provider Services at 1-877-647-4848 for help with interpreter requests.
Video Remote Interpretation
Multiple languages are available for remote interpretation. Supported platforms include Zoom, Skype for Business, Google Hangouts Meet, GoToMeeting, WebEx, and any telehealth platform in which an interpreter can join as a guest or provider attendee. Please contact our Member Advocate Team at language_services@mhsindiana.com to request an Interpreter Request Form to submit your request.
In-Person Interpretation
MHS offers face-to-face interpreters practicing in more than 150 languages including Spanish, Burmese and American Sign Language. Email requests to: language_services@mhsindiana.com. When possible, MHS requests a five-day prior notification for face-to-face services.
All participating MHS providers are required to comply with certain interpreter requirements.
Providers must ensure that bilingual staff who act as interpreters are qualified and meet the quality standards, which includes documentation that the staff member’s proficiency was assessed. Providers that use bilingual staff to communicate with patients must ensure that bilingual staff can interpret effectively, accurately, and to and from the language of the patient and English, using any necessary specialized vocabulary terminology and phraseology.
Patients can never be required to bring their own interpreters.
Minors may not interpret, even if their parent or other relative consents, unless there is an emergency, and there is not a qualified interpreter immediately available.
An accompanying adult may interpret if the patient agrees and if it is appropriate to the situation.
Providers are strongly encouraged to document in the medical record the use of family, friends, and minors as interpreters. If an interpreter is offered and the patient declines, the provider should also document this in the medical record.
Reach out to your Provider Relations Specialist with MHS to learn more about these requirements, and how you can use them to make your relationship with your patients stronger and more effective.
Provider updates are posted to our website frequently.
Check the Provider News page of our website often for new information.