A Secret Shopper Study of Language Accessibility of Community-Based Behavioral Health Services for Children in Families Who Speak Spanish and English.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare outpatient behavioral health scheduling for children in Spanish-speaking families in Pennsylvania with that for children in families who speak English.

Study Design: We made paired English and Spanish telephone calls to outpatient behavioral health facilities using a standardized script, describing a simulated, stable, Medicaid-insured child. Facilities were identified using the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Online Provider Directory for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, which had 288 outpatient facilities with nonduplicate telephone numbers.