Queens, New York – Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Queens) and State Senator John Liu (D-Queens) joined community advocates and healthcare leaders outside New York-Presbyterian Queens in Flushing to call on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign their hospital language access bill (A387/S6288) into law. The legislation will ensure that patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) receive timely and accurate medical care, addressing a longstanding barrier to equitable healthcare services across New York.

The bill, sponsored by Rozic and Liu, requires hospitals statewide to provide comprehensive language access services, including interpretation and translation support, so that all patients, regardless of the language they speak, can understand their care, consent to treatment, and navigate the healthcare system safely and confidently.

Language barriers have fueled deep health disparities, particularly in communities like Queens that reflect New York’s rich linguistic diversity. The New York State Office of Language Access found that four of the five counties with the highest limited English proficiency populations are in New York City, making up 67% of the state’s total LEP population, with Queens leading at 25.5% (636,627 people). Advocates say this legislation is critical to closing those gaps and ensuring hospitals meet the needs of every New Yorker.

“Language access is health access,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. “Every patient and their family deserve to understand medical diagnosis and treatment options without fear of miscommunication or neglect. Our bill is about dignity, safety, and fairness, and it’s time for New York to make it law.”

State Senator John Liu stated, “Every second counts in a medical emergency, and no patient should ever lose precious time just because they can’t communicate with their doctor. Among all healthcare institutions, hospitals are where clear communication is most urgent, as decisions must be made fast and the stakes are high. That’s why we must ensure in-language support throughout all of New York’s hospitals so all New Yorkers can have access to safe, timely, and lifesaving treatment.”

“In my district, we are fortunate to have some of the best hospitals and healthcare providers in New York City, but for many residents accessing that care can be intimidating and confusing,” said Councilmember Sandra Ung. “Too often, patients rely on family members, neighbors, or even strangers to translate critical medical information. This legislation would ensure every New Yorker, no matter what language they speak, can understand their care, consent to treatment, and navigate the healthcare system safely and confidently. Thank you to Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and State Senator John Liu for sponsoring this bill and leading the way to make our healthcare system more equitable and accessible for all. No one should be denied the ability to make informed decisions about their health because of a language barrier.”

“As someone who came from the social services sector serving immigrant communities, I’ve seen firsthand how essential language accessibility is for New Yorkers seeking care,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addictions. “Too often, residents are forced to forgo care because of barriers tied to limited linguistic or cultural competency. I commend Assemblymember Nily Rozic for her leadership in advancing this vital legislation, which will expand language access across our healthcare system and better serve New York’s diverse communities.”

Representatives from the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), Asian American Federation, and other community-based organizations have championed language access as a fundamental component of healthcare services. They will soon release a coalition letter supporting the measure and urging Governor Hochul to sign the legislation into law.

“Language access is health equity. Right now in New York State, over a third of Asian American New Yorkers are currently limited English proficient (LEP) and these language barriers greatly impact families as they try to navigate the healthcare system. Having access to culturally responsive language assistance coordinators will be transformative for our community members seeking medical care,” said CACF’s Co-Executive Directors Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung. “We stand in strong support with Assemblymember Rozic and State Senator Liu in urging Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law to ensure that no New Yorker, regardless of the language they speak, is left behind when seeking health care services. Hospitals must commit to ensuring that their patients are able to communicate accurately with their providers to ensure they receive the care they need.”

“37.7% of Asian Americans in New York State, including 43% in New York City, have limited English proficiency," said Catherine Chen, Chief Executive Officer of the Asian American Federation. "Without proper language access in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, thousands of Asian New Yorkers have to struggle to communicate their needs and get the care they deserve. Language access saves lives and leads to healthier New Yorkers. We urge Governor Hochul to sign A387/S6288 into law so that everyone, no matter what language they speak, can get quality treatment and care.”

“English proficiency should never be a barrier to anyone seeking critical medical care,” said Thomas Yu, Executive Director of Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE). “Language barriers can lead to misunderstanding on the part of both patients and medical personnel, with potentially catastrophic consequences. We are grateful to Assemblywoman Rozic and Senator Liu for their leadership in championing this important legislation. We urge Governor Hochul to sign the hospital language access bill into law.”

“Access to healthcare is a fundamental right, and language should never be a barrier to it. Many members of our Pakistani and South Asian communities struggle to communicate effectively in hospital settings, which can lead to dangerous misunderstandings. This legislation ensures that every New Yorker, no matter what language they speak, can receive care with respect, understanding, and equality. We strongly urge Governor Hochul to sign A387/S6288 into law to ensure that every New Yorker, regardless of the language they speak, has access to quality care and dignity in treatment,” said Ali Rashid, President of the American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG), emphasizing the importance of the bill for immigrant families in Queens and across New York.

“On behalf of CAIPA, the independent practice physicians' group with 1400 doctors and healthcare providers in NYC, serving half a million Asian population in the communities, we fully support the A387B/S6288B, the bill that we require all general hospitals in New York State to establish Language Access Assistance Programs. Language access assistance is a critical healthcare component of ensuring equitable, high-quality care for patients who have limited English proficiency or communication barriers. It’s a must do for patients’ advocacy and basic rights to accessibility of medical services,” said Shirley Huang, Executive Director at Coalition of Asian-American IPA (CAIPA).

“The importance of language access is evidently clear and reinforced when we hear from community members every day who struggle to access critical services like hospital and health appointments. Too many Limited English Proficient (LEP) New Yorkers, including members of Asian American communities, face barriers when scheduling hospital appointments, understanding diagnoses, or following medical instructions simply because interpretation or translated materials aren’t readily available. Our LEP and Asian American communities deserve dignity, care, and the ability to communicate their medical needs and understand their treatment in the language they speak, especially in a timely manner. We urge the Governor to sign S6288B/A387B into law and thank Assemblymember Rozic and Senator John Liu for their leadership in uplifting our immigrant communities,” said Wayne Ho, President & CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC).

“Every day at the Korean American Family Service Center, we see how language barriers deepen fear and isolation for immigrant survivors and families seeking care. Too many of our clients, many of whom are Limited English Proficient (LEP), face daunting challenges when trying to explain symptoms, understand treatment plans, or consent to medical care. For many immigrant families, it is far too common for children to serve as interpreters for their parents in medical settings, but we must do more to ensure that no child bears that burden when it comes to their family’s health and safety. This legislation represents a critical step toward advancing equitable healthcare by ensuring that all New Yorkers, especially survivors of gender-based violence, have access to culturally and linguistically responsive care delivered with dignity, clarity, and compassion. We thank Senator John Liu, Assemblymember Nily Rozic, and all legislative champions for their steadfast leadership, and we urge the Governor to sign this vital bill into law to make equitable healthcare access a reality for all New Yorkers,” said Jeehae Fischer, Executive Director, The Korean American Family Service Center.

“This is a historic victory for health equity. For over 41 years, Minkwon Center has worked tirelessly to serve our Korean, Chinese, and AAPI immigrant communities, but we know firsthand that our efforts alone cannot fix a statewide, systemic crisis. Every day, we see how Asian New Yorkers struggle to navigate the healthcare system simply because of language barriers. Our own health survey confirmed that language is among the top three barriers to accessing healthcare, and 87% of the members we enrolled in health insurance this year do not speak English as their primary language. This isn't a mere inconvenience; it's a systemic failure with life-or-death consequences. Bill A387B/S6288B finally provides the comprehensive, statewide solution we need, ensuring that hospitals provide skilled interpreters and meaningful language access. We are immensely grateful to Assemblymember Rozic and Senator Liu for their relentless, decade-long advocacy. We strongly urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill immediately and protect the health of all New Yorkers,” said Yoon Ji Kim, Interim Executive Director at MinKwon Center for Community Action, Convener of APA VOICE.

“At this moment in time where underserved New Yorkers need more support, it is very important that they have access to healthcare at our hospitals in the languages they speak. At SACSS our staff speaks more than 20 different languages including Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka, Tibetan, Malay, Kichwa Spanish, Tagalog and English. We know how comfortable clients are when they talk to someone who understands their culture and speaks to them in the language they are familiar with. Last year alone SACSS served over 300,000 New Yorkers and they still continue to visit us as they know that they will sit and talk to a staff member who knows their language and will help them access services. We urge Honorable Governor Kathy Hochul to sign this key legislation which will transform our healthcare system and make it more accessible for all New Yorkers,” said Rehan Mehmood, Director: Health Services, South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS).