This analysis examined trends in language assistance reported by adults with non-English language preference and considered whether changes occurred following the 2016 mandate. Authors used 2011–2023 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data that focused on adults (aged ≥18 years) with a non–English-language preference, a typical source of medical care, and a need for someone to help them understand the physician and who answered the question, “Who helped you understand your doctor?”

Findings: A weighted sample of 6,298,148 participants across 13 years was analyzed (44.5% aged 18–49 years and 55.6% aged ≥50 years; 59.1% female and 40.9% male; 16.0% self-identified as Asian, 82.7% as Hispanic/Latino, and 1.3% as other [American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, white, or multiracial] race and ethnicity). Of participants needing assistance to understand their physician in the pooled analytic sample, 18.0% interacted with professional interpreters, 53.6% received assistance from medical staff, 17.5% relied on an adult family member or friend, 6.3% used nonmedical office staff, 1.9% reported no assistance, 1.5% indicated other means (e.g., other patients), and 1.1% reported a minor child as interpreter.

There were notable trends in the proportion of participants using professional interpreters, rising from 8.3% in 2011 to 34.9% in 2023, while assistance from medical staff declined from 62.0% to 27.8% over the same period. Analysis showed a significant post-2016 trend increase only for nonmedical office staff assistance.