...Medicaid; Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Program; and Basic Health Program Publish Date: January 2024 Type: Testimony and Comments Topics: ACA, CMS, Medicaid, medicare Ethnicity: Language: State: 31 CFR Part 33 and 45 CFR Part 155: Section 1332 Waivers We support the proposed changes to Section 1332 waiver processes allowing states the opportunity to hold post-award forums and public hearings virtually and through digital platforms. 42 CFR Parts 435 and 600: Medicaid Eligibility for the States, District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, and Administrative Practice and Procedure, Health Care, Health insurance, Intergovernmental Relations, Penalties, Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements We support the proposed changes to allow states to implement a less restrictive Medicaid income eligibility methodology for specific non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) populations and tailor income and/or resource disregards for discrete subpopulations in the same eligibility group. 45 CFR Part 155: Exchange Establishment Standards and Other Related Standards under the Affordable Care Act Approval of a State Exchange (Section 155.105) and Election to Operate an Exchange after 2014 (Section 155.106) We support the proposal to require that a state seeking to operate a state-based exchange must first operate a state-based exchange using the Federal platform (SBE-FP) for at least one plan year. Additional Required Benefits (Section 155.170) We strongly support the proposed change to allow that state-mandated benefits added after December 31, 2011 to be considered Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) and therefore not subject to defrayal. Consumer Assistance Tools and Programs of an Exchange (Section 155.205) We support the proposed changes to establish additional minimum standards for exchange call center operations, and the inclusion of such additional requirements in the state exchange blueprint application. Requirement for Exchanges to Operate a Centralized Eligibility and Enrollment Platform on the Exchange’s Website (Sections 155.205(b) and 155.302(a)(1)) We strongly support the changes to Sections 155.205(b) and 155.302(a)(1), as they provide applicants with important flexibility during enrollment and take critical steps to protect QHP applicants from incorrect eligibility determinations made by non-marketplace entities. Adding and Amending Language to Ensure Web-brokers Operating in State Exchanges Meet Certain HHS Standards Applicable in the FFEs and SBE-FPs (Section 155.220) We support the proposed alignment of consumer protections across exchanges through a nationwide standard. Failure to Reconcile (FTR) Process (Section 155.305(f)(4)) We support CMS’ efforts to promote continuity of coverage, encourage compliance with filing and reconciling requirements, minimize the risk of large tax liabilities for (APTC) recipients and avoid situations where enrollees become uninsured when their APTC is terminated. Verification Process Related to Eligibility for Enrollment in a QHP through the Exchange (Section 155.315(e)) We support the proposed changes to Section155.315(e), permitting all marketplaces to accept applicants’ attestation of incarceration status without additional electronic verification. Initial and Annual Open Enrollment Periods (Section 155.410) We support the proposed changes to align state marketplace open enrollment periods and require that all state marketplaces adopt an open enrollment period that begins on November 1 of the calendar year preceding the benefit year and ends no earlier than January 15 of the applicable benefit year. Effective Dates of Coverage (Section 155.420(b)) and Monthly Special Enrollment Period for APTC-Eligible Qualified Individuals with a Household Income at or Below 150 Percent of the Federal Poverty Level We support the proposed changes at Section 155.420 to minimize potential coverage gaps by aligning effective coverage dates across all exchanges such that people enrolling in coverage during a special enrollment period (SEP) have coverage effective on the first day of the month after they make their plan selection. Establishment of Exchange Network Adequacy Standards (Section 155.1050) We support the proposed changes to require state-based marketplaces (SBMs) and SBE-FPs to establish quantitative time and distance standards for all QHPs that are at least as stringent as the network adequacy standards in federally-facilitated exchanges (FFEs). Proposal Related to QHP Reporting on Telehealth Services We appreciate the Federal government’s continued efforts to understand access to telehealth services to inform future policies and believe that community voices should be centered in future policy through strategies like regional listening sessions in multiple languages, trusted community partnerships, and infusing resources into communities with limited broadband access or digital literacy. 45 CFR Part 156: Health Insurance Issuer Standards under the Affordable Care Act, Including Standards Related to Exchanges State Selection of EHB-Benchmark Plans for Plan Years Beginning on or after January 1, 2027 (Section 156.111) In general, we support the proposed changes to reduce the burden on states when making updates to EHB benchmark plans. Provision of EHB (Section 156.115) We strongly support CMS’ proposal to remove the regulatory prohibition on issuers from including routine non-pediatric dental services as an EHB. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and Asians (ages 20-49) have been reported to have some of the lowest access and utilization of dental services. Prescription Drug Benefits (Section 156.122) and Coverage of Prescription Drugs as EHB We support the adoption of the USP Drug Classification (DC) to replace the USP Medicare Model Guidelines (MMG). Standardized Plan Options (Section 156.201) We appreciate CMS’ continued efforts to ensure the availability of standardized plan options and to require issuers to differentially display standardized plans. Such plan options are an essential tool for increasing enrollment while optimizing affordability of coverage and access to services that can address health disparities in marketplace coverage.

Publish Date: August 2023 Type: Fact Sheet, FAQ, Infographics, Public Health Alerts Topics: ACA, Health Care, Health Insurance, Open Enrollment Ethnicity: Language: English State: There is no way to know who will develop cancer or other health problems from HPV infection. However, HPV vaccination could prevent more than 90% of the estimated 33,700 cases of cancer attributable to HPV infection that are diagnosed each year in the U.S. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, Asian and Pacific Islander women are 20% less likely to be immunized against HPV compared to non-Hispanic White women.

Publish Date: August 2023 Type: Fact Sheet, FAQ, Infographics, Public Health Alerts Topics: ACA, Health Care, Health Insurance, Open Enrollment Ethnicity: Language: English State: The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and the most widely used vaccine in the world. The hepatitis B vaccine is 2, 3, or 4 doses depending on the type. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up over 50% of hepatitis B cases in the U.S. and are 5 times more likely to die from hepatitis B-related diseases than White, non-Hispanic people.

Publish Date: May 2024 Type: Infographics Topics: Ethnicity: Language: State: As people prepare to travel for the summer, it is important to remember that measles can be passed to your child by unvaccinated travelers: mostly Americans and sometimes foreign visitors who get measles while they are in other countries. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider to make sure your child is up-to-date on their measles vaccination!

Publish Date: May 2024 Type: Testimony and Comments Topics: Advocacy, Affordable Care Act, Comment Letter, Comment Letters, Health Care, Health care access, Health care disparities, Health care reform, Language access Ethnicity: Language: State:

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) dramatically changed the private insurance landscape, providing health coverage for millions. The success of the ACA and efforts to build on it show that strategic policy interventions can significantly improve health coverage affordability, particularly for communities that struggle the most with access. However, to fully realize the ACA’s potential and build on this success, further improvements are needed. Enrollees in ACA marketplace plans — like others with private health insurance, including employer sponsored insurance — continue to face high out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. These affordability challenges have a pronounced impact on access to care and economic security, especially for people with low incomes and members of certain racial and ethnic groups who have faced barriers to robust health coverage and good health because of racism and discrimination in areas such as employment, education, and housing. A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) sheds light on these challenges and provides a vision, built on the strong foundation the ACA provides, for marketplace coverage that enrollees can afford to use. CBPP’s new report – which reflects findings from the Marketplace Affordability Project (MAP), an 18-month initiative from CBPP supported in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – focuses on a set of policy proposals that would: Ensure affordable premiums; Reduce cost-sharing; Strengthen coverage requirements; Create federal backstops for coverage; and Simplify plan options and enrollment pathways. These proposals were informed by marketplace enrollees; people who provide marketplace application and enrollment assistance; patient groups; national groups representing specific racial, ethnic, disability, and age constituencies; and health policy experts. To learn more, please visit: https://www.cbpp.org/MAP-Report

Publish Date: April 2024 Type: Fact Sheets Topics: Uterine Health Ethnicity: Language: English, Arabic, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese State: Did you know that Asian American and Pacific Islander people are more likely to be diagnosed with uterine cancer at a younger age and experience more severe and advanced cancer? The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) has developed a two-pager resource on uterine health for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. This resource is also available in Arabic, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

Publish Date: March 2024 Type: Fact Sheet Topics: Asian American, Health disparities, Native Hawaiian, obesity, Pacific Islander Ethnicity: Language: State: Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excess or abnormal body fat that inhibits health and social well-being, which can result from a number of factors ranging from genetic, environmental, behavioral, social, cultural, and more. Obesity is understudied in Asian Americans (AA) as well as in Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders (NHPI). View this fact sheet for more information on obesity in the AA and NHPI communities, including causes, prevention, and recommendations.

Publish Date: March 2024 Type: Fact Sheet, FAQ, Infographics Topics: Ethnicity: Language: State: 1 out of every 5 individuals who have suffered from COVID-19 will develop Long COVID, which could be associated with a rise in mental health symptoms. Learn more about the intersection of Long COVID and mental health.

Publish Date: August 2023 Type: Fact Sheet, FAQ, Infographics, Public Health Alerts Topics: ACA, Health Care, Health Insurance, Open Enrollment Ethnicity: Language: English State: The Tdap vaccine can prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person but the vaccine has been reported to be highly effective for all 3 cases.

Publish Date: August 2023 Type: Fact Sheet, FAQ, Infographics, Public Health Alerts Topics: ACA, Health Care, Health Insurance, Open Enrollment Ethnicity: Language: English State: Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. VZV stays inactive in the body after chickenpox recovery. This virus can reactivate later, causing shingles. According to a 2019 data report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 23% of Asian Americans over the age of 50 had received a dose of the shingles vaccine

Publish Date:   June 2023 Type:  Testimony and Comments, Comment Letter Topics:  Health Care Access, Public Health, Health Coverage, Medicaid, Medicare, DACA Ethnicity: Language:  English State: The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) and its national, state, and local partners strongly support the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Proposed Rule to end the exclusion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from eligibility to purchase plans and obtain subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces and other health insurance affordability programs. We further support CMS’ proposal to implement clarifications and technical corrections that will simplify ACA Marketplace enrollment and improve access to health coverage.