APIAHF works with community advocates, public health leaders and policymakers to generate policy and systems changes that benefit our communities at the national, state and local levels. As part of an ambitious framework for change in policies, in systems, and in the fundamental ways that we address health for our communities, APIAHF policy work focuses on: LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR POLICY WORK Expanding Access to Healthcare Data Disaggregation Medicare and Medicaid Human Equity and Human Rights 1 Expanding access to healthcare 2 Improving the quality of health care through cultural competency, language access and diverse workforce ​ 3 Increasing research and improving data collection about health issues faced by our communities EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE POLICY — DATA DISAGGREGATION MEDICARE & MEDICAID HUMAN EQUITY & HUMAN RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE ANCHOR JOINT STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT DECISION ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION JUNE 29, 2023 WASHINGTON — The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) on June 29, 2023 that affirmative action programs violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Today’s Supreme Court decision is a stark reminder of the challenges communities of color face, and highlights the need for continued advocacy to ensure educational opportunity and racial equity. Since its inception, affirmative action has empowered students of color to speak up and share their stories as they seek a brighter future through education and career opportunities. This, in turn, helps build inclusive and thriving communities of students and workers. Despite the outcome of today’s ruling, NCAPA remains committed to supporting affirmative action. “Affirmative action honors the diversity and cultural histories of the AANHPI community. Without it, we all stand to lose,” said Gregg Orton, National Director of NCAPA. “The Supreme Court’s decision to undo decades of progress comes at a time when communities of color are increasingly under attack. While we are disappointed in today’s ruling, we will continue fighting for a fair and equitable education for all students.” Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) said: “The Court has long held that affirmative action is vital to advancing diversity and ensuring our graduates are prepared for our multiracial workforce and society. This decision has implications not only for undergraduate admissions but also for graduate-level admissions, including medical and nursing school. Our communities’ health does best when medical professionals are more likely to understand our experiences. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders continue to be grossly underrepresented in the medical profession, and health equity is further compromised by this decision – particularly in the shadow of the impact of COVID-19 on NHPI communities, which had one of the highest per capita death rates in our nation.” Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) said: “We unequivocally condemn this decision, which ignores the systemic and racially disparate barriers to education access that have historically blocked pathways to upward economic mobility for communities of color, including Southeast Asian American communities. While the ruling is a setback to ensuring educational opportunity for all students, we are resolved to continue fighting for a future where every individual, regardless of their life circumstances, can thrive and succeed.” Estella Owoimaha-Church, Executive Director of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) said: “There is no alternative to affirmative action or race-conscious admissions for marginalized communities of color, including Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities. This decision will exacerbate structural inequities that persist for Pasifika youth. We continue to move in solidarity alongside our partners to ensure all students have access to inclusive history, culturally responsive learning environments, and diverse books. Our stories matter and deserve to be heard. Each of us has a role to play in cultivating clear paths for emerging leaders so they might forge futures once denied to our elders and ancestors.” John C. Yang, President & Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian American Justice Center (Advancing Justice – AAJC) stated: “We are outraged that the Supreme Court has ignored nearly 50 years of legal precedent in favor of supporting racial inequity that harms Asian Americans and all people of color. But we are more committed than ever to ensuring equal opportunity for our children – and for all children in this country. We will not let this court decision keep us from pushing colleges and universities, Congress, and others to keep today’s ruling from undermining the progress made toward educating future multiracial, talented leaders who deserve every opportunity to reach their highest potential on campuses that reflect the diversity of America.” Vimala Phongsavanh, Board Chair of the Laotian American National Alliance (LANA) said: “LANA continues to support what affirmative action stands for: educational equity that enables aspiring students of color to achieve in higher education and in the pursuit of their careers. Lao American students are already three times more likely not to have earned their high school diplomas, when compared with white students; undoing any progress for the AANHPI communities and the communities with which we stand in solidarity only sets us all back further.” Julie Ajinkya, Chief Strategy Officer and SVP of Research and Applied Partnerships at Asian Pacific American Islanders Scholars (APIA Scholars) commented: “APIA Scholars is an organization that supports diversity, equity and inclusion and we decry the Supreme Court’s decision today to repeal affirmative action. Numerous studies on affirmative action bans have demonstrated that the result is an immediate and long-term decrease in diversity and representation and prevents equitable access to opportunities for students. As an organization that is founded on increasing diversity and access to educational opportunities, we support affirmative action, we defend diversity and we affirm inclusivity. We do not support policies that result in the opposite outcome or any rhetoric that undermines racial equity and justice. In our survey that went out to about 22,000 high school seniors, college students and recent grads, 80% of our respondents approve of affirmative action. We believe race is part of a person’s identity and should be one of the factors that should be considered in a holistic admissions evaluation so that more students can receive a fair chance.” Christine Chen, Executive Director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIA Vote) responded: “Nearly 70 percent of Asian Americans support affirmative action, according to our 2022 Asian American Voter Survey. This decision is another unfortunate example of our Supreme Court ignoring long-held precedent, and goes against what the vast majority of our communities believe. It is disappointing Asian Americans have been used as a wedge in this debate, instead of bringing all Americans together to transparently discuss the merits of affirmative action.” David Inoue, Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) stated: “The court’s dismantling of affirmative action has been done under the presumption that equal opportunity exists for all. We know this to be false both historically and in the present. The elimination of race consciousness in college admissions and employment decisions does nothing to promote equal opportunity. It will instead cover up the incredible diversity that makes this country stronger.” Seema Agnani, CEO of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) stated: “Affirmative action continues to be a vital pathway for low-income communities of color to access educational opportunities that have been historically denied to them by systemic barriers and discrimination. Increased educational opportunities lead to better outcomes for students, families, and communities, and affirmative action is thus an important strategy in the work to close the racial wealth gap. National CAPACD supports affirmative action and underscores the importance of inclusive academic spaces that reflect the diversity of this country.” Becky Belcore, Co-Director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) responded: “We condemn the Supreme Court decision as wrong and alarmingly destabilizing to democracy. Affirmative action policies recognize the historical and present-day exclusion faced by marginalized communities – including Asian Americans – and the impacts of such exclusion, and level the playing field so that every aspiring student has opportunities in education. In ruling race-conscious admissions as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court continues its recent pattern of weakening key civil rights policies.” Thu Nguyen, Executive Director of OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates said: “The Supreme Court has chosen to ignore the reality of persistent racial discrimination and inequality in our country, and has undermined the efforts of educators and advocates to create more equitable and diverse learning environments. The ability to have a fair chance to pursue higher education in the United States is the embodiment of the American Dream. We will continue to support affirmative action policies that foster educational opportunity and access for all students, especially those from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities.” Samira Khan, President of the South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA) commented: “SAPHA firmly believes that affirmative action is vital for addressing historical disparities, dismantling structural inequities and enabling marginalized students–including South Asian students–to thrive in academic settings by creating inclusive educational environments that reflect the diverse fabric of our society. The Supreme Court ruling undermines our collective efforts to create a more just and equitable society. While we are disappointed with this ruling, we remain steadfast in our efforts to advocate for inclusive and equitable policies.” Anisha Singh, Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition stated: “Inclusive education and representation for our communities isn’t just about what’s on the curriculum—it matters who is in the classroom to begin with. For decades, affirmative action has been an essential tool to ensuring that students from all communities have access to higher education. This ruling is a step backwards.” # # # Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) coordinates and supports a coalition of forty-six national Asian Pacific American organizations that represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES

WASHINGTON— Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services released an instructional bulletin to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to ensure Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligible individuals retain their coverage during the state’s Medicaid Unwinding period. CMS released additional data that nine states, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Arkansas, South Dakota, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Montana, account for 60 percent of the decline in children’s Medicaid and CHIP enrollment from March through September 2023. In September, CMS required all states to pause disenrollment and reinstate coverage for certain disenrolled individuals under Medicaid Unwinding. The action resulted in a half-million children and their families regaining Medicaid and CHIP Coverage. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), released the following statement: “Medicaid and CHIP cover more than half of all children in the United States. We applaud CMS for ensuring children have reliable access to necessary health care as we head into winter when influenza and other illnesses need medical attention. “However, thousands of families and their children continue to face disenrollment, and it is unconscionable that this occurs due to a state’s systems and operational issues. These states must take immediate action to ensure children are protected. Today’s action by CMS reinforces the Biden administration’s policy of ensuring quality care for all families, and states must take action to ensure the well-being of our nation’s children.” # # # The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. APIAHF Comments: CMS-9895-P: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025; Updating Section 1332 Waiver Public Notice Procedures; Medicaid; Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Program; and Basic Health Program TESTIMONY & COMMENTS WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services announced that half a million children and other individuals regained coverage to CHIP and Medicaid as a result of its August call to action letter sent to all states and U.S. territories. The letter required immediate action from state Medicaid directors to address the affected families and safeguard them from improper disenrollments. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “The immediate action by CMS has resulted in necessary and life-saving health coverage reinstated for some of our nation’s most vulnerable populations. “Today shows that CMS must continue to take bold, decisive steps to mitigate the devastating impacts of Medicaid Unwinding, especially as millions of additional families face the disenrollment cliff. We urge the Biden administration to protect access to affordable health care for all families, including additional accessible resources and outreach to vulnerable communities.” # # # The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. CMS CALL TO ACTION RESULTS IN HALF A MILLION CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS REENROLLED IN HEALTH CARE COVERAGE SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services sent a letter to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to determine if they have an eligibility systems issue that could cause entire households to be disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP even if they are eligible for coverage. If a state has an eligibility systems issue, they must do the following, to avoid CMS enforcement to bring states into compliance: 1) Pause procedural disenrollments for those individuals impacted, 2) Reinstate coverage for all affected individuals and provide retroactive eligibility back to the date of termination, 3) Implement one or more CMS-approved mitigation strategies until such time that the state has fixed all systems and processes to prevent continued inappropriate disenrollments, and 4)Fix state systems and processes to ensure renewals are conducted appropriately and in accordance with federal Medicaid requirements. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “We applaud CMS for taking bold action to safeguard health care coverage for millions of families across our nation as we continue to face the devastating impacts of disenrollment from Medicaid Unwinding, which disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency. “Health care is a fundamental right, and ensuring that children and families have reliable access to necessary services is paramount. It is unconscionable for states to disenroll thousands of families, including children, due to a state’s systems and operational issues. This action today by CMS is a positive and necessary step toward protecting coverage for low-income families, and we are optimistic that the Biden administration will continue to forge forth towards affordable, quality care for all families.” # # # The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. APIAHF APPLAUDS CMS’ BOLD ACTION TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AUGUST 30, 2023 RESOURCES — CBO SURVEY CBO REPORT

CALI TRAN COVID-19 RESPONSE FELLOW OUR BOARD OUR LEADERSHIP OUR STAFF ABOUT OUR STAFF — Cali Tran is a COVID-19 Response Fellow for the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum. Advocating through a racial equity lens for Philadelphia’s various communities of color has been her personal and professional praxis. Her specialty lies in mezzo-level social work, particularly in qualitative research and program development and implementation in community-based organizations. Cali’s intersecting identities of being a queer, disabled, and neurodivergent daughter of Vietnamese refugees have informed causes close to her heart, including immigrant and refugee wellness, mental health, reproductive health, and domestic/interpersonal violence awareness and prevention. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Temple University in 2016, and a Master of Social Work degree from West Chester University in 2020. In her free time, she is a visual artist, home design enthusiast, and hobbyist anthropologist interested in foodways and cultural preservation. Next Item Previous Item BACK TO ALL STAFF

COVID-19 & Influenza HIV Education and Outreach Tuberculosis Elimination Outreach Capacity Building Initiatives PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES —

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), finalized a Rule under the Administrative Procedure Act that will expand health coverage for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients by opening up Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace plans. This Rule will benefit an estimated 100,000 Dreamers. Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) and former Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, gave the following statement: “After a historic Marketplace enrollment period, with over 21 million individuals selecting Affordable Care Act health insurance, we are thrilled by HHS’s bold action to expand access to the Marketplace to more Americans. In addition to access to affordable health coverage, Dreamers will also be able to utilize federal subsidies for these plans. “For far too long, DACA recipients, approximately 10 percent of whom are Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, have been denied access to many health care options provided by the Affordable Care Act despite living and residing in the United States. Today’s announcement continues the Biden Administration’s commitment that health care is a right, not a privilege.” ### The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. APIAHF APPLAUDS HHS ACTIONS TO EXPAND HEALTH CARE FOR DACA RECIPIENTS MAY 3, 2024 WASHINGTON – Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released revisions to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. The revised standards modernize the collection of race and ethnicity data and improve how federal agencies analyze and publish that data. Directive 15 was last updated in 1997 to create separate “Asian” and “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and expand “Hispanic” to include “Hispanic or Latino.” APIAHF President & CEO Juliet K. Choi released the following statement: “APIAHF is proud to have advocated for revised standards, including submitting comments with over 40 national, state, and local partners through the regulatory process, that would reflect the communities that span our great nation. The updated Directive 15 is the culmination of work across all communities and between federal agencies toward data equity in the U.S. “In particular, we applaud including the new Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) category. We know first-hand the importance of communities being seen and represented, and this new designation will mean critical resources, including in-language, can be delivered to MENA communities. We also applaud OMB's commitment to revising these standards and establishing a regular review ahead of each decennial census. “We look to OMB’s continued commitment to build upon this great work by requiring all federal departments and agencies to collect, analyze, use, report, and disseminate disaggregated data on communities as the minimum standards. Accurate, inclusive data is core to the work that we can achieve and has a meaningful impact on how resources are allocated. We look forward to continuing collaboration with OMB as they work to implement these new revisions.” # # # APIAHF APPLAUDS OMB REVISIONS TO DIRECTIVE 15 FOR ACCURATE, INCLUSIVE FEDERAL DATA STANDARDS MARCH 28, 2024 WASHINGTON – Tonight, in his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden outlined the Administration’s progress over the past year, and his vision for the remainder of his term. Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), released the following statement: “We applaud President Biden's and Congress' continued efforts to reduce health care costs and broaden quality health coverage for American families, including wins from the Inflation Reduction Act. “This month, we commemorate four years since the start of the deadly, global COVID-19 virus that caused devastating impacts across our country. Today, our country is back, stronger than ever, with American families seeing dividends from policies that have reduced the coverage gap, lowered prescription drug costs, and capped drug costs for seniors. In fact, in the 2023-24 ACA Open Enrollment period, a record-breaking 21.3 million Americans enrolled in marketplace health plans. “As we celebrate the wins, we also look forward to the opportunities to promote health equity in care and research mentioned tonight, including innovation for rare diseases and cancer through ARPA-H and new initiatives on women’s health research. “APIAHF is proud of the progress our country has made to strengthen and expand health care and health equity, and reiterate the President’s statements to preserve that right for all people, including protections for reproductive freedoms and privacy. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with both the Administration and Congress to improve the health of our nation.” # # # The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. APIAHF RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS MARCH 7, 2024 WASHINGTON— Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services released an instructional bulletin to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to ensure Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligible individuals retain their coverage during the state’s Medicaid Unwinding period. CMS released additional data that nine states, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Arkansas, South Dakota, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Montana, account for 60 percent of the decline in children’s Medicaid and CHIP enrollment from March through September 2023. In September, CMS required all states to pause disenrollment and reinstate coverage for certain disenrolled individuals under Medicaid Unwinding. The action resulted in a half-million children and their families regaining Medicaid and CHIP Coverage. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), released the following statement: “Medicaid and CHIP cover more than half of all children in the United States. We applaud CMS for ensuring children have reliable access to necessary health care as we head into winter when influenza and other illnesses need medical attention. “However, thousands of families and their children continue to face disenrollment, and it is unconscionable that this occurs due to a state’s systems and operational issues. These states must take immediate action to ensure children are protected. Today’s action by CMS reinforces the Biden administration’s policy of ensuring quality care for all families, and states must take action to ensure the well-being of our nation’s children.” # # # The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. STATES MUST TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HAVE MEDICAID COVERAGE DECEMBER 18, 2023 WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services announced that half a million children and other individuals regained coverage to CHIP and Medicaid as a result of its August call to action letter sent to all states and U.S. territories. The letter required immediate action from state Medicaid directors to address the affected families and safeguard them from improper disenrollments. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “The immediate action by CMS has resulted in necessary and life-saving health coverage reinstated for some of our nation’s most vulnerable populations. “Today shows that CMS must continue to take bold, decisive steps to mitigate the devastating impacts of Medicaid Unwinding, especially as millions of additional families face the disenrollment cliff. We urge the Biden administration to protect access to affordable health care for all families, including additional accessible resources and outreach to vulnerable communities.” # # # The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. CMS CALL TO ACTION RESULTS IN HALF A MILLION CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS REENROLLED IN HEALTH CARE COVERAGE SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services sent a letter to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to determine if they have an eligibility systems issue that could cause entire households to be disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP even if they are eligible for coverage. If a state has an eligibility systems issue, they must do the following, to avoid CMS enforcement to bring states into compliance: 1) Pause procedural disenrollments for those individuals impacted, 2) Reinstate coverage for all affected individuals and provide retroactive eligibility back to the date of termination, 3) Implement one or more CMS-approved mitigation strategies until such time that the state has fixed all systems and processes to prevent continued inappropriate disenrollments, and 4)Fix state systems and processes to ensure renewals are conducted appropriately and in accordance with federal Medicaid requirements. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “We applaud CMS for taking bold action to safeguard health care coverage for millions of families across our nation as we continue to face the devastating impacts of disenrollment from Medicaid Unwinding, which disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency. “Health care is a fundamental right, and ensuring that children and families have reliable access to necessary services is paramount. It is unconscionable for states to disenroll thousands of families, including children, due to a state’s systems and operational issues. This action today by CMS is a positive and necessary step toward protecting coverage for low-income families, and we are optimistic that the Biden administration will continue to forge forth towards affordable, quality care for all families.” # # # The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. APIAHF APPLAUDS CMS’ BOLD ACTION TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AUGUST 30, 2023 PRESS RELEASES — UPDATES PRESS RELEASES —

MEDICARE & MEDICAID WHAT WE DO In 2010, we worked to shape and pass the biggest expansion in health care access and civil rights in a generation through the Affordable Care Act. Now we continue to defend the law in the halls of Congress, the Administration and in the courts. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR POLICY WORK Expanding Access to Healthcare Data Disaggregation Human Equity and Human Rights Medicare and Medicaid The 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) is one of the most significant expansions in civil rights and health care since the creation of the Medicaid program in 1964. The ACA’s public and private coverage expansions have cut the uninsured rate in half for Asian Americans (from 15.1% to 7.5%) and nearly half for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (14.5% to 7.8%). Despite these historic gains, disparities within Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities remain due to varying degrees of poverty, immigration-based barriers, lack of cultural competency in the health care system, and language access barriers. ​ HUMAN EQUITY & HUMAN RIGHTS DATA DISAGGREGATION EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE MEDICARE & MEDICAID POLICY — GETTING PEOPLE COVERED AND HELPING THEM STAY COVERED APIAHF leverages a considerable network of national and community-based partners throughout the country to support continued enrollment efforts through culturally and linguistically appropriate strategies. We work with federal and state policymakers to ensure that policies and programs meet the needs of AA and NHPIs and other immigrant communities. ​ In 2012, APIAHF co-founded Action for Health Justice with the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Asian Americans Advancing Justice — Los Angeles, Asian Americans Advancing Justice — AAJC and 72 federally qualified health centers and community based organizations. Across three enrollment periods, Action for Health Justice outreached and educated nearly 1 million AAs and NHPIs in 56 different languages, helping to substantially lessen the coverage gap in these populations. KEEPING MEDICAID’S PROMISE Medicaid is a lifeline for 24 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and 16 percent of Asian Americans under 65, providing coverage they otherwise would never be able to afford. Whether it is fighting attempts to dismantle the program or addressing threats to reduce coverage for covered individuals in the states, APIAHF ensures the voices and needs of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are heard. ​ POLICY MEDICARE & MEDICAID — WHAT WE DO In 2010, we worked to shape and pass the biggest expansion in health care access and civil rights in a generation through the Affordable Care Act. Now we continue to defend the law in the halls of Congress, the Administration and in the courts. ​ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR POLICY WORK Expanding Access to Healthcare Expanding Access to Healthcare Data Disaggregation Human Equity and Human Rights

PRESS RELEASE APIAHF APPLAUDS CMS’ BOLD ACTION TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AUGUST 30, 2023 WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services sent a letter to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to determine if they have an eligibility systems issue that could cause entire households to be disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP even if they are eligible for coverage. If a state has an eligibility systems issue, they must do the following, to avoid CMS enforcement to bring states into compliance: 1) Pause procedural disenrollments for those individuals impacted, 2) Reinstate coverage for all affected individuals and provide retroactive eligibility back to the date of termination, 3) Implement one or more CMS-approved mitigation strategies until such time that the state has fixed all systems and processes to prevent continued inappropriate disenrollments, and 4)Fix state systems and processes to ensure renewals are conducted appropriately and in accordance with federal Medicaid requirements. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “We applaud CMS for taking bold action to safeguard health care coverage for millions of families across our nation as we continue to face the devastating impacts of disenrollment from Medicaid Unwinding, which disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency. “Health care is a fundamental right, and ensuring that children and families have reliable access to necessary services is paramount. It is unconscionable for states to disenroll thousands of families, including children, due to a state’s systems and operational issues. This action today by CMS is a positive and necessary step toward protecting coverage for low-income families, and we are optimistic that the Biden administration will continue to forge forth towards affordable, quality care for all families.” # # # The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES

PRESS RELEASE CMS CALL TO ACTION RESULTS IN HALF A MILLION CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS REENROLLED IN HEALTH CARE COVERAGE SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services announced that half a million children and other individuals regained coverage to CHIP and Medicaid as a result of its August call to action letter sent to all states and U.S. territories. The letter required immediate action from state Medicaid directors to address the affected families and safeguard them from improper disenrollments. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “The immediate action by CMS has resulted in necessary and life-saving health coverage reinstated for some of our nation’s most vulnerable populations. “Today shows that CMS must continue to take bold, decisive steps to mitigate the devastating impacts of Medicaid Unwinding, especially as millions of additional families face the disenrollment cliff. We urge the Biden administration to protect access to affordable health care for all families, including additional accessible resources and outreach to vulnerable communities.” # # # The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES

COVID-19 AND INFLUENZA APIAHF is closely monitoring the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) . This page will be updated regularly as news and resources develop. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES HIV Education & Outreach Tuberculosis Elimination Outreach Capacity Building Initiatives COVID-19 & Influenza CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVES TUBERCULOSIS ELIMINATION OUTREACH HIV EDUCATION & OUTREACH COVID-19 & INFLUENZA PUBLIC HEALTH INITITATIVES — OUR POLICY WORK ON COVID-19 APIAHF is advocating for an equitable federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are fighting to ensure public health officials have the detailed demographic data they need to help all communities; to guarantee people who are Limited-English Proficient have their civil rights respected; and to demand the inclusion of immigrant and AANHPI communities in the federal public health and economic responses. FIND A LOCAL VACCINE CLINIC AT www.vaccines.gov APIAHF and 27 national and community Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) partners, with the CDC, launched the National AA and NHPI Health Response Partnership (the Partnership) to offer culturally and linguistically accessible resources to AANHPI communities. ​ AA-NHPIHealthResponse.org will provide online resources to inform AANHPI populations on different pressing public health issues. In its initial phase, the Partnership included resources for COVID-19, specifically vaccinations, data accumulation efforts, public service announcements and health education. National AA and NHPI Health Response Partnership VISIT THE NATIONAL AA & HHPI HEALTH RESPONSE PARTNERSHIP RELATED RESOURCES — COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATES FROM THE CDC COVID-19 VACCINE BASICS COVID-19 LEARNING MATERIALS & GLOSSARY VIDEO RESOURCES Project Firstline, CDC’s national training collaborative for infection prevention and control, is committed to preparing frontline healthcare workers and the public health workforce to protect themselves, their patients, and their communities from infectious disease threats. ​ Healthcare workers are on the frontlines of infection control and are essential partners in stopping the spread of infectious diseases. Project Firstline provides infection control training to this workforce, across all roles and settings. ​ Project Firstline is building infection control training expertise within the public health workforce to support a culture of infection control in healthcare communities everywhere. A workforce trained in infection control can stop the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings, and protect staff, patients, and communities. ​ CDC brings decades of experience in infection control and is uniquely positioned to provide this large-scale training to healthcare workers and the public health workforce. All healthcare workers—whether in environmental services, administration, acute, or long-term care—must unite in the effort to save lives with good infection control practices every day. ​ To better inform Project Firstline’s training content, CDC and APIAHF, along with partners Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations , Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance , NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health , Philippine Nurses Association of America Foundation, Papa Ola Lokahi , and Na Limahana o Lonopuha listened to people on the frontlines of healthcare and public health. Together we will continue these dialogues to ensure that Project Firstline provides relevant and accessible trainings—trainings that present not just the recommended infection control practices, but the science and reasoning behind them. PROJECT FIRSTLINE LEARN MORE AT THE WEBSITE MEET THE CHAMPIONS VIEW CDC TRAININGS FIND IN-LANGUAGE RESOURCES PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES COVID-19 & INFLUENZA — LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES Expanding Access to Healthcare HIV Education & Outreach Tuberculosis Elimination Outreach Capacity Building Initiatives