For Immediate Release
December 24, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC - The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) commends the Senate for its passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R. 3590. Under Senator Harry Reid's leadership, Congress has taken an historic step toward achieving reforms that this nation's health care system critically needs. APIAHF notes important provisions in the Senate bill that would improve the quality of health care Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) populations receive.
With disproportionately high levels of breast cancer mortality, cervical cancer, mental health illness, diabetes and other health impairments, our communities will benefit from the Senate bill's provisions that would mitigate these serious disparities through coordination of research and data collection efforts and efforts that would ensure our community members feel comfortable accessing medical care. Significantly, the Senate bill notes the importance of oversampling in some communities to gather the data needed. These provisions will help to address the current paucity of data on the serious health trends affecting AAs and NHPIs. Moreover, the Senate's anti-discrimination and workforce diversity provisions will also improve the quality of and access to care our community members receive, contributing to the mitigation of health disparities.
As health care reform draws to a close, we urge Congress to ensure that the President signs legislation that further advances the health of our communities. Senator Reid's recent commitment to providing states with the option to remove the five-year waiting period imposed on newly-arrived immigrants seeking Medicaid enrollment provides a source of hope that this will be the case. We look forward to the realization of the benefits health care reform can reap for our communities.
The Asian & Paciļ¬c 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.
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