California Policy Update – February 2007
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to Inform CA Health Proposals
APIAHF is looking for individuals in California who are willing to share their stories. Stories about the challenges that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders face in seeking medical care. We are looking for an individual who:
- Is willing to talk talk about his or her health care in California,
- Is Asian American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and
- Has experienced difficulty in obtaining medical care.
As APIAHF analyzes the current state health proposals on universal health coverage, our goal is to make sure that the voices and experiences of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) inform the health care reform debate in California. For more information on how you can get involved in California, please call 415-954-9988, and ask to speak with Hemi Kim.
Achieving “Quality Care” for People who Already Have Health Insurance
In December 2006, California’s Medi-Cal Language Access Services Taskforce was formed under the leadership of the Department of Health Services (CDHS), and Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC). The Taskforce was created in response to SB 1405 (Soto), a bill that APIAHF co-sponsored with LCHC, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), and the California Primary Care Association (CPCA).
The Taskforce is charged with recommending to CDHS a model for the delivery and reimbursement of language services in Medi-Cal. APIAHF is serving on the Taskforce, alongside over twenty representatives from state governmental agencies, provider and consumer health organizations, and the Council on Multicultural Health. The Taskforce has workgroups on delivery systems, cost/finances, quality standards, and accountability.
In January, APIAHF edited and shared with Taskforce members a draft document that summarizes what changes consumers and providers want in a newly designed Medi-Cal system. The document was informed by all LAAP partners, as well as LAAP’s consumer and provider stakeholder groups on language access.
Publications
APIAHF is developing factsheets on topics relevant to cultural competency and language access in health care. In December 2006, APIAHF released factsheets on health insurance rates [PDF] as well as data collection [PDF].
For More Information, contact:
Hemi Kim, Policy Analyst
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
450 Sutter Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94108
Email: hkim@apiahf.org , Tel: 415-954-9988, Fax: 415-954-9999
