WASHINGTON—The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL), and National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP) raised concerns about the reorganization of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its potential consequences for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.

“The reorganization of HHS must be undertaken with a firm commitment to addressing the health challenges and disparities that AANHPI communities continue to face,” said Juliet K. Choi, president & CEO of APIAHF. “We are concerned that the changes to HHS’s structure could inadvertently dilute resources that are essential to ensuring culturally and linguistically competent care for our communities. We urge HHS to ensure that the reorganization does not weaken efforts to tackle evidence-based persistent health disparities and access to services in local communities, and to progress our shared goal of helping all Americans.”

AANHPI populations have long faced systemic barriers to healthcare access, including a lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate services, and significant disparities in chronic disease prevalence, the utilization of mental health services, and tobacco cessation. We are particularly alarmed by the dismantling of HHS regional offices, many of which work directly with AANHPI communities. These offices serve as critical points of engagement, providing essential services, outreach, and resources that support positive health outcomes in historically underserved communities. Their elimination could further isolate AANHPI populations from necessary healthcare services and mask the immediate needs from communities that are struggling.

“We urge HHS to provide transparency and meaningful engagement with community stakeholders as it moves forward with this reorganization,” added Rod Lew, Executive Director of APPEAL. “The voices of AANHPI communities must be at the table to ensure their health needs are not overlooked. We remain committed to working with federal partners to ensure the health of our communities remains a central focus of all policy and organizational decisions.”

“Our physicians are providing care to AANHPI patients in many settings, including community clinics, academic centers, small practices and public health settings,” remarked Winston Wong, MD, chair & CEO of NCAPIP. “These dramatic reductions to the HHS workforce directly impact the quality and availability of services to AANHPI patients and communities that rely on our physicians to meet their special cultural and linguistic needs.”

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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.

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Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL) is a national organization working towards social justice and a tobacco-free Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) community.

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NCAPIP was established 15 years ago to support physicians to meet the needs of their AANHPI communities.