Dear Secretary Sebelius:
The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) thanks the Center for Consumer Information Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the opportunity to comment on the recent “Essential Health Benefits Bulletin” (“Bulletin”) dated December 16, 2011, outlining HHS’ regulatory approach to the development of the essential health benefits package pursuant to Section 1302 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For 25 years, APIAHF has dedicated itself to improving the health and well-being of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities living in the United States and its jurisdictions. A uniform and comprehensive package of essential health benefits (EHB) has the potential to improve the health and health care of the 2.4 million uninsured Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPI) in the United States.