Establishment of the Multi-State Plan Program for the Affordable Insurance Exchanges

AA and NHPI communities are extraordinarily diverse with dozens of different cultures and languages. Discrimination related to culture, language, affordability, and restrictions on legal immigrants continue to impose major barriers to accessing quality health care for AAs and NHPIs. The proposed regulations make clear that neither the Multi-State Plan Program (MSPP), nor issuers of Multi-State Plans (MSPs), nor MSPs can discriminate based on race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.1 Since robust enforcement of non-discrimination procedures including appropriate translation of health materials is crucial for our communities, APIAHF joins with The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in commending OPM for including the full range of classes protected against discrimination under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).