We are organizations that work with and advocate for Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations, deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, blind persons, and people who cannot rely on speech to be heard and understood. We write to you in support of ensuring the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic adequately meets the communication and language access needs…
I am writing you, as you develop the highly needed next phases of COVID-19 response legislation, to ask that you include in it the bipartisan Covering Our FAS Allies Act (COFA Act, H.R. 4821 and S.2218). We appreciate that the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act (H.R. 6379) did include this measure, though we…
In recent weeks, state and local officials have documented that communities of color are being disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. While anyone can be at risk for infection from the novel coronavirus, in the United States many systemic inequities, discrimination, and harmful social determinants of health have led to long-standing disparities in communities of…
In recent weeks, state and local officials have documented that communities of color are being disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. While anyone can be at risk for infection from the novel coronavirus, in the United States many systemic inequities, discrimination, and harmful social determinants of health have led to long-standing disparities in communities of…
The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) submits this comment letter in response to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Notice of Benefit and Payment parameters for 2021 proposed rule (“proposed rule”). We raise concerns about several issues impacting consumers, and particularly those who are racial and ethnic minorities, limited English…
The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) submits this comment on the proposed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fee Schedule, published on November 14, 2019. We are concerned about a number of the fee and policy proposals in the published fee schedule, and request that USCIS withdraw all provisions that make immigration…
As organizations, businesses and community groups working to remove barriers to healthy living, we urge Congress to fix a legislative oversight that has led to inequitable access to health care for thousands of Pacific Islanders in the United States. Since the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), people residing in…
Re: Notice of Information Collection Under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Emergency Review: Immigrant Health Insurance Coverage APIAHF comments on the Department of State’s Notice of Information Collection Under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Emergency Review: Immigrant Health Insurance Coverage regarding Form DS-5541. We write out of deep concern and opposition to both…
APIAHF opposes the proposed changes to Section 1557 in the proposed rule that would limit application of the law to certain covered entities, eliminate protections for LGBTQ+ persons and persons needing reproductive health care, and roll back and eliminate certain language access protections. The NPRM runs counter to the explicit text of Section 1557 and…
The proposed rule would lead to enormous upheaval and harm in the lives of the communities APIAHF advocates on behalf of. Despite this significant change, DHS has provided wholly insufficient evidence for why it is needed, both in terms of alleged policy problems and any circumstances that have changed since the guidance it seeks to…
