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…
In this comment letter APIAHF addresses the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Proposed Rulemaking on Supplemental Nutriton Assistance Program (SNAP) requirements and services for some adult SNAP participants without diagnosed disabilities or dependents in the household, referred to in SNAP as Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). APIAHF expresses concerns that the proposed changes would…
In this comment letter APIAHF urges CMS to take actions that would increase the number of consumers enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant plans. We have seen how the ACA has had an important impact on reducing AA and NHPI health disparities. Since the law’s passage, the percent of uninsured AAs has dropped from…
In this comment letter APIAHF expresses concerns that a number of the Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed provisions regarding Medicaid and CHIP managed care would reduce or eliminate critical patient and beneficiary safeguards. Such safeguards are essential to the Medicaid and CHIP programs, which by their program design and purpose, serve vulnerable populations…
