APIAHF - Press Releases APIAHF RAISES ALARM OVER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S MMR VACCINE CHANGES AND CONTINUED PROMOTION OF DISPROVEN AUTISM CLAIMS AUGUST 11, 2026 READ MORE APIAHF WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS AUGUST 4, 2026 READ MORE APIAHF MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, HIGHLIGHTING HISTORIC GAINS FOR AANHPI COMMUNITIES MARCH 23, 2026 READ MORE APIAHF RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS FEBRUARY 24, 2026 READ MORE APIAHF APPLAUDS THE PASSAGE OF THE FY2026 DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT FEBRUARY 5, 2026 READ MORE APIAHF APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF BILL CODIFYING LANGUAGE ACCESS RIGHTS JANUARY 23, 2026 READ MORE HOUSE FAILURE TO EXTEND ACA TAX CREDITS WILL DRIVE UP HEALTH CARE COSTS DECEMBER 19, 2025 READ MORE APIAHF & NCAPIP STATEMENT ON VOTE TO END UNIVERSAL HEPATITIS B SHOTS FOR NEWBORNS DECEMBER 5, 2025 READ MORE “THIS IS ABOUT SAVING LIVES”: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES JOINED PROTECT OUR CARE TO HIGHLIGHT IMPACTS OF GOP HEALTH CARE CRISIS ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR OCTOBER 22, 2025 READ MORE APIAHF RELEASES NEW PULSE SURVEY REVEALING DEEPENING CRISIS AMONG AANHPI COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AUGUST 22, 2025 READ MORE 60 YEARS LATER, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID CUTS THREATEN HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES JULY 30, 2025 READ MORE APIAHF ALARMED BY DOJ GUIDANCE UNDERMINING LEP PROTECTIONS FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE ORDER 14224 JULY 18, 2025 READ MORE PRESS RELEASES — EDUCATIONAL DIGITAL INITIATIVES RESOURCES UPDATES PRESS RELEASES UPDATES PRESS RELEASES — MORE

APIAHF influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans & Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders. Support APIAHF this Giving Tuesday to promote healthier AANHPI communities DONATE NOW OUR FOCUS — COVID-19 RESOURCES Culturally and linguistically accessible COVID-19 resources for AA and NH/PI communities 2026 START OF YEAR GIVING Donate Now! TAKE ACTION Help us protect families in the fight for health equity! OUR IMPACT — 40 Serving over 40 years of leadership, advocacy, and movement building 28m APIAHF is a leading voice for over 28.6 million AANHPIs in the U.S. 300+ Working with over 300 community organizations in all states and US territories 1m Helped enroll over 1,000,000 AANHPIs in the ACA LEARN MORE LEARN MORE PRESS RELEASE APIAHF Raises Alarm Over Trump Administration’s MMR Vaccine Changes and Continued Promotion of Disproven Autism Claims AUGUST 11, 2026 GO NOW PRESS RELEASE APIAHF Welcomes New Board Members AUGUST 4, 2026 GO NOW REPORT Seamless, Accountable, and Fair: A Civil Rights Agenda for Reconstructing Insurance Affordability Programs July 16, 2026 GO NOW TESTIMONY & COMMENTS APIAHF Comment Letter Regarding the OMB Proposed Revisions to Federal Grant Regulations JULY 13, 2026 GO NOW LATEST NEWS — FIRST NAME LAST NAME EMAIL* SIGN UP SUBSCRIBE TO THE APIAHF NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE TO THE APIAHF NEWSLETTER HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM APIAHF The 9th annual National Day of Racial Healing is Jan. 21, 2025! You’re invited to join conversations designed to share truth, deepen relationships, and build trust to create a more just and equitable world. V isit DayOfRacialHealing.org to learn more. LEARN MORE OCTOBER 2-3, 2025 CAPITAL HILTON, WASHINGTON D.C. LEARN MORE

APIAHF influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans & Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders. LEARN MORE TEST OUR FOCUS — 2024 START OF YEAR GIVING Donate Now! COVID-19 RESOURCES Culturally and linguistically accessible COVID-19 resources for AA and NH/PI communities TAKE ACTION Help us protect families in the fight for health equity! OUR IMPACT — 35 Serving over 35 years of leadership, advocacy, and movement building 25m APIAHF is a leading voice for over 25 million AAs and NHPIs in the U.S. Working with over 250 community organizations in all states and US territories 250+ Helped enroll nearly 1,000,000 AAs and NHPIs in the ACA 1m LEARN MORE PRESS RELEASE APIAHF Raises Alarm Over Trump Administration’s MMR Vaccine Changes and Continued Promotion of Disproven Autism Claims AUGUST 11, 2026 GO NOW PRESS RELEASE APIAHF Welcomes New Board Members AUGUST 4, 2026 GO NOW REPORT Seamless, Accountable, and Fair: A Civil Rights Agenda for Reconstructing Insurance Affordability Programs July 16, 2026 GO NOW TESTIMONY & COMMENTS APIAHF Comment Letter Regarding the OMB Proposed Revisions to Federal Grant Regulations JULY 13, 2026 GO NOW LATEST NEWS — FIRST NAME LAST NAME EMAIL* SIGN UP SUBSCRIBE TO THE APIAHF NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE TO THE APIAHF NEWSLETTER

APIAHF - Resources UPDATES — PRESS RELEASES DIGITAL STORIES RESOURCES PRESS RELEASE APIAHF Raises Alarm Over Trump Administration’s MMR Vaccine Changes and Continued Promotion of Disproven Autism Claims AUGUST 11, 2026 GO NOW PRESS RELEASE APIAHF Welcomes New Board Members AUGUST 4, 2026 GO NOW REPORT Seamless, Accountable, and Fair: A Civil Rights Agenda for Reconstructing Insurance Affordability Programs July 16, 2026 GO NOW TESTIMONY & COMMENTS APIAHF Comment Letter Regarding the OMB Proposed Revisions to Federal Grant Regulations JULY 13, 2026 GO NOW LATEST NEWS —

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), finalized a Rule under the Administrative Procedure Act that will expand health coverage for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients by opening up Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace plans. This Rule will benefit an estimated 100,000 Dreamers. Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) and former Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, gave the following statement: “After a historic Marketplace enrollment period, with over 21 million individuals selecting Affordable Care Act health insurance, we are thrilled by HHS’s bold action to expand access to the Marketplace to more Americans. In addition to access to affordable health coverage, Dreamers will also be able to utilize federal subsidies for these plans. “For far too long, DACA recipients, approximately 10 percent of whom are Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, have been denied access to many health care options provided by the Affordable Care Act despite living and residing in the United States. Today’s announcement continues the Biden Administration’s commitment that health care is a right, not a privilege.” ### 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. APIAHF APPLAUDS HHS ACTIONS TO EXPAND HEALTH CARE FOR DACA RECIPIENTS MAY 3, 2024 WASHINGTON – Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released revisions to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. The revised standards modernize the collection of race and ethnicity data and improve how federal agencies analyze and publish that data. Directive 15 was last updated in 1997 to create separate “Asian” and “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and expand “Hispanic” to include “Hispanic or Latino.” APIAHF President & CEO Juliet K. Choi released the following statement: “APIAHF is proud to have advocated for revised standards, including submitting comments with over 40 national, state, and local partners through the regulatory process, that would reflect the communities that span our great nation. The updated Directive 15 is the culmination of work across all communities and between federal agencies toward data equity in the U.S. “In particular, we applaud including the new Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) category. We know first-hand the importance of communities being seen and represented, and this new designation will mean critical resources, including in-language, can be delivered to MENA communities. We also applaud OMB's commitment to revising these standards and establishing a regular review ahead of each decennial census. “We look to OMB’s continued commitment to build upon this great work by requiring all federal departments and agencies to collect, analyze, use, report, and disseminate disaggregated data on communities as the minimum standards. Accurate, inclusive data is core to the work that we can achieve and has a meaningful impact on how resources are allocated. We look forward to continuing collaboration with OMB as they work to implement these new revisions.” # # # APIAHF APPLAUDS OMB REVISIONS TO DIRECTIVE 15 FOR ACCURATE, INCLUSIVE FEDERAL DATA STANDARDS MARCH 28, 2024 WASHINGTON – Tonight, in his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden outlined the Administration’s progress over the past year, and his vision for the remainder of his term. Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), released the following statement: “We applaud President Biden's and Congress' continued efforts to reduce health care costs and broaden quality health coverage for American families, including wins from the Inflation Reduction Act. “This month, we commemorate four years since the start of the deadly, global COVID-19 virus that caused devastating impacts across our country. Today, our country is back, stronger than ever, with American families seeing dividends from policies that have reduced the coverage gap, lowered prescription drug costs, and capped drug costs for seniors. In fact, in the 2023-24 ACA Open Enrollment period, a record-breaking 21.3 million Americans enrolled in marketplace health plans. “As we celebrate the wins, we also look forward to the opportunities to promote health equity in care and research mentioned tonight, including innovation for rare diseases and cancer through ARPA-H and new initiatives on women’s health research. “APIAHF is proud of the progress our country has made to strengthen and expand health care and health equity, and reiterate the President’s statements to preserve that right for all people, including protections for reproductive freedoms and privacy. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with both the Administration and Congress to improve the health of our nation.” # # # 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. APIAHF RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS MARCH 7, 2024 WASHINGTON— Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services released an instructional bulletin to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to ensure Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligible individuals retain their coverage during the state’s Medicaid Unwinding period. CMS released additional data that nine states, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Arkansas, South Dakota, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Montana, account for 60 percent of the decline in children’s Medicaid and CHIP enrollment from March through September 2023. In September, CMS required all states to pause disenrollment and reinstate coverage for certain disenrolled individuals under Medicaid Unwinding. The action resulted in a half-million children and their families regaining Medicaid and CHIP Coverage. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), released the following statement: “Medicaid and CHIP cover more than half of all children in the United States. We applaud CMS for ensuring children have reliable access to necessary health care as we head into winter when influenza and other illnesses need medical attention. “However, thousands of families and their children continue to face disenrollment, and it is unconscionable that this occurs due to a state’s systems and operational issues. These states must take immediate action to ensure children are protected. Today’s action by CMS reinforces the Biden administration’s policy of ensuring quality care for all families, and states must take action to ensure the well-being of our nation’s children.” # # # 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. STATES MUST TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HAVE MEDICAID COVERAGE DECEMBER 18, 2023 WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services announced that half a million children and other individuals regained coverage to CHIP and Medicaid as a result of its August call to action letter sent to all states and U.S. territories. The letter required immediate action from state Medicaid directors to address the affected families and safeguard them from improper disenrollments. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “The immediate action by CMS has resulted in necessary and life-saving health coverage reinstated for some of our nation’s most vulnerable populations. “Today shows that CMS must continue to take bold, decisive steps to mitigate the devastating impacts of Medicaid Unwinding, especially as millions of additional families face the disenrollment cliff. We urge the Biden administration to protect access to affordable health care for all families, including additional accessible resources and outreach to vulnerable communities.” # # # 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. CMS CALL TO ACTION RESULTS IN HALF A MILLION CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS REENROLLED IN HEALTH CARE COVERAGE SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services sent a letter to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to determine if they have an eligibility systems issue that could cause entire households to be disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP even if they are eligible for coverage. If a state has an eligibility systems issue, they must do the following, to avoid CMS enforcement to bring states into compliance: 1) Pause procedural disenrollments for those individuals impacted, 2) Reinstate coverage for all affected individuals and provide retroactive eligibility back to the date of termination, 3) Implement one or more CMS-approved mitigation strategies until such time that the state has fixed all systems and processes to prevent continued inappropriate disenrollments, and 4)Fix state systems and processes to ensure renewals are conducted appropriately and in accordance with federal Medicaid requirements. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “We applaud CMS for taking bold action to safeguard health care coverage for millions of families across our nation as we continue to face the devastating impacts of disenrollment from Medicaid Unwinding, which disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency. “Health care is a fundamental right, and ensuring that children and families have reliable access to necessary services is paramount. It is unconscionable for states to disenroll thousands of families, including children, due to a state’s systems and operational issues. This action today by CMS is a positive and necessary step toward protecting coverage for low-income families, and we are optimistic that the Biden administration will continue to forge forth towards affordable, quality care for all families.” # # # 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. APIAHF APPLAUDS CMS’ BOLD ACTION TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AUGUST 30, 2023 WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services sent a letter to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to determine if they have an eligibility systems issue that could cause entire households to be disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP even if they are eligible for coverage. If a state has an eligibility systems issue, they must do the following, to avoid CMS enforcement to bring states into compliance: 1) Pause procedural disenrollments for those individuals impacted, 2) Reinstate coverage for all affected individuals and provide retroactive eligibility back to the date of termination, 3) Implement one or more CMS-approved mitigation strategies until such time that the state has fixed all systems and processes to prevent continued inappropriate disenrollments, and 4)Fix state systems and processes to ensure renewals are conducted appropriately and in accordance with federal Medicaid requirements. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “We applaud CMS for taking bold action to safeguard health care coverage for millions of families across our nation as we continue to face the devastating impacts of disenrollment from Medicaid Unwinding, which disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency. “Health care is a fundamental right, and ensuring that children and families have reliable access to necessary services is paramount. It is unconscionable for states to disenroll thousands of families, including children, due to a state’s systems and operational issues. This action today by CMS is a positive and necessary step toward protecting coverage for low-income families, and we are optimistic that the Biden administration will continue to forge forth towards affordable, quality care for all families.” # # # 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. APIAHF APPLAUDS CMS’ BOLD ACTION TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AUGUST 30, 2023 WASHINGTON—Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services sent a letter to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to determine if they have an eligibility systems issue that could cause entire households to be disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP even if they are eligible for coverage. If a state has an eligibility systems issue, they must do the following, to avoid CMS enforcement to bring states into compliance: 1) Pause procedural disenrollments for those individuals impacted, 2) Reinstate coverage for all affected individuals and provide retroactive eligibility back to the date of termination, 3) Implement one or more CMS-approved mitigation strategies until such time that the state has fixed all systems and processes to prevent continued inappropriate disenrollments, and 4)Fix state systems and processes to ensure renewals are conducted appropriately and in accordance with federal Medicaid requirements. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “We applaud CMS for taking bold action to safeguard health care coverage for millions of families across our nation as we continue to face the devastating impacts of disenrollment from Medicaid Unwinding, which disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency. “Health care is a fundamental right, and ensuring that children and families have reliable access to necessary services is paramount. It is unconscionable for states to disenroll thousands of families, including children, due to a state’s systems and operational issues. This action today by CMS is a positive and necessary step toward protecting coverage for low-income families, and we are optimistic that the Biden administration will continue to forge forth towards affordable, quality care for all families.” # # # 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. APIAHF APPLAUDS CMS’ BOLD ACTION TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AUGUST 30, 2023 PRESS RELEASES — UPDATES PRESS RELEASES —

AUGUST 11, 2026 PRESS RELEASE APIAHF RAISES ALARM OVER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S MMR VACCINE CHANGES AND CONTINUED PROMOTION OF DISPROVEN AUTISM CLAIMS AUGUST 11, 2026 WASHINGTON— The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) strongly opposes the Trump Administration’s latest effort to alter the nation’s childhood immunization recommendations, including its directive to separate the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual vaccines and administer them during separate medical visits. The changes come amid continued efforts by President Donald Trump to promote the long-disproven claim that vaccines, including the MMR vaccine, are associated with autism. There is no credible scientific evidence that the MMR vaccine causes autism. Decades of research have found no causal relationship between MMR vaccination and autism, and the scientific report that helped fuel the original controversy was subsequently retracted. “The latest Executive Order is deeply concerning, particularly at a time when vaccines are already facing unprecedented and unfounded scrutiny,” said Juliet K. Choi, President and CEO of APIAHF. “Parents deserve accurate, evidence-based information about the health and safety of their children—not policies shaped by disproven claims about vaccines and autism. “The MMR vaccine is safe, effective, and has been used successfully for decades to protect children and communities from measles, mumps, and rubella. There is no scientific evidence that separating the MMR vaccine provides any health benefit. Instead, requiring additional visits can create unnecessary barriers for families and increase the likelihood that children will experience delays in receiving the full protection they need.” APIAHF is particularly concerned about the impact of these changes on families who already face barriers to accessing preventive health care. Requiring multiple appointments can mean additional time away from work, transportation challenges, childcare arrangements, and difficulties navigating the health care system. For families with limited English proficiency, additional visits can also create additional opportunities for language and communication barriers to interfere with timely care. “Every child deserves access to timely, high-quality preventive care, regardless of their family’s income, language, immigration circumstances, or where they live,” Choi said. “At a moment when many families are already fearful of accessing health care because of immigration enforcement, we should be making vaccination easier—not creating additional obstacles.” APIAHF urges parents and caregivers to speak with their pediatricians, physicians, and other trusted health care providers about vaccination and to rely on established scientific evidence when making decisions about their children’s health. Public health policy should be guided by rigorous evidence, medical expertise, and the best interests of children and families—not misinformation or disproven theories. # # # BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES

PROGRAM COORDINATOR LENAYA KIMBALL PROGRAM COORDINATOR OUR BOARD OUR LEADERSHIP OUR STAFF ABOUT OUR STAFF — Lenaya a program coordinator for Capacity for Health (C4H), the national capacity building program of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. She currently coordinates and leads the onboarding process for the National Learning Community for HIV Leadership. She brings a unique lens to her team, with diverse background experiences in biotech, hospital administration, nonprofits and self-employment. Prior to coming to APIAHF, Lenaya has explored many avenues to marry her need for creative expression and her calling to heal. She has run both a food business and a doula practice. Trained in health supportive cooking, herbal medicine making and certified as a birth and postpartum doula; Lenaya believes in a holistic approach to wellness on the personal, community and environmental level. “Along my journey, I have come to realize that everything is connected, we cannot address the environment, the economy, public health, etc. without inclusivity. It is at the intersection in the full richness of life, that we gain perspective to address our collective needs.” -Lenaya Next Item Previous Item BACK TO ALL STAFF

JULY 25, 2024 PRESS RELEASE APIAHF APPLAUDS BICAMERAL CONGRESSIONAL INTRODUCTION OF THE HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2024 JULY 25, 2024 WASHINGTON —Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024 (HEAA). The bill focuses on eliminating racial and ethnic disparities and has been introduced by the Congressional Tri-Caucus, composed of CAPAC, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. This is the first time HEAA has had a bicameral introduction, and over 150 members of Congress have co-sponsored the bill over the past two decades. HEAA is a comprehensive and strategic legislative blueprint and one of the few bills that contains community input from over 300 organizations, including national health justice and civil rights organizations. APIAHF president & CEO, Juliet K. Choi issued the following statement: “As our nation's demographics change, so do our health needs. Underserved and underrepresented communities face substantial barriers to obtaining quality health care and equitable health outcomes. APIAHF is proud to lead the 118th Congress's reintroduction of HEAA, with AAPCHO, to tackle these health disparities head on. HEAA invests in culturally and linguistically appropriate health care and health services, creates a pipeline for an inclusive workforce, and deploys innovative strategies to reach communities regardless of region, immigration status, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability. Achieving health equity requires a multi-faceted approach, and HEAA provides a blueprint to do exactly that.” The full text of the bill is available here . A one-pager is available here . Learn more about HEAA here . # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES

AUGUST 30, 2023 PRESS RELEASE APIAHF APPLAUDS CMS’ BOLD ACTION TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AUGUST 30, 2023 WASHINGTON —Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services sent a letter to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to determine if they have an eligibility systems issue that could cause entire households to be disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP even if they are eligible for coverage. If a state has an eligibility systems issue, they must do the following, to avoid CMS enforcement to bring states into compliance: Pause procedural disenrollments for those individuals impacted, Reinstate coverage for all affected individuals and provide retroactive eligibility back to the date of termination, Implement one or more CMS-approved mitigation strategies until such time that the state has fixed all systems and processes to prevent continued inappropriate disenrollments, and Fix state systems and processes to ensure renewals are conducted appropriately and in accordance with federal Medicaid requirements. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement: “We applaud CMS for taking bold action to safeguard health care coverage for millions of families across our nation as we continue to face the devastating impacts of disenrollment from Medicaid Unwinding, which disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency. “Health care is a fundamental right, and ensuring that children and families have reliable access to necessary services is paramount. It is unconscionable for states to disenroll thousands of families, including children, due to a state’s systems and operational issues. This action today by CMS is a positive and necessary step toward protecting coverage for low-income families, and we are optimistic that the Biden administration will continue to forge forth towards affordable, quality care for all families.” # # # 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. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES

APRIL 7, 2025 PRESS RELEASE LEADING AANHPI HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS STATEMENT ON HHS REORGANIZATION APRIL 7, 2025 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 APPEA L. “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.” # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. # # # 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. # # # NCAPIP was established 15 years ago to support physicians to meet the needs of their AANHPI communities. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES

DECEMBER 5, 2025 PRESS RELEASE APIAHF & NCAPIP STATEMENT ON VOTE TO END UNIVERSAL HEPATITIS B SHOTS FOR NEWBORNS DECEMBER 5, 2025 WASHINGTON —Today, a federal vaccine advisory committee voted 8–3 to recommend ending the longstanding policy that all U.S. newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. The new guidance suggests that only infants whose mothers test positive for hepatitis B, or whose maternal infection status is unknown, should be guaranteed the birth dose. For all other infants, the decision would be deferred to parents and doctors. “We are deeply concerned by today’s vote. The universal birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine has been a critical public health safeguard—especially for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities that bear a disproportionate burden of chronic hepatitis B and account for over 50–58% of all Americans living with chronic hepatitis B," said Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of APIAHF. "Removing this broad protection will not only jeopardize decades of progress, it will leave too many infants vulnerable simply because of gaps in maternal testing or delayed diagnosis. We call on public health leaders to uphold proven, equitable preventative care.” “The Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and it works — physicians and other medical professionals have administered the vaccine for over 40 years with millions of doses given," said Susan Wu, MD, Pediatrician and Board Member, NCAPIP. "Eliminating universal Hepatitis B vaccine at birth will result in more children becoming infected with a disease which is preventable and has no cure.“ APIAHF and NCAPIP urge federal and state health authorities, hospitals, and pediatric providers to continue offering the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine as standard practice and encourage parents, especially in AANHPI and other high-risk communities, to consult with their healthcare providers about timely vaccination. # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. NCAPIP represents Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander physicians committed to the advancement of the health and well-being of their patients and communities, with the goal of optimal health for all. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES

APRIL 10, 2025 PRESS RELEASE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE SAVE ACT: A DIRECT THREAT TO AANHPI VOTER ACCESS APRIL 10, 2025 WASHINGTON —The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) condemns today’s passage of the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) in the U.S. House of Representatives—if enacted into law—it would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly from Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Further, this will disproportionately harm voters who live in rural areas, especially in the Midwest and South; along with those with accessibility needs including elders. The legislation would require voters to present documentation—such as a birth certificate or passport—to register or update voter registration in person, which may result in people having to drive needless hours to vote. It would also eliminate online registration in 42 states, harm vote-by-mail initiatives, and make commonly accepted forms of ID, like REAL IDs, military IDs, or tribal IDs, insufficient to prove citizenship. Juliet K. Choi, president & CEO of APIAHF, issued the following statement: “The passage of the SAVE Act is a dangerous step backward for our democracy and brings us back to the time of a poll tax. Rather than safeguarding elections, this legislation erects new barriers to the ballot box—disproportionately harming communities like ours that already face systemic obstacles to voting. “AANHPI voters have long been impacted by discriminatory practices like voter purges of eligible voters due to minor discrepancies in name spellings. These bureaucratic errors have silenced thousands of our voices at the polls. This bill would worsen those barriers by undermining state-level solutions that are beginning to fix the problem. “AANHPI communities—especially naturalized citizens and first-generation voters—are also among the highest users of vote-by-mail and online registration systems. In 2020, over 60 percent of Asian American voters cast ballots by mail, and online registration has been a critical entry point for our communities to participate in civic life. “Let’s be clear: this is not about election security. This is about restricting access and silencing voices. We call on the Senate to reject this harmful and unnecessary legislation.” APIAHF remains committed to protecting the rights of all Americans—regardless of race, language, or immigration background—to access free and fair elections. # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES