Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          HHS Search block
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations Breadcrumb
    Home
                              About
                              News
                              Readout of HHS Secretary Becerra’s In-Person Roundtable Meeting with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Leaders
 Navigate to:
  News
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Blog
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HHS Live
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Podcasts
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Media Guidelines for HHS EmployeesText resize icon

                    




**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2024**

        **Contact: 
                                    HHS Press Office**
          202-690-6343media@hhs.gov

          Readout of HHS Secretary Becerra’s In-Person Roundtable Meeting with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Leaders
    
    

      *HHS hosts a discussion during AANHPI Heritage Month to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to meeting the needs of the AA and NHPI communities*On Monday, May 6th, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra hosted a roundtable discussion with leaders of national organizations serving Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities. Secretary Becerra was joined by Krystal Ka‘ai, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), who moderated the discussion.As Co-Chair of WHIAANHPI, Secretary Becerra thanked the leaders for advancing health equity and reaffirmed the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to address health disparities impacting AA and NHPI communities. Participants discussed strategies to reduce health disparities, expand access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care, and improve the quality of care received. These strategies focused on addressing language access, enhancing health workforce cultural competency, combatting substance abuse, increasing access to mental health care while reducing stigma, and promoting data disaggregation, among other topics.HHS is committed to ensuring the needs of AA and NHPI individuals are met with urgency and understanding. For example, HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently published a Final Rule which will require covered health insurance issuers, health programs or activities, and Health Insurance Marketplaces to provide language assistance services to patients free of charge and thus reduce language access barriers for AA and NHPI communities.AA and NHPI communities are also benefitting from programs and policies to increase access to coverage and lower costs. HHS reported a historic 21.3 million Americans selected an Affordable Care Act Insurance Marketplace plan during the 2024 Open Enrollment period. Between 2020 and 2023, the number of AA and NHPI enrollees increased by 14 percent. The Inflation Reduction Act has helped people with Medicare save money on prescription drugs as a month's supply of each Medicare-covered insulin product is capped at $35. Furthermore, beginning in 2025, annual out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D will be capped at $2,000. As a result, a projected 33,800 Medicare enrollees who identify as Asian American and do not receive financial assistance will save $1,000 or more on prescription drugs.More information on how HHS is advancing health equity for AA and NHPI communities can be viewed here.The following participants joined the roundtable:Xavier Becerra, HHS SecretaryKrystal Ka‘ai, Executive Director, WHIAANHPIJeffery B. Caballero, MPH, Executive Director, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health OrganizationsJuliet K. Choi, President and CEO, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health ForumDr. Sheri-Ann Daniels, CEO, Papa Ola LōkahiKarla Thomas, Co-Executive Director, Empowering Pacific Islander CommunitiesClayton Fong, President and CEO, National Asian Pacific Center on AgingDr. Marielle A. Reataza, MD, MS Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance AbuseRod Lew, Executive Director, Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment Advocacy & LeadershipQuyên Đinh, Executive Director, Southeast Asia Resource Action CenterSamira Khan, MPH, President, South Asian Public Health AssociationDr. Gloria Lamela Beriones, Ph.D., RN NEA-BC, President, Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc.*Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum*Dr. Nia Aitaoto, Ph.D., Interim Executive Director, National Association of Pasifika OrganizationsKrystle Canare, Deputy Director, National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health AssociationDr. Martina Kamaka, MD, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, National Council of Asian and Pacific Islander Physicians
  

    ###
    Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other news materials are available at https://www.hhs.gov/news.Like HHS on Facebook, follow HHS on Twitter @HHSgov, and sign up for HHS Email Updates.Last revised: May 15, 2024

  
  
  







  Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases

Sign Up







  Subscribe to RSS
    

      Receive latest updates







  Related News Releases
    

      New Data Show Highest Number of Health Center Patients in Nearly 60 Year History of the Program
  

Statement by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the Anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
  

Statement by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the Second Anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization







  Related Blog Posts
    

      Celebrating Pride Month with Action
  

OCR Celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
  

Celebrating the Importance of Second Chance Month

                    
  


Media Inquiries

For general media inquiries, please contact media@hhs.gov.







  Content created by Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA) Content last reviewed May 15, 2024 Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​ Disclaimer Policy: Links with this icon () mean that you are leaving the HHS website. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cannot guarantee the accuracy of a non-federal website.
                  Linking to a non-federal website does not mean that HHS or its employees endorse the sponsors, information, or products presented on the website. HHS links outside of itself to provide you with further information.
                  You will be bound by the destination website's privacy policy and/or terms of service when you follow the link.
                  HHS is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on private websites. For more information on HHS's web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers.
 Continue
                  Go back