Salem, Ore. – Members from the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Oregon’s oldest and largest Asian and Pacific Islander statewide advocacy organization join together at the State Capitol for a Day of Action to better understand the political process and discuss access to care for immigrants and working families.
While Oregon celebrates expanded healthcare coverage, over 383,000 Oregonians remain uninsured. Many of the uninsured are immigrants and low-wage workers, including 19% of all Pacific Islanders. APANO is fighting for increased health access through our member-led, Our Families Our Health Campaign. Leading with the Oregon Health Equity Alliance and the COFA Alliance National Network, are supporting bipartisan solutions to begin addressing coverage gaps through a Basic Health Plan Blueprint (HB 4017) and COFA Healthcare Program (HB 4071). These programs will expand coverage, increase benefits and significantly reduce costs for over 85,000 Oregonians. See the Mend The Gap report to learn more.
Moving forward with a Basic Health Plan Blueprint is the appropriate next step to consider and design how Oregonians left behind in Oregon’s healthcare transformation after three years of stakeholder engagement and study. “A Basic Health Program in Oregon would address a serious gap our healthcare system by providing better care at lower cost 85,000 low-wage Oregonians, legal permanent residents and COFA Pacific Islanders,” says Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons, Executive Director of APANO, adding, “and the COFA legislation will make an immediate impact providing coverage for up to 1,500 Micronesians, Marshallese and Palauans who are excluded from Medicaid.”
Over 100 diverse participants, including from Marshallese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Chuukese, Pohnpeians, Hmong, Cambodian, Thai, Taiwanese, Lao, Burmese, Bhutanese, Japanese, Mien, and Filipino communities, are expected to attend, hailing from primarily Lane, Linn, Benton, Marion, Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah Counties.
Reporters interested in interviewing a community member during the day in-Capitol please contact Joseph 503-512-0490.
APANO’s Day of Action is led by Policy Advocacy Coordinator Kathy Wai and Policy Associate Kristina Narayan. Follow the days events on twitter at @APANONews.
