This brief describes the disparities among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islanders (AA & NHOPIs) and how health centers overcome them.
Health centers play a major role in addressing racial and ethnic health disparities. They are successful where other providers are not because they provide a multi-disciplinary approach to care that combines biomedical, psychological, and social approaches to care for patients, families, and entire communities. While other physicians often bemoan not having the skills or resources necessary to address patients’ social needs, health centers are equipped, experienced and determined to overcome the challenges plaguing communities while simultaneously erasing health disparities.
Currently, health centers are the health and medical home for 20 million people, including over 760,000 AA&NHOPIs. The number of AA&NHOPIs served at federally-funded health centers grew 71% between 2005 and 2011, the second fastest growing race/ethnicity group. In addition, health centers are rapidly expanding under the Affordable Care Act.
Population of focus: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islanders
Links to resource:
- Link to description of report
- Link to fact sheet (pdf)
Date: 2013
Organization: The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations and the National Association of Community Health Centers