Health Observances

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The CMS Office of Minority Health welcomes your participation in promoting observances throughout the year to raise awareness about health issues affecting people across our nation. Share our resources on prevention, health equity, and research about health disparities.

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Spotlight

Advance health equity during National AANHPI Heritage Month

During May, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) recognizes National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month by highlighting disparities for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

These communities account for more than 7% of the U.S. population and have the fastest population growth rate among all racial and ethnic groups, having almost doubled since 2000. Between 2017 and 2019, the number of Asian Americans enrolled in Medicare grew by 11%, which was the highest percentage increase in enrollment compared to White, Black, and Hispanic enrollees. Additionally, in 2019 up to 10% of Asian Americans and 12.3% of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders did not have health insurance.

Although Asian Americans are the fastest growing population in the United States, 30.9% of Asian Americans have limited English proficiency (LEP) and 73.5% speak a language other than English at home. People with LEP have more difficulty getting the care they need and are less likely to have health coverage, see a regular health care provider, and get regular health screenings. For example, Asian Americans have the lowest rate of cancer screenings resulting in diagnoses at a later stage compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

Our Coverage to Care (C2C) initiative works to close health literacy gaps and eliminate barriers to care by helping AANHPI individuals better understand their health coverage and connect to the health care services they need. C2C resources are available in multiple languages, including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, to help individuals make informed decisions and become active partners in their own health care.

As the number of AANHPI Medicare enrollees grows, we are working to ensure these populations can effectively access the health care they need. Throughout May and beyond, we encourage you to share the below resources with the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations you serve.