On 2/7/2020 Assemblymember Ron Kim and Assemblymember Andrew D. Hevesi announced their intent to form an Asian-American Health Advisory Council. They were joined by prominent physicians, medical association representatives, including CAIPA CEO & President Dr. George Liu, COO Peggy Sheng and Medical Director Dr. Richard Ng, and Asian American community leaders at a press conference hosted by lawmakers who first addressed the recent state and national health concerns on CoronaVirus. The council will focus on community health issues and concerns, and its members would meet monthly to develop potential policy and budgetary recommendations on healthcare for the Asian Pacific American community. One of the first legislative proposals suggested by these in attendance was to expand the state’s Natural Disaster Emergency Fund to provide preventive measures (for example facemask, sanitizers) to communities impacted by viruses or health scares, especially for low-income and older adult populations.
