“Our findings show that more people are experiencing serious psychological distress, more people are in need of professional help and more people are reporting moderate or severe impairment in their work, social lives, relationships and daily activities,” Ponce said.

“UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research shows 94% of Californians have health insurance and 6% are uninsured. Of the uninsured, 54% are eligible for subsidized health insurance but have waived coverage.”

Results from a recent UCLA survey confirm a rise in COVID-related hate crimes towards Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) in California. Since the California Health Interview Survey from 2020, the percentage of hate crimes against AANHPI individuals has since doubled, said UCLA Center for Health Policy Research Director Dr. Ninez A. Ponce.

“Hate incidents can cause long-term psychological and physical trauma,” Dr. Ponce said to UCLA. “So it’s critical that we provide timely data on often overlooked racial and ethnic groups so that decision-makers can take steps to put an end to hate incidents in California.”

Preliminary data released today by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research’s California Health Interview Survey found that more than 1 in 12, or 8%, of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults in California experienced a hate incident due to COVID-19. Of those who experienced a hate incident, 84% said they sustained verbal abuse or insults.

A $3 million grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities will fund a Penn State-led project to determine if there are disparities in patient transfers. Other researchers on the project include ... Ninez Ponce, University of California, Los Angeles ...

State agencies collaborating with community-based organizations (CBOs) and investing in culturally competent care will improve health outcomes for Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities in California, according to a newly released policy report by AAPI Data, in partnership with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

Dr. Rodriguez has been studying gun violence for more than 25 years. He and Ninez Ponce, Ph.D., director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and a professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, recently received a grant to explore the issue in California, where about 3,000 people died from gunfire in 2019 — 54% by suicide.

“Denying a segment of our population access to vaccines because of paperwork” won’t end the pandemic any sooner, Ponce said.

Despite state policy that says immigration status does not affect vaccine eligibility, the county requires a photo ID and proof of age to receive a vaccine at its clinics, according to its policies published on the county’s website. Ninez Ponce, a professor at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health, said the county’s photo ID policy, and the chilling effect it could have on vaccination rates among undocumented. “Denying a segment of our population access to vaccines because of paperwork” won’t end the pandemic any sooner, Ponce said. People should be concerning for everyone in the community.