NHMA/HDA 2019 National Hispanic Health Conference Recap
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The NHMA Board of Directors would like to thank everyone who attended the 2019 National Hispanic Health Conference that was held on April 11-14, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. The Conference was a huge success with over 600 attendees and we could not have done it without you. We hope that every one enjoyed the workshops, plenaries, network receptions, and Leadership Gala & Dance. We especially want to thank our speakers, moderators, sponsors, poster presenters, exhibitors, recruiters, and Gala awardees, mistress of ceremony, and keynote speaker.
We hope that you will be able to join us at next year's conference on April 22-27, 2020 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC.
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Picture above: The NHHPLN, NHMA Council of Medical Societies, Latino Advocacy Groups, the 2019 Young Physicians of the Year, and 2019 Residents/Fellows of the Year with Dr. Elena Rios.
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Visit our conference website for the full agenda, power points, speaker bios, and more!
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This month, Congress held important hearings to support Federal clinics and health workforce programs, including graduate medical education. NHMA urges you to contact your Congressmen to vote yes for these bills.
- H.R. 2815, Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act of 2019: Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA) seeks to reauthorize section 380H of the Public Health Service Act. This would maintain and expand primary care resident training in community health center (CHC) settings by reauthorizing the CHC fund, Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program (THCGME), and National Health Service Corp (NHSC). All three are vital towards increasing primary care access to the underserved: residency training at a CHC as opposed to a hospital (THCGME), funding to financially support CHCs (CHC fund), and loan forgiveness to incentivize graduating medical students to do primary care (NHSC).
- H.R. 2328, the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence (CHIME) Act of 2019: Representative Tom O’Halleran (D-AR), through the CHIME Act, would provide five years of stable funding for the Community Health Center fund starting at $4.2 billion for the FY2020, including $200 million in annual growth. CHIME also provides five years of funding for the NHSC starting at $325 million for the FY 2020, including $15million in annual growth.
- H.R. 1943, Community Health Center and Primary Care Workforce Expansion Act of 2019: Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC), through the Community Health Center and Primary Care Workforce Expansion Act, seeks to expand CHC funding originally given by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This act would give $6.1 billion in 2020, including a 10% annual growth over 5 years ending in 2024, as well as an additional $4.6 billion for health center capital funding. This act would also includes significant commitment to expand the NHSC funds, starting at $850 million with a 10% annual growth over 5 years ending in 2024.
“No More Surprise Medical Bills: Protecting Patients from Surprise Medical Bills (06/12/19)”
- The House Energy and Commerce, Health Subcommittee held a briefing this month with witnesses that represent that sides of healthcare that produce surprise medical bills. ACEP President Vidor Friedman, MD explained how EMTALA inadvertently contributes to the lack of transparency when it comes to out-of-network status. Meanwhile, Sherif Zaafran, MD, Chair, Physicians for Fair Coverage, explained that providers often times do not know their network status with every patient. Dr. Zaafran explained that a provider could be in network with an insurance company, but may be out of network with a patient’s insurance plan. Other witnesses further alluded to the complications surrounding surprise medical bills.
Dr. Elena Rios briefed Representative Eliot Engel’s Health LA, Sahil Chaudhary, on substance abuse in the Hispanic community, and how to improve related federal programs:
- In order to improve federal programs addressing substance abuse in the Hispanic community, Dr. Rios emphasized the importance of empowering Hispanic physicians and psychiatrists into decision-making positions at the national and state public health agencies. Funding for a leadership development program targeting Hispanic physicians five years post-residency training would best achieve these recommendations. Mr. Chaudhary expressed that Representative Engel (D-NY) would be strongly interested in aligning with the NHMA recommendations.
Dr. Elena Rios also briefed Congresswoman Schakowsky’s Office on the Reauthorization of Title VII (Diversity programs that increase underrepresented student matriculates into medical school and other health professional schools) about the strong recommendation to include eligibility for grants from health professional associations and other nonprofits. Title VII prior to 1998 had supported organizations like ASPIRA in the New York area and MAHEC in East Los Angeles with strong records of producing physicians through mentoring, counseling and scholarships.
NHMA together with the
National Medical Association (NMA), the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), and the National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP)
are convening for a Congressional briefing on Diversity in Medical Education: Higher Education, Medical Schools, and GME. The Congressional briefing will be on Wednesday, June 26, from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at 216 Hart Senate Office Building. Please RSVP by going to: http://bit.ly/NHMABriefing-DME.
Dr. Elena Rios wrote a letter to support the standing CDC recommendations that seniors 65+ receive the pneumococcal vaccine. CDC is considering a recommendation to limit/reduce/alter the recommendation for adults aged 65+. The decision to limit or reduce the recommended Pneumococcal vaccination for adults aged 65+ will have an even more significant negative impact on elderly minority populations who already have lower vaccination rates (60%), within which Hispanics only have 43% vaccination rates. While some question the cost/benefit of vaccinations, a recent study from UNC shows that unvaccinated adults cost the US Economy $7 Billion a year, including $1.86 Billion for pneumonia. The NHMA supports the recommendation that seniors 65 and older should receive the pneumococcal vaccine.
This month, NHMA signed-on to the following letters supporting legislation:
- Letter to thank Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) for introducing the Public Health Funding Restoration Act, restoring funds to the Prevention Fund.
- Letter to support the request $165 million in funding for the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program to Representatives Chairman Shelby, Ranking Member Leahy, Chairman Blunt, and Ranking Member Murray. The letter on the senate side was sent to Senators Chair Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, Chair DeLauro, and Ranking Member Cole.
- Letter to thank Representatives Schrier, Burgess, Engel, Bilirakis, Schrader and Guthrie for introducing the Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety (VACCINES) Act of 2019 (H.R. 2862)
- Letter to the Administrator of the EPA, the Honorable Andrew Wheeler, to reject any propositions, which will weaken protections for Latino community water, health and livelihood.
- Letter to urge Governor Roy Cooper to veto HB 370 and any similar legislation that require local law enforcement to participate in federal immigration enforcement.
- Sign On Letter requesting that representatives vote YES on Rep. Shrier’s amendment #63 to the Interior-EPA Omnibus Appropriations Bill, H.R. 3055, which would prevent the EPA from undermining investments made by the power sector and pollution control.
- Letter to support the Expand Navigators’ Resources for Outreach, Learning, and Longevity (ENROLL) Act of 2019, along with 64 organizations. Navigators are essential to helping families enroll in health care coverage that meets their needs.
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Our Current Programs:
- NHMA College Health Scholars Program
- NHMA Medical School Liaison Program
- NIH All of Us Research Program
- NHMA Cholesterol Management Campaign
- NHMA Seasonal Influenza Campaign
- CDC Partnering And Communicating Together (PACT) to Act Against Aids
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Dr. Elena Rios
, NHMA President & CEO, was a panelist in an interactive question and answer session on the work NHMA has done with the
All of Us Research Program
. Dr. Rios was joined by Sindy Benavides, CEO of LULAC and Andrew Collier from BWHI.
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NHMA Members are hard at work being catalyst for change in their communities. Each serve in many different ways.
The 4 major values of an NHMA membership are
Advocacy, Education, Leadership Development and Networking.
Our major benefits for health professionals consist of:
- Opportunities to be nominated for commissions and advisory boards in the Federal government, private sector, and other national health professional associations.
- Opportunities to mentor medical students and residents.
- Discounts at the NHMA Annual Conference (where you can also earn CME credits)
- Ability to apply for NHMA Leadership Fellowship and Resident Leadership Programs
- Opportunities to share your research either by being a speaker or poster presenter at our annual conference
- Network with other healthcare professionals at one of NHMA Regional Events
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Congratulations to
Hector Colon-Rivera, MD, MRO
, President, APA Hispanic Caucus, received the
2019 Bruno Lima Award
. The Bruno Lima Award in Disaster Psychiatry recognizes outstanding contributions of APA members in the care and understanding of the victims of disaster.
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Anyone that would like to advance NHMA's mission and goals is welcome to join our network as a Premier or Basic member. Click below to see our membership options:
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Our major benefits for students:
- Opportunities to mentor college students
- Discounts at the NHMA Annual Conference
- Opportunities to share your research by being a poster presenter at our annual conference
- Network with healthcare professionals at one of NHMA Regional Events and Annual Conference
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If you have received an award or attended an event and would like to be featured in our Monthly Membership update, please send to Vanessa Tellez at
vtellez@nhmamd.org
by the last Friday of every month.
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2019 NHHF Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship
The 2019 NHHF Scholarship application is NOW OPEN!! Make sure you submit your application before September 26, 2019. To apply and more information:
bit.ly/NHHF_Scholarship.
2019 NHHF Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship Galas
Mark your Calanders! The NHHF Gala dates are set! Our New York City Gala will be held on
Friday, November 15, 2019
, at the Westin New York Grand Central. Our Los Angeles Gala will be held on
Thursday, November 21, 2019
, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles.
NHMA PACT Program
We are searching for healthcare providers who treat patients with HIV to participate in a video series for our HIV social media campaign. The videos will be posted on our website and social media. If you are interested, please contact Vanessa,
vtellez@nhmamd.org
, by Friday, June 28, 2019.
NHHF Puerto Rico Relief Campaign
Last year, Puerto Rico was devastated by a category 5 hurricane and still remains in a state of crisis due to the lack of appropriate funds and support from the Trump Administration. We invite you to donate to our campaign to assist Puerto Rican Medical Students.
The NHMA and NHHF are committed to supporting the Puerto Rico medical education disaster relief following Hurricane Maria in the fall of 2017. We have raised funds in the NHMA Northeast Region Forum in 2017 and at our 22nd Annual conference with the Deans of four medical schools in Puerto Rico. We have donated $10,000, plus supplies to the effort and hope to be able to donate much more with your help.
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NHMA Congressional Briefing: Diversity in Medical Education Policies for Higher Education, Medical Schools, and GME
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at the Senate Hart 216.
NHMA & All of Us Research Program NYC Summer Reception
Thursday, June 27, 2019
from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM at Rosa Mexicano (Corn Stalk Room 61 Columbus Ave. New York, NY 10023)
NHMA Fall Local Policy Forums:
October- November 2019
El Paso, TX:
Friday, July 19, 2019 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Anson Eleven (303 N. Oregon Street El Paso, TX 79901)
Los Angeles, CA:
Thursday, September 12, 2019 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Caruso Catholic Center, University of Southern California
NHHF Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship Galas
New York Gala:
Friday, November 15, 2019
, at the Westin New York Grand Central
California Gala:
Thursday, November 21, 2019
, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
NHMA 24th Annual Conference:
April 22 - 27, 2020
at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park
Virtual events:
NHMA CDC PACT Program
June 26 at 4:00 PM ET:
Webinar on the Inter-professional Approach to HIV Care
June 27 at 3:00 PM ET:
Twitter Chat on National HIV Testing Day
September 27 at 3:00 PM ET:
Twitter Chat on National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
October 15 at 3:00 PM ET:
Twitter Chat on National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day
December 2 at 4:00 PM ET:
Webinar on World AIDS Day
NHMA College Health Scholars Program Twitter Chat Series
July 17 at 3:00 PM ET:
Raising Awareness on the Urgent Need of More Hispanic
Heath
Professionals
September 4 at 3:00 PM ET:
Barriers Faced by Hispanics When Entering Health Professions
October 9 at 3:00 PM ET:
Mapping Your Health Professional Journey as a College Student
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We ask that you consider making a $25 donation to help NHMA & NHHF touch the lives of health professionals in various stages of their career:
1) NHHF Health Professional Student Scholarship and Mentoring
2) NHMA Resident Leadership Program.
3) NHMA Leadership Fellowship
Join NHMA as a member and participate in our many programs and communications campaigns. Become our supporter!
Sign-up for the AmazonSmile Program and 0.5% of your Amazon purchase will be donated to support the NHHF & NHMA mission.
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