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National Hispanic Medical Association NHMA NET August 2009 Washington DC
Health Care Reform Bills Approved in 4 out of 5 Committees at July’s end
Three out of five major Congressional Committees approve health care reform bills.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on July 15 became the first to clear a bill.
Passed on a 13-10 party line vote, the HELP bill includes a strong public plan option, as well as individual and employer mandates, a national strategy on prevention, public health and integrative medicine, primary care and diversity workforce support, state grants program for prevention, health disparities efforts in data, research, cultural competence and language services, and more. HELP Republicans strongly opposed the final bill, arguing against the public option and the new taxes and mandates on employers that they say would result in lower wages for many Americans and higher unemployment. The one committee yet to come to a vote is the Senate Finance Committee, which, according to the NY Times on Tuesday July 28th and the Washington Post on July 29th has come to an understanding that may lead out of its committee ----1. dropping the public option for a private coop system; 2. dropping the employer mandate to provide insurance, but keep an employer contribution to a pool for the subsidized individuals; 3. increasing the tax on insurance companies – the higher priced, above average private plans
The Congress Energy and Commerce Committee deliberations had slowed over the past 2 weeks because the conservative democrats, known as the Blue Dogs, focused on cutting more costs in health care than has been identified by the committee members thus far, including to limit the size and scope of government-sponsored health care plans (public option) established by the bill. When the chairman finally relented, liberal lawmakers rejected his compromise.
Liberals and conservatives hashed out a late-night compromise in the hours before the final committee debate that cleared the path for passage. Under the terms of that deal, the public plans would be allowed to set drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and require insurers in the state exchanges to consult the government before raising their premiums. Those changes generate billions in savings that allowed progressives to lower the premiums middle-income households would pay to purchase insurance. Sen. John (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.Va., a strong public-option supporter, is awaiting information this week from GAO and the National Cooperative Business Association about co-ops and whether they will prove an adequate alternative to private insurance companies.
During August, the health care reform debate will be taken to the public for feedback, with the bills to be merged in September (assuming the final bill from the Senate Finance Committee is voted out of committee).
TRICAUCUS (Congressional Black, Hispanic and Asian Caucuses) introduces their Health Equity and Accountability Act---and does get some of the key sections incorporated into the Congress Health Reform Bill. Congratulations!!! More work ahead to incorporate more into the future bill…NHMA Chairman Dr. Sumaya and President Dr. Rios have participated with Congresswoman Lucille Roybal Allard’s Hispanic organization leadership working group that provided input into the bill to decrease health disparities in health care reform this year. We have also had meetings with Senate and Congress staff with the National Network of Hispanic Health Professionals Leadership Network and the National Hispanic Coalition on Health to take our collective priorities to the Hill since May 2009….and we have more meetings scheduled next week. We encourage you to meet with your Congressmen and Senators in August to continue to request Hispanic health priorities in health care reform.
NHMA PROGRAMS
ADVOCACY FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM
NHMA recommendations from its 2008 Health Disparities and Hispanics Summits have been included ---including family health insurance benefits, affordable benefits, increased enrollment and education for access to health services, stronger diversity in the workforce with HCOP and COE reauthorization, prevention in the community (school clinics, worksite wellness) and cultural competence and language services and more. What is missing is the federal leadership office, the Office of Minority Health to play a major role. Of significance, it was not included in any of the bills yet. NHMA Summit Report available at NHMA – call 202-628-5895.
Last week, NHMA President speeches in support of HEALTH CARE REFORM:
NHMA President was invited to speak with the Democratic Caucus members who are physicians and health professionals and was introduced by new Congresswoman Judy Chu of San Gabriel Area, California. NMA President, Howard University and the American Nurses Association also participated.
NHMA President also invited to speak at the press briefing for the Hispanic national media with Congressman Xavier Becerra and Democratic National Committee Vice Chair Linda Chavez Thompson.
NHMA President joined the Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition President, Fredette West, Congressman Towns, Dr. Garth Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Dr. David Hunt, Medical Director, HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, and Brian Smedley speaking at the Congressional Briefing for Health Reform and Health Disparities. Major discussion items surrounded the need for more advocacy for health disparities for health reform ----get involved with us today!
NHMA applauds the pharmaceutical industry for eliminating the donut hole from Medicare part D to contribute to health care reform….AARP led the effort that resulted in the announcement 2 weeks ago.
ACTION ALERT
NHMA urges all readers and colleagues to go to our website, www.nhmamd.org and send your Congressmen and Senators a letter urging support for health care reform. We recognize that Hispanics, with the largest proportion of uninsured and the highest rates of health care disparities, will benefit greatly from the transformation of health care in the new bills that are being developed:
Universal affordable health insurance;
National Strategy for Prevention and Integrative Medicine
State and Local system for primary care extension training linked for diversity to HCOP
Public Option for the working poor to have more choice for health insurance;
Increased diversity in the health care workforce - more Hispanic physicians and providers in primary care
Cultural competence training for all providers
Language services
Health disparities ---Office of Minority Health, data collection of race/ethnicity/language and comparative effectiveness research, enrollment and education and prevention programs ---And more…
NHMA URGES YOU TO CALL YOUR SENATORS to voice your leadership about the nomination of the First Latina to the US Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Go to www.senate.gov and call your Senator – her nomination hearing is Thursday, Aug. 6th.
We suggest the following talking points for your calls:
Judge Sotomayor is extremely qualified and a living example of the American Dream.
* Judge Sotomayor has worked at almost every level of our judicial system – as a prosecutor, litigator, trial court and appellate judge.
* Top legal experts have hailed her as “one of the ablest federal judges currently sitting” for her thoughtful opinions and as “a role model of aspiration, discipline, commitment, intellectual prowess and integrity.”
* If confirmed, Judge Sotomayor would have the most federal judicial experience of any starting Supreme Court Justice in a hundred years.
REDES EN ACCION ----NHMA has worked to support cancer in the Health Reform Bills –which do have cancer focused grants, colon cancer prevention programs and lung cancer prevention programs. We are looking for CANCER DOCTORS for new national programs to guide the development of cancer education to patients with our partners ----call the office today. 202-628-5895.
NHMA FOUNDATION – the National Hispanic Health Foundation invited to participate with United Health Foundation Scholars Capitol Hill Events – for medical students, 5 of whom were honored by the NHHF Hispanic Health Professional Scholarship Program ---see the www.nhmafoundation.org website for the Dec. 3, 2009 Scholarship Dinner at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
NHMA 14th ANNUAL CONFERENCE – “HEALTH CARE TRANSFORMATION: INCREASING PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY” – March 25-28, 2010, Wardman Marriott, Washington, DC – see www.nhmamd.org for Call for Abstracts, Research Posters, Sponsorship Opportunities, and Registration Information. Please pass on and invite your physician and health professional colleagues! This is the only national CME Conference on how to improve the health care delivery to Hispanic patients and NHMA welcomes you to join our networks.
ANNOUNCEMENTS_______________________________________________________________
FORMER BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS RECEIVE MAJOR APPOINTMENTS:
Dr. Joxel Garcia, former Assistant Secretary of Health, has been appointed Dean, Ponce Medical School in Puerto Rico
Dr. Jose Pedro Greer, Assistant Dean, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs Florida International Univ School of Medicine, Miami, was just announced as one of 16 recipients to receive the President’s highest civilian honor, the Medal Of Freedom
NHMA FELLOWS HONORS: Dr. Nellie Correa’s Innovation is placed on the AHRQ Innovations Exchange Website to share model innovation programs with the nation (NHMA project 2008)
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SEARCHING FOR HISPANIC HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS - NHMA has been asked for nominations to the Directors, HHS Regional Offices and we would like to nominate you, if you have strong leadership and management as well as political experience. Call us to discuss ----and join NHMA as a Member –to be nominated.
On July 28, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory warning consumers to stop using any body building products that are represented to contain steroids or steroid-like substances. Many of these products are marketed as dietary supplements.
This advisory was issued along with a warning letter sent to American Cellular Laboratories Inc. for marketing and distributing body building products containing synthetic steroid substances. Although these products are marketed as dietary supplements, they are NOT dietary supplements, but instead are unapproved and misbranded drugs. The products listed in the Warning Letter to American Cellular Laboratories Inc. include “TREN-Xtreme,” “MASS Xtreme,” “ESTRO Xtreme,” “AH-89-Xtreme,” “HMG Xtreme,” “MMA-3 Xtreme,” “VNS-9 Xtreme,” and “TT-40-Xtreme,” and are sold on the Internet and in some stores. These products, which claim to contain steroid-like ingredients but in fact contain synthetic steroid substances, are unapproved new drugs because they are not generally recognized as safe and effective. In addition, the products are misbranded because the label is misleading and does not provide adequate directions for use.
Consumers taking body building supplements that claim to contain steroids or steroid-like substances should stop taking them immediately. Consumers should also consult a health care professional if they suspect they are experiencing problems associated with the products. Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events that may be related to the use of these types of products to the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088 or by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178 or by mail at MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.
FDA provides several documents in English and in Spanish. The English versions of these documents appear at this site: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm173965.htm
The Spanish versions of these documents appear at the following sites:
Press Release: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm174742.htm Consumer article: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm174833.htm ___________________________________________________________________________________ The University of California, Davis, School of Medicine is part of a nationally recognized, highly collaborative health system that excels in translating scientific discoveries and new technology into improved patient care and community health.
Based in Sacramento, Calif., the UC Davis School of Medicine is seeking talented faculty to join an innovative environment infused with team learning, team research and team patient care. Academic positions are available at all levels in clinical and basic science departments with research, teaching, and/or clinical responsibilities in five academic series.
To learn more about the exciting opportunities UC Davis has to offer, please visit http://provost. ucdavis.edu/cfusion/emppost/search.cfm
The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to achieving diversity in its faculty and staff.
Minority Health Fellowship Opportunity at Harvard University
The Commonwealth Fund / Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy
Program: One-year, degree-granting, full-time fellowship from July 2010 to June 2011. Prepares physicians, particularly minority physicians, for leadership roles in minority health/public health policy. Leads to MPH at Harvard School of Public Health or MPA at Harvard Kennedy School. Full graduate program incorporates intensive training in health policy, public health, and administration: courses, seminars, practicum, forums, conferences, site visits, faculty mentoring, and shadowing.
Qualifications: U.S. citizenship; board eligible or board certified physicians; experience in minority health issues; interest in health policy and public health; strong academic and leadership skills; intention to pursue career in public health, health policy, or academia.
Holliday Professionals is an executive search firm with an unrivaled reputation for combining our clients’ needs with the perfect HP candidates, in order to form the ideal medical staff member. HP provides a unique blend of consulting services for the permanent placement of Minority Medical Professionals. Our clients consist of major metropolitan & rural hospitals, multi & single location private practices, city & state government, and major corporations that require in-house physicians. Our firm is committed to the development of future Physicians & Surgeons. Holliday Professionals will make a $1500.00 scholarship donation to National Hispanic Medical Association for every NHMA member that secures a Medical position through our firm. We have Physician & Surgeon jobs that cover every specialty, from Anesthesiology to Urology. Below we have listed a few of our open position. If your specialty is not listed below please send us an email and we will respond back with the details of a position that match your specialty.
MD Position Requirements Location
Cardiologist BC/BE, Less than 2 yrs of exp Orlando, FL & Houston TX
IM & FP BC/BE, 1 to 5 yrs of exp Corpus Christi, TX & GA
IM BC/BE, 1 to 2 yrs of exp Nashville, TN
OB/GYN BC/BE, Less than 2 yrs of exp Orlando FL
Orthopedic Surgeon BC/BE, Less than 2 yrs of exp Orlando, FL
General & Vascular Surgeon BC/BE, Less than 2 yrs of exp Orlando, FL
JOIN NHMA AS A MEMBER OR CONTRIBUTE TO HELP OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH FOR HISPANICS AND OTHER UNDERSERVED -----GO TO WWW.NHMAMD.ORG TODAY!!!
Minority Health Fellowship Opportunity at Harvard University
The Commonwealth Fund / Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy
Program: One-year, degree-granting, full-time fellowship from July 2010 to June 2011. Prepares physicians, particularly minority physicians, for leadership roles in minority health/public health policy. Leads to MPH at Harvard School of Public Health or MPA at Harvard Kennedy School. Full graduate program incorporates intensive training in health policy, public health, and administration: courses, seminars, practicum, forums, conferences, site visits, faculty mentoring, and shadowing.
Qualifications: U.S. citizenship; board eligible or board certified physicians; experience in minority health issues; interest in health policy and public health; strong academic and leadership skills; intention to pursue career in public health, health policy, or academia.
Holliday Professionals is an executive search firm with an unrivaled reputation for combining our clients’ needs with the perfect HP candidates, in order to form the ideal medical staff member. HP provides a unique blend of consulting services for the permanent placement of Minority Medical Professionals. Our clients consist of major metropolitan & rural hospitals, multi & single location private practices, city & state government, and major corporations that require in-house physicians. Our firm is committed to the development of future Physicians & Surgeons. Holliday Professionals will make a $1500.00 scholarship donation to National Hispanic Medical Association for every NHMA member that secures a Medical position through our firm. We have Physician & Surgeon jobs that cover every specialty, from Anesthesiology to Urology. Below we have listed a few of our open position. If your specialty is not listed below please send us an email and we will respond back with the details of a position that match your specialty.
MD Position Requirements Location
Cardiologist BC/BE, Less than 2 yrs of exp Orlando, FL & Houston TX
IM & FP BC/BE, 1 to 5 yrs of exp Corpus Christi, TX & GA
IM BC/BE, 1 to 2 yrs of exp Nashville, TN
OB/GYN BC/BE, Less than 2 yrs of exp Orlando FL
Orthopedic Surgeon BC/BE, Less than 2 yrs of exp Orlando, FL
General & Vascular Surgeon BC/BE, Less than 2 yrs of exp Orlando, FL
JOIN NHMA AS A MEMBER OR CONTRIBUTE TO HELP OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH FOR HISPANICS AND OTHER UNDERSERVED -----GO TO WWW.NHMAMD.ORG TODAY!!!
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