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| NHMA NET JANUARY 2012 |
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National Hispanic Medical Association NHMA NET January 2012 Washington, DC LEGISLATION UPDATE Prompt Pay Bill (HR 3587)sponsored by Reps. Bilbray (R-CA) and Eshoo (D-CA) to require prompt Medicaid payment for all providers, building on current law requiring prompt pay for physicians. NHMA participates in coalition of Medicaid health plans and providers to support this insurance for the poor.National Hispanic Medical Association filed an amicus briefalong with Doctors for America, American Medical Student Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Physicians Alliance, and American Nurses Association - with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the constitutionality of provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will help ensure health access to tens of millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans. The current amicus brief filed by these organizations relates to the case currently pending with the Supreme Court on the issue of constitutionality of the “minimum coverage provision” of the ACA: HHS v. Florida (11-398). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s, Pub L. No. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119 (2010) ("ACA") minimum coverage provision regulates trade in health care services by requiring most Americans to finance their health costs through insurance. It regulates an activity known as “adverse selection” where consumers delay purchasing health insurance until after they become likely to receive more in benefits than they pay into an insurance plan. And it is an essential element of a broader scheme regulating the national health care and health insurance markets. Each of these three facts is sufficient to render the minimum coverage provision constitutional. The organizations on the brief represent hundreds of thousands of physicians and medical students, and the interests of millions of nurses who care for patients in communities across the country every day. "We believe that the Affordable Care Act is the most transformative legislation in our generation to provide the opportunity for quality health to the Hispanic community and all Americans" ---Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, President & CEO, NHMA. (quote from the press release of Jan. 13) The California Endowment, public health advocates, 480 state legislators have also signed on to amicus briefs supporting the law… But what would life be like if the individual mandate goes but the rest of the Affordable Care Act survives?Overall spending would be lower, but individual premiums would be higher; and maybe a whole lot higher is the conclusion of a new analysis by the Urban Institute, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. NHMA signs on to the request for increased funds for viral hepatitis – especially as Hepatitis C is expected to affect Hispanics who have acquired it through blood transfusions in the past, more than other groups, with the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors in January Essential Health Benefits Surprise Proposal from HHS - Health and Human Services proposal to allow state officials to choose an essential health benefit template for their exchanges from among certain existing insurance plans in their states. While the bulletin on the approach HHS intends to follow was billed as advantageous for states because it offers them "flexibility and freedom," patient advocates who expected a clearer national standard for benefit design were shocked… Initial Core Set of Health Care Quality Measures for Medicaid-Eligible Adultswere approved on Dec. 21, 2011 by Kathleen Sebelius,Secretary, US Dept of Health and Human Services. NHMA advocating to uphold the Clean Air Act and to reject any measure that would block or delay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from doing its job to protect all Americans from life-threatening air pollution. Several bills have been introduce in the House and Senate that would roll back important public health protections and we are working in coalitions with Voces Verdes and the National Hispanic Coalition for Climate Change to oppose these measures. NHMA has been featured in articles about the need for environmental health focus in our Hispanic communities and will continue to grow this advocacy focus. NHMA PROGRAM UPDATE PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAM, funded by the Office of Minority Health - NHMA has nominated physician and health professional student members to the upcoming White House Latino Community Action Summits in San Jose, CA, Phoenix and Tucson, AZ. Join NHMA to find out about Summits in your region - there are 12 total Summits being planned by the Obama Administration to update our leaders about health care and other programs. NHMA is planning its Leadership Institute for NHMA Medical Society and Health Professional Leadership Network Association boards of directors at the April NHMA Conference ---meet corporate board and media leaders. See Conference information on our website. NEW NHMA CME Online Program– We have started this program to provide lectures on topics related to improving healthcare for Latino patients. You can find the CME program on our website, www.nhmamd.org under Resources for Physicians. We are starting with two lectures on Obesity and on Diabetes. We will be uploading nore lectures on Hispanic health from the NHMA 15th Annual Conference. CME being provided by Morehouse School of Medicine and will be offered Free to Members. Support for the program is from Johnson & Johnson’s partnership with NHMA to increase provider education on Hispanic health. Child Obesity Health Communications and Policy Project - NHMA’s Foundation, the National Hispanic Health Foundation, and the Kellogg Foundation are developing the Leadership Institute at the NY Academy of Medicine for February 17-19. If you are a physician caring for children in California or New York and interested in joining our effort to empower physicians to educate policymakers about needed policies and programs in Hispanic communities, or to participate with the media partners - let Dr. Rios know today - call her Administrative Assistant, Nuvia Flores at 202- 628-5895. Announcing the NHMA Speaker's Bureau to focus on the importance of E-Health Technology with our partner, AT&T as we develop messages for the public to understand how providers can reduce child obesity and other diseases with the critical use of new technologies like electronic medical records, texting messages through cell phones, smart phone apps, virtual consultations with emailing and more. NHMA Board of Directors are starting the effort. NHMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – Speakers are requested to discuss topics in your states and regions that address research, medical education, preventive and mental and oral health of populations, disparities in diseases that impact Hispanics and new programs that can be replicated in regions across the nation to improve the health of our communities. NHMA 16th Annual Conference ---“Innovations that Improve Health of Hispanics, Families and Communities.” April 26-29, 2012, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC. Go to our Conference Box on the Home Page for more the ABSTRACTS as well as CALL FOR POSTERS –for faculty, residents and health professional students interested in sharing Hispanic Health Research. Tell your colleagues about our conference - the only national conference dedicated to bringing together experts who provide care and oversee programs in Latino populations to share how to improve the health of Latinos across the nation. NHMA Leadership Development Programs - NHMA is supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to train Hispanic physicians and residents to become leaders for the nation. This is a great opportunity to build a national network with outstanding health expert faculty and a stellar advisory committee. Past fellows are now at 120 and residents are at 80 and are nominated by NHMA to the White House, HHS and private sector national conferences and boards and commissions. Consider joining these programs today. For more information, call Astrid Jimenez, NHMA Program Director at 202.628.5895 TODAY. NHMA Leadership Fellowship (10 physicians to be selected)– an Executive Leadership Program for midcareer physician interested in leadership careers in public service. This is an executive leadership training in collaboration with the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service Leadership Center and the NY Academy of Medicine. NHMA Resident Leadership Program (20 residents to be selected) for primary care residents interested in public service or academic leadership careers. We are looking for 20 residents who must be available for a Sunday - Tuesday institute in New York in May or in Sacramento, California in August, 2012. Fellows and Residents’ Orientation Programs will be at the NHMA Annual Conference on April 26, 2012. Half the Residents will have sessions in May (NY) & half in August (CA). Fellows will have NY Institute in Mid July and in DC in Mid Sept for a week each. All selected fellow or resident leaders must attend all sessions. See www.nhmamd.org application for more info. APPLICATIONS DUE Jan. 31, 2012. NHMA JOINS HHS OMH and NMA on the 2012 FLU IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN ---need physicians in Philadelphia and Indianapolis to be paid to participate on a research project on the use of immunization reminders and cultural competence communications to your patients. Call Astrid Jimenez at (202) 628-5895 Today. In addition, NHMA Board Members will be asking for input from audiences they address over this quarter at regional meetings. MEMBERSHIP UPDATE NHMA Physician and Associate Membership Drive - We encourage all physicians and residents as well as anyone interested in our goal to improve the health of Hispanic populations for the U.S. We encourage you to join NHMA where you will become part of a successful network of professionals interested in gaining skills and sharing strategies to improve health policies, programs for leadership development, medical delivery, faculty development, and public service with high priority for helping Latinos who need our attention, especially as the population grows across the nation. NHMA is developing a speakers’ bureau, works with national and major market media outlets and government and private sector health care leaders and NHMA is constantly called on to participate in national and regional conferences. As a PROFESSIONAL MEMBER OF NHMA, you can become more involved in these and more activities to advance Hispanic health and your careers. We nominate members to national boards and commissions to provide education about health care for Hispanic populations. NHMA Resident Membership Drive - The NHMA Council of Residents is being expanded to include medical and surgical residents from across the nation ----we recognize the isolation we faced as residents and we offer a network that is unique in the nation ----successful Hispanic physicians across disciplines and in private practice, academia and in public service. Just this summer, surgical residents were nominated to the prestigious Endo Ethicon Surgical Training Program. In addition, resident members are eligible for our Resident Leadership Program, funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC and in either NYC or Sacramento, California. We bring 20 residents from across the nation to our Conference next April 26-29th and we have mentoring opportunities with our network. NHMA Health Professional and Medical Student Membership Drive - To all medical students entering your last year of medical school, NHMA encourages you to join as members and continue to network and advance your career to improve the health of your Hispanic patients. We are proud to announce that we are establishing a JOB BOARD with the National Health Careers Network to provide your first opportunity to find positions…For medical students in Year 01 – 03, we partner with LMSA in encouraging you to join LMSA to receive their valuable student programs. NHMA is proud to have the LMSA national coordinator, Ray Morales on our Board of Directors to help plan joint activities around our national conferences. NHMA provides medical students opportunity to present posters of their research on Hispanic health. We encourage all health professional students interested in Hispanic health to join too. NHMA BOARD REQUESTS your interest ---especially NHMA Leadership Fellows and Residents--- in joining the STEERING COMMITTEES for the NORTHEAST and WEST REGION - if interested, let Sara Classen know at (202) 628-5895. Conference Calls and Meeting at the Annual Conference on developing an Annual NHMA Regional Event . JOIN TODAY AS AN NHMA MEMBER– www.nhmamd.org or call Sara Classen, Program and Membership Officer at 202.628.5895. Members' Activities this past month ....nominated by NHMA... Dr. Richard Zapanta is announced as the ALUMNI OF THE YEAR from the USC Mexican American Alumni Association and will be honored at a special Dinner with Keynote Speaker, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis in Los Angeles on March 2nd. Dr. Elena Rios appointed to new US DHHS External Advisory Group for Latinos and Health Care Reform and to IOM Committee on Flu Pandemic Preparedness Committee and to the Board of Directors, Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc.(Washington, DC/Montgomery County, MD Care First) Dr. German Hernandez, Foster Texas Tech Medical School, El Paso, appointed to represent NHMA on the US DHHS OMH and OWH LUPUS INITIATIVE Committee to develop and disseminate curriculum to medical and nursing schools this year on minority patients with Lupus. Dr. Alicia Fernandez, UCSF, appointed to represent NHMA on the National Diabetes Education Program Workgroup to develop dissemination plans for the outstanding materials already developed by the CDC and NIDDK and its partners, including past NHMA representatives. Dr. Kathy Flores, UCSF Fresno, joins the Commission to End Health Disparities (AMA, NHMA, NMA led) Committee on Workforce Diversity Development. Dr. Rios is the NHMA rep to the Steering Committee and Policy Committee, Dr. Jessica Nunez also represents NHMA as the COChair, Policy Committee. Dr. Minerva Campos, Washington, DC Health Systems Consultant, takes the lead in assisting NHMA Conference Planning Committee to develop a DC Metro Area Promotions Plan with staff. Dr. Sam Arce, Jamaica Plains, NY practitioner, appointed to the Board of Driectors of the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Vanessa Saucedo and Dr. Elizabeth Holman of the NHMA Council of Residents lecture to residents across the nation collaborating with the LMSA regional meetings in Boston, Chicago, Miami and Palo Alto to find resident and medical student members and to develop the future leaders of NHMA! Dr. JP Sanchez and Dr. Efrain Talamantes with Dr. Flores and Dr. Rios develop an NHMA Council of Young Physicians program over the next few months to be announced at the Annual Conference to network our Hispanic physicians 5 years out of residency/fellowship training so they can share lessons learned on the journey to become a physician in our communities. Dr. Ciro Sumaya of Texas A&M presents to the MAHPA Medical Society this month on the importance of NHMA developing its NHHF Clinical Trials Program to generate new recruits to the program. Dr. Anna Maria Lopez of University of Arizona is convening her Second Latino Health Conference at the medical school with NHMA and ALMA on Feb. 11th Weekend. Let us know your announcements, members on the move to share with all of you ----- We urge you to inform your colleagues to join the NHMA Today and join a unique network of Latino and non – Latino health care professionals and students interested in mentoring and advancing their careers to improve the health of our Latino communities. We encourage you to join NHMA and take advantage of Affinity Programs to provide members with discounted services in the area of electronic medical records, financial planning and investments, patient discounted medications, and rental cars. We are also proud to announce New Job Board with the National Health Careers Network is being planned for next month. ANNOUNCEMENTS
From the Desk of Michelle Yeboah, DrPH, Director (Acting), Office of Minority Health Advisory committees are essential insupporting the FDA's mission of protecting and promoting the public health by obtaining independent expert advice on scientific, technical, and policy matters. Promoting FDA’s leadership in addressing health disparities and assuring diverse perspectives on advisory committees is integral to achieving the agency’s public health mission. OMH is eager to recruit academic and scientific experts who can provide diverse perspectives regarding pre and post market review of clinical research. Our goal is to assist in assuring that underserved populations are considered in clinical reviews. We are seeking a wide range of physicians from all subspecialties who have a background in statistics, health disparities and/or clinical trials. Please visit our website for more information on the current advisory committee vacancy opportunities: www.fda.gov/ MinorityHealth. Interested candidates should submit their resumes/CVs to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it If you have any questions, please contact us at O This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Director, Office for Policy in Clinical Research Operations, Division of AIDS, NIAID, NIH, HHS
Application Deadline: Feb. 29, 2012
Resident physicians are invited to apply for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Clinical Scholars program, which offers a master’s degree graduate-level study and research in a university-based, post residency training program. The program provides scholars with generous funding and involves two years of study with protected time for research.
The RWJF Clinical Scholars program fosters the development of physicians who will lead the transformation of Americans’ health and health care. These future leaders will conduct innovative research and work with communities, organizations, practitioners and policy-makers to address issues essential to the health and well-being of all Americans.
Program highlights include:
- leadership training;
- mentoring;
- protected research time;
- national networking;
- health policy, health services, and community-based research training; and
- financial support for research projects and professional travel.
Four participating institutions will be recruiting scholars to begin their programs in July 2013: the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of Michigan; the University of Pennsylvania; and Yale University. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will provide funding for the stipends and insurance for some of the Scholars through VA Medical Centers affiliated with these universities. The VA provides additional support through faculty time, clinical resources, and research databases.
To apply online or find more information visit http://rwjcsp.unc.edu. The deadline for all applications (and reference letters) is February 29, 2012.
Dean of the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine |
All Medical Practices covered by HIPAA must use ICD-10 on
October 1, 2013
