2020 Policy PrioritiesIn 2019, NHMA held two Congressional briefings: in June on cardiovascular disease and Hispanics and in July on health care workforce diversity. NHMA also visited state capitals in California, Florida, New York, and Texas. NHMA member physicians visited Capitol Hill in April to discuss cardiovascular health and health disparities in Hispanics. In Spring 2020, NHMA has focused its advocacy on COVID-19 -with its sister organizations – the National Hispanic Health Professional Leadership Network (HHPLN) and the NHMA Council of Medical Societies as well as with our Members, Chapters, and interest groups. NHMA has sent letters to HHS and to Congress about our policy recommendations to improve health of Latinos. We have met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, key Members in the House and Senate, Congressmen and Senators on Appropriations Committees, and key State Senate offices who represent major numbers of Latino populations. We ask you to contact your Senator and Congressman to echo our concerns – that Latinos need more funding for culturally competent small practices and clinics, community hospitals, as well as small businesses and individual relief with jobs and Spanish information, and healthcare career leadership and diversity, mentoring and research. NHMA continues its work to improve the health of Hispanics. NHMA has submitted comments on chronic diseases – heart disease, HIV, diabetes and obesity, vaping and more. NHMA has also met with members from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, House Ways and Means Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. NHMA also joined the Alliance of Minority Physicians with four other minority medical organizations: Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), National Council of Asian and Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP), and the National Medical Association (NMA). |