As a part of a strong commitment to promote health care equity and quality, the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) partnered with Amgen to develop an Asthma and Hispanics Education Campaign during 2022. Given the pandemic of COVID-19, that targets the lungs, has impacted Hispanics twice as much as the general population in terms of hospitalizations and death, NHMA has focused on how to improve asthma education and treatment targeted at this population.
Hispanics face barriers to access to healthcare – both financial and non-financial. Hispanics have the highest rates of uninsured and due to limited incomes to spend on health care, they have less access to a regular provider and use the emergency room for sporadic asthma care. Other barriers include cultural values and lack of Hispanic physicians, health literacy, language services which limit knowledge among Hispanic families about management and treatment of asthma.
Past Events
February Amgen Advocacy Meetings:
Discussing Severe Asthma among Hispanics with Texas Legislators
NHMA hosted an advocacy meeting to discuss asthma policy with Texas state legislators and office members from the House of Representatives on February 17 on Zoom. The event featured NHMA physicians who discussed the importance of recognizing barriers that Hispanic patients face when seeking adequate and affordable asthma treatment. The conversation also covered environmental impact, challenges in state law, the need for a diverse workforce in healthcare, and the promotion of leadership opportunities for provider engagement in government.
Date and Time: February 17, 2023; 2:00-3:30 PM ET
Speakers:
Bert Johansson, MD, PhD
Executive Board Member
National Hispanic Medical Association
Pediatrician, Centro de Salud Familiar la Fe, El Paso, TX
Tanya Martinez, MD
Associate Professor, Program Director,
Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship, UT Southwestern / Children’s Health Dallas
Representative Terry Meza
Member of Environmental Regulation, District 105
Samantha Crane
Legislative Director, Representative Elizabeth Campos
Vice Chair of Public Health, District 119
Nimisha Bhakta, MPH
Director of Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention
Discussing Severe Asthma among Hispanics with New York Legislators
NHMA hosted an advocacy meeting to discuss asthma policy with New York state legislators from both the Assembly and Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force on February 16 via Zoom. The event featured a provider's perspective on severe asthma in Hispanic communities, with discussions focused on the importance of recognizing barriers that Hispanic patients face when seeking adequate and affordable asthma treatment. The conversation also covered social determinants and challenges in state law, the need for a diverse workforce in healthcare, and the promotion of leadership opportunities for provider engagement in government.
Date and Time: February 16, 2023; 3:00-4:30 PM ET
Speakers:
Senator Gustavo Rivera
Chair of Health Committee District 33 Julia Salazar
Member, Health Committee, District 18 Elizabeth Lee-Rey, MD
Board Member, National Hispanic Medical Association
Partner, Family Practice, Eastchester Medical Associates, PC Assemblymember Kenny Burgos
Member, Committee on Higher Education, District 87 Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia
Member, Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, District 86 Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
Member, Committee on Health, District 34 Wilma Alvarado-Little, MA, MSW
Associate Commissioner
New York State Department of Health
Director Office of Health Equity and Health Disparities Prevention