http://www.hispanictips.com Essential Hispanic & Latino News :: Relevant, Trusted, Comprehensive and Useful Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:04:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.hispanictips.com/2009/09/14/national-hispanic-medical-association-supports-universal-health-coverage/ http://www.hispanictips.com/2009/09/14/national-hispanic-medical-association-supports-universal-health-coverage/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:47:49 +0000 Tomas http://www.hispanictips.com/?p=60967 President Obama's vision for health care reform will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. But for the National Hispanic Medical Association, which represents doctors across the nation who care for Hispanic patients, what is more important is that the President's health reform will provide insurance to those who don't have it and slow the growth of health care costs for families, businesses, and the government.

Hispanics currently number 50 million or 15% of the population, the largest ethnic group in the country. As a young population, Hispanics are the backbone of our future economy. Yet, our Hispanic communities face the greatest proportion of diseases, like diabetes and obesity and depression, and live in poverty with few choices for healthy lifestyles. Hispanics also face the challenge of being the group with the greatest uninsured, with three out of five under the age of 65 without health insurance.

The National Hispanic Medical Association President Dr. Elena Rios states, "We strongly support the health care reform plan of President Obama and we recognize his strong commitment to affordable universal insurance with a public option. We know that Hispanics stand to gain the most because having insurance will mean, starting with this generation, Hispanics will have less disease and health care costs and will be more productive in their communities."

Health care reform bills have already passed 4 out of 5 Congress committees and call for the transformation of a health system to focus on prevention services without costs, so that more Americans can live healthier lives, and public health targeted to needy communities with a national strategy that eliminates health disparities under the leadership of the U.S. DHHS Office of Minority Health.

NHMA is advocating for health care reforms that create more responsive health care services for Hispanics - primary care for all, language services as an insurance benefit for hospitals and medical care, cultural competence training for all providers, increased Hispanic doctors and nurses, medical malpractice reform, and the elimination of the current 5-year waiting period for eligible persons for Medicaid and for low income subsidies.

The National Hispanic Medical Association is a nonprofit association representing Hispanic physicians. The NHMA mission is to improve the health of Hispanics and other underserved. For more information go to www.nhmamd.org. Aggregated by HispanicTips :: Hispanic & Latino News & Information]]> http://js-kit.com/rss/www.hispanictips.com/p=60967 0 http://www.hispanictips.com/2009/06/25/statement-of-dr-elena-rios-md-msph-president-and-ceo-national-hispanic-medical-association/ http://www.hispanictips.com/2009/06/25/statement-of-dr-elena-rios-md-msph-president-and-ceo-national-hispanic-medical-association/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:24:43 +0000 Tomas http://www.hispanictips.com/?p=55595 "The following is a statement of Dr. Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association:

As the President and Congress labor to pass meaningful health reform this year, their work in reaching out to work with the pharmaceutical industry to bridge the coverage gap in Medicare will prove to be an important step in ensuring every American has access to affordable, high-quality health care coverage and services.

The industry should be recognized for its early commitment to work with Congress and the White House to reduce health care costs, increase access to medicines and ensure comprehensive Health Reform.

The National Hispanic Medical Association is advocating for health reform that will target Hispanics -- increase access to affordable health insurance, prevention in quality care, and a culturally and linguistically competent workforce.

Established in 1994 in Washington, DC, NHMA is a nonprofit association that represents 45,000 Hispanic physicians in the U.S. The NHMA mission is to improve the health of Hispanics and the underserved. For more information, visit www.nhmamd.org. " Aggregated by HispanicTips :: Hispanic & Latino News & Information]]> http://js-kit.com/rss/www.hispanictips.com/p=55595 0 http://www.hispanictips.com/2009/06/15/national-hispanic-medical-association-to-focus-health-reform-on-health-disparities-and-comparative-effectiveness-research/ http://www.hispanictips.com/2009/06/15/national-hispanic-medical-association-to-focus-health-reform-on-health-disparities-and-comparative-effectiveness-research/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:20:08 +0000 Tomas http://www.hispanictips.com/?p=54362 "As the Senate and Congress and stakeholders discuss policy strategies for affordable health insurance coverage for all Americans, there is a critical need to support new knowledge on medical treatment protocols that can reduce health disparities in our nation.

Key leaders will discuss this new knowledge development under health reform when the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) hosts a Congressional Briefing about Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) and Health Disparities. The event, sponsored by the California Endowment, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, AARP and Consumers Union will be held on Wednesday, June 17th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Capitol Hill Hotel, Washington, DC.

"New knowledge about treatment decisions for the most vulnerable populations should be supported in health reform policy," said Dr. Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, president and CEO, NHMA, a nonprofit group that represents Hispanic physicians in the U.S. "The key to reducing health disparities also includes a diverse health workforce and cultural competence training for all health providers."

As a result of poverty and toxic environments and other social problems, health disparities are reflected among racial and ethnic persons, rural and other subpopulations who have greater rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, renal failure, HIV/AIDS, obesity and their complications. The shift to prevention and healthy lifestyle of the next generation is central to health reform. But the current chronically ill need the emphasis on research to support more efficient care options for the patient and his or her physician.

Comparative effectiveness research was recently supported in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at a level of $1.1 billion to stimulate research from the National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that can include cultural competence and mechanisms to decrease health disparities.

Speakers at the briefing include Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA), Rep. Donna Christensen (Virgin Islands), Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (Guam), Dr. Garth Graham, deputy assistant secretary for minority health, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Ivonne Bertrand, associate executive director, National Medical Association, and Dr. Elena Rios, president & CEO, NHMA.

Health reform this year is needed for all Americans to get relief, have more affordable health insurance and access to care, and more efficient clinical decision-making with their physicians and health providers.

Established in 1994 in Washington, DC, NHMA is a nonprofit association that represents 45,000 Hispanic physicians in the U.S. The NHMA mission is to improve the health of Hispanics and the underserved. For more information, visit http://www.nhmamd.org.

SOURCE National Hispanic Medical Association " HispanicTips is Essential Hispanic & Latino News & Information
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My readers say it best: "love it," "addictive,""useful," "great," & "invaluable." - View quotes & testimonials]]> http://js-kit.com/rss/www.hispanictips.com/p=54362 0 http://www.hispanictips.com/2008/09/03/presidentceo-of-national-hispanic-medical-association-dr-elena-rios-to-address-health-care-and-health-disparities-tonight-at-republican-national-convention-marketwatch/ http://www.hispanictips.com/2008/09/03/presidentceo-of-national-hispanic-medical-association-dr-elena-rios-to-address-health-care-and-health-disparities-tonight-at-republican-national-convention-marketwatch/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:27:39 +0000 Tomas http://www.hispanictips.com/2008/09/03/presidentceo-of-national-hispanic-medical-association-dr-elena-rios-to-address-health-care-and-health-disparities-tonight-at-republican-national-convention-marketwatch/ "Convention's Only Speaker on Health Care to Touch on RNC's Theme Tonight of 'Reform'
Dr. Elena Rios, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), is scheduled to speak tonight at the Republican National Convention between 7 and 8 p.m. in Minneapolis, St. Paul and discuss health care and health disparities.
Rios is the only speaker addressing health care issues at the Republican convention. She is scheduled to speak between 7 and 8 p.m. Eastern Time as part of tonight's RNC theme of "reform."
Rios will be among a prominent roster of government and private-sector speakers tonight. They include Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican Party's nominee for vice president, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Sen. Norm Coleman (Minn.), former EBay President and CEO Meg Whitman, former Hewlett-Packard Chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina and GOPAC Chairman Michael Steele.
Rios' speech will focus on health care as a national issue that "extends beyond the individual to virtually every aspect of society -- it determines our economic productivity; it impacts the ability of children to learn; it even affects our military readiness."
According to Rios' prepared statement: "The deck is stacked against some of us. Our nation is becoming more diverse. By 2042, people of color will be the emerging majority. One out of three Americans will be Hispanic. While this is truly something to celebrate, it also poses unique challenges when it comes to ensuring a healthy population."
For example, twice as many Hispanics have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. The incidence of HIV/AIDS among Hispanic women is five times that of whites. African Americans face higher rates of mortality for heart disease and cancer.
The problem is compounded by poverty, language and cultural barriers, limited access to health information and the limited number of Hispanic physicians and nurses in the U.S., said Rios.
"With the right leadership, we can meet this challenge and have universal access to health care that is affordable for all Americans," according to Rios' speech. "John McCain's focus on prevention will go a long way toward lowering the cost and incidence of chronic diseases."
For example, McCain plans to expand walk-in clinics as alternatives to emergency room care -- thus lowering costs and offering more responsive and effective care, according to her statement.
NHMA, a nonprofit group based in Washington, DC, that represents Hispanic physicians in the United States, will work with government "to tear down barriers that create health disparities for millions of minorities," Rios will say in her speech.
Rios founded and established NHMA in 1994 to improve health care for Hispanics and the underserved in the U.S. To that end, NHMA has worked to combat obesity, diabetes and cultural competence in health care and improve care for the uninsured and all Americans. NHMA serves as a resource to the White House, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health and Congress.
"We have the greatest health care system in the world, with the finest doctors and cutting-edge technology. Yet, some people are falling through the cracks. Costs are rising at an unsustainable rate. And this impacts everyone's ability to secure affordable health insurance," according to Rios' speech.
NHMA is working with federal officials to help make government programs more efficient and health insurance more accessible to more Americans than ever before.
"Whether you live in a barrio or on Main Street, U.S.A., the best of the American health care system should be available to you," Rios will say.
Established in 1994 in Washington, D.C., NHMA is a nonprofit association that represents licensed Hispanic physicians in the U.S. in its mission to improve health care for Hispanics and the underserved. For more information, visit http://www.nhmamd.org. " HispanicTips is Essential Hispanic & Latino News & Information
A Community Enhancer :: Relevant, Comprehensive, Useful & Trusted
My readers say it best: "love it," "addictive,""useful," "great," & "invaluable." - View quotes & testimonials]]> http://js-kit.com/rss/www.hispanictips.com/p=43405 0 http://www.hispanictips.com/2008/07/17/the-national-hispanic-medical-association-and-the-new-york-academy-of-medicine-showcased-health-care-reform-for-minority-communities-at-policy-briefing-july-15/ http://www.hispanictips.com/2008/07/17/the-national-hispanic-medical-association-and-the-new-york-academy-of-medicine-showcased-health-care-reform-for-minority-communities-at-policy-briefing-july-15/#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:03:32 +0000 Tomas http://www.hispanictips.com/2008/07/17/the-national-hispanic-medical-association-and-the-new-york-academy-of-medicine-showcased-health-care-reform-for-minority-communities-at-policy-briefing-july-15/ "Amid skyrocketing gas and food prices, communities across the nation are also concerned with the rising costs fueled by health disparities, said the National Hispanic Medical Association in a policy briefing on July 15.
That is the issue top leaders discussed when the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) and The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) presented a policy briefing on "Health Care Reform and Health Disparities." The event was held on July 15, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 5th Ave. at 103rd St., Room 21, in Manhattan, New York.
"Despite all the worsening economic news we are hearing -- from the housing slump, to gas surpassing $4 a gallon, to food prices tripling, to unemployment surging to 5.5 percent last month -- there is some light. We do not have to face a darker economic outlook in health care if we properly address health disparities. That's a cost we can and should control," said Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, President and CEO of NHMA, a nonprofit group based in Washington, DC, that represents Hispanic physicians in the U.S.
The policy briefing showcased national health care reform efforts, focusing on the health care platforms of the presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain and how to eliminate disparities and improve the health of Hispanic populations.
"Communities of color continue to face numerous barriers when trying to make healthy choices about their lifestyles and when seeking medical care. Serious attention to the action steps needed to remove these barriers are crucial to our country's health, and including attention to the health of these populations in the presidential candidates' platforms is a major step in the right direction," said Jo Ivey Boufford, M.D., President of The New York Academy of Medicine. "As we move forward toward national health reform, we must not leave behind our most vulnerable and underserved communities."
The speakers included Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D., M.P.H., Health Care Policy Advisor, Obama for America Campaign; U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, MD, R.-Texas, John McCain 2008 Campaign; and Elizabeth Lee-Rey, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Family and Social Medicine, Co-Director, Hispanic Center of Excellence, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.
Obesity, diabetes, stroke and cancer are among the conditions that plague Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans. As those groups grow -- minorities will make up nearly 50 percent of the U.S. population in the coming years -- so will the associated costs of health disparities.
According to the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, if the health disparities trend continues unchecked, the U.S. will face a resource-strained health care system where the majority of the population and the workforce are in poor health.
Health disparities are costly. Hispanics are twice more likely to die from heart disease than whites, and black women die of diabetes twice as often as white women.
"People have a responsibility for making healthy choices, but we as a nation have a responsibility to address the causes of disparities and make healthy choices available to all people, regardless of race, income or education," Rios said.
The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) has been advancing the health of people in cities since 1847. An independent organization, NYAM addresses the health challenges facing the world's urban populations through interdisciplinary approaches to policy leadership, education, community engagement and innovative research. Drawing on the expertise of diverse partners worldwide and more than 2,000 elected Fellows from across the professions, our current priorities are to create environments in cities that support healthy aging; to strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public's health; and to implement interventions that eliminate health disparities.
Established in 1994 in Washington, DC, NHMA is a nonprofit association that represents licensed Hispanic physicians in the U.S. in its mission to improve health care for Hispanics and the underserved. For more information, visit http://www.nhmamd.org.
" HispanicTips.com - A Blogante News Service For, From & About Hispanics & Latinos]]> http://js-kit.com/rss/www.hispanictips.com/p=41194 0 http://www.hispanictips.com/2008/04/21/latino-doctors-to-share-innovations-in-care-at-nhma-conference-april-17-20-presidential-panel-to-speak/ http://www.hispanictips.com/2008/04/21/latino-doctors-to-share-innovations-in-care-at-nhma-conference-april-17-20-presidential-panel-to-speak/#comments Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:46:22 +0000 Tomas http://www.hispanictips.com/2008/04/21/latino-doctors-to-share-innovations-in-care-at-nhma-conference-april-17-20-presidential-panel-to-speak/ "Doctors from coast to coast meet here April 17-20 to tackle health issues that disproportionately affect Latinos - including hypertension, stroke, depression, cancer and obesity - during the 12th annual conference of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA).

NHMA is teaming with U.S. and state governments for its conference - "Health Care Reform & Health Disparities: A Priority for Hispanic Communities."

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) and NHMA will release the findings of three "Health Disparities and Hispanics Leadership Summits" at a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 18, in the Dupont Room at the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.

"Doctors from all over - New York, Texas, the Midwest, California and everywhere in between - will learn about groundbreaking research and the success stories of their peers," said Dr. Elena Rios, president of NHMA, a nonprofit group based in Washington, DC, that represents Hispanic physicians in the U.S.

A highlight of the conference will be a "Health Care Reform and Health Disparities Presidential Forum" at 2 p.m. April 18 in which representatives of Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ) will attend.

The event begins with a breakfast symposium by Dr. Carlos Herrera, the medical director of Heights Doctor's Clinic in Houston, on hypertension, stroke and high blood pressure at 7:30 a.m. April 18.

The conference includes research findings on diabetes, HIV/AIDS, mental health and women's health. Other highlights include:

-- At 9 a.m. April 18 there will be a plenary on "Federal Leadership & Hispanics" with Josefina Carbonell, assistant secretary, Administration on Aging, HHS; Kerry Weems, acting administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director, Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, HHS.

-- At 2:10 p.m. April 19, research on "Obesity and Hispanics" will be unveiled by the National Latino Children's Institute in San Antonio.

Other invited speakers include Dr. Garth N. Graham, deputy assistant secretary for minority health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and Dr. Ciro Sumaya, dean of the School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center.
" HispanicTips.com - A Blogante News Service For, From & About Hispanics & Latinos]]> http://js-kit.com/rss/www.hispanictips.com/p=37572 0 http://www.hispanictips.com/2007/10/31/national-hispanic-medical-association-national-dairy-council-partnership-aims-enhance-health-us-hispanics/ http://www.hispanictips.com/2007/10/31/national-hispanic-medical-association-national-dairy-council-partnership-aims-enhance-health-us-hispanics/#comments Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:36:08 +0000 Tomas http://www.hispanictips.com/2007/10/31/national-hispanic-medical-association-national-dairy-council-partnership-aims-enhance-health-us-hispanics/ "The National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) and the National Dairy Council (NDC) today announced a partnership to improve the health of the nation's Hispanic population through an education campaign that reinforces the nutrient package of low-fat and fat-free dairy products.

NHMA joins the list of health professional organizations that support NDC's 3-A-Day of Dairy program, a nutrition-based education and marketing effort to increase awareness of the health benefits of dairy foods and encourage three daily servings of low-fat and fat-free dairy, as recommended in the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

While Hispanics who come to the U.S. from other countries are often great consumers of dairy when they first arrive, according to recent research by Dairy Management, Inc., the management organization for National Dairy Council, research shows that as they become integrated into the U.S. culture and have U.S.-born children, their dairy consumption decreases, particularly milk. "This is a troubling trend that needs to be reversed," said Ann Marie Krautheim, senior vice president of Nutrition Affairs for the National Dairy Council. "Our partnership with NHMA will help us better educate Hispanics, both those who've recently arrived and those who've lived in the United States for generations, on the need for three daily servings of low-fat and fat-free dairy."

Dr. Elena Rios, president and CEO of National Hispanic Medical Association agrees that the trend is disturbing. "Good nutrition is paramount to good health," she said. "Because our physicians are on the frontlines every day, this partnership will help us step up our efforts to educate patients and their families about the need for three daily servings of dairy. This will improve the overall quality of their diets and help reduce the risk of diseases specifically prevalent in the Hispanic population, such as hypertension and metabolic syndrome."

Improving the health of Hispanics and other underserved populations -- the mission of the NHMA and its potential 36,000 member physicians -- is in alignment with the National Dairy Council efforts to improve the health of all Americans. In fact, since 1915 the National Dairy Council has conducted nutrition education and nutrition research to help health professionals and consumers better understand the role that dairy plays in the human diet.

The partnership complements an industry-wide effort to better understand the needs of U.S. Hispanics and explore opportunities to bring culturally relevant dairy products to market, a key to ensuring that Hispanics have access to the dairy products they want so that they can meet their three daily servings of dairy. NHMA will help NDC better understand the specific nutrition and cultural needs of the Hispanic community.

As a partner, a NHMA representative will join the 3-A-Day of Dairy Advisory Panel, which includes nationally renowned medical experts. The panel provides scientific guidance and direction for the campaign and puts research findings into context so it is useful for the public. The advisory panel also provides crucial input into health professional communications and education programs, which follow NDC's Guiding Principles for Nutrition Science and Health Communications, ensuring scientific integrity, transparency, leadership and excellence.

The two organizations will also partner on projects that relate specifically to the Hispanic population, such as exploring the incidence of lactose intolerance in the Hispanic population and the ways in which dairy can be incorporated into the diet, even in those diets of children and adults considered lactose intolerant. A similar report related to the general pediatric population was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in its journal Pediatrics in January 2006.

NHMA joins other 3-A-Day of Dairy partners, including American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Dietetic Association and the National Medical Association.

As a leader in nutrition research since 1915, the National Dairy Council is dedicated to providing timely, scientifically sound nutrition information on the health benefits of milk, cheese and yogurt.

Established in 1994 in Washington, DC, the National Hispanic Medical Association is a non-profit association representing 36,000 licensed Hispanic physicians in the United States. The mission of the organization is to improve the health of Hispanics and other underserved populations. As a rapidly growing national resource based in the nation's capital, NHMA provides policymakers and health care providers with expert information and support in strengthening health service delivery to Hispanic communities across the nation." For text, source & machine translated source please click on the permalink above.
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