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NHMA NET January 2010

Submitted by Elena Rios MD on Thu, 01/07/2010 - 12:55

National Hispanic Medical Association  NHMA-NET  JANUARY 2010

Washington DC

SENATE PASSES HISTORIC HEALTH REFORM BUT LEAVES OUT SOME HISPANICS

On January 5, 2010, it was announced that the House and Senate Leadership will negotiate and develop a Compromise Health Care Reform Bill advancing the policy to a vote by both houses of Congress, anticipated this month or early February. WE URGE YOU TO GO TO www.nhmamd.org and send in your letter voicing your input to your Congressman and Senators for this historic process.

On December 24, 2009, shortly after the Senate passed the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (HR 3590), National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) leaders applauded the measure’s efforts to help Americans lead healthier lives and to get the resources they need to reach or sustain a healthy weight.  (Note NHMA is a member of the NHLA, which also formed a broader campaign, Latinos United for Health Care and all encourage participation and input from the Latino community for health reform.)However, Hispanic leaders acknowledge the Senate Bill does not go as far as the House Bill to help Hispanics and will continue to voice support for the following major issues : 1. authorized immigrants should not have to wait 5 years to get public services (Medicaid, low income subsidies); 2. Puerto Ricans and undocumented immigrants should be allowed to pay for private insurance through the health insurance exchange; 3. Support for the public option – more low cost health insurance plans.
Both Bills (Senate and House) include a number of provisions to prevent and treat Hispanics and other underserved that represent an important step forward to improving our community’s health under health care reform:
INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE THRU INSURANCE CHANGES – increased eligibility (family plans, youth age increases on family plan to age 26, Medicaid up to 133% FPL, health insurance exchange for lower cost insurance) access to care; free preventive care; no doughnut hole for Medicare drug benefit; small business tax credits and minimum premiums and low income subsidies to make insurance more affordable;  THROUGH HEALTH CARE CHANGES – home health care services and long term care/rehab care to decrease hospital admissions will provide more care to poor elderly >

INCREASED QUALITY FOCUS – bundling of payments, focus on Value to patient care rather than single service outcomes, increased cultural competence and patient centeredness, language services, health literacy

 
TRANSFORMATION OF DISEASE CARE FOCUS TO PREVENTION - greater support for preventive care, mental health care and integrative care to cut down on chronic diseases with national strategy that includes state public health infrastructure to provide new community transformation grants to address the social determinants of health, a priority for eliminating minority health disparities, training on prevention
 
MINORITY HEALTH LEADERSHIP - elevating the Office of Minority Health to the Office of the Secretary and Senate Bill also elevates the National Center of Minority Health and Health Disparities to an NIH Institute;
 
INCREASED DIVERSITY IN HEALTH PROFESSIONS – increased Title VII and VIII diversity programs surpassing 2005 levels of support – Health Careers Opportunity Program, Centers of Excellence, nurse diversity association grants
 
INCREASED REIMBURSEMENT FOR SAFETY NET PROVIDERS – increased support for Federal clinics system, hospitals in higher use states (low income areas) to have increased support, NHSC major increase, bonus for physicians and new advanced nursing clinics, new oral health and community worker support
 
INCREASED PRIMARY CARE CAREER AND TRAINING FOCUS – major redirection of GME for primary care – new clinic training program, residency positions that are unmatched to be converted to primary care program slots, cultural competence training with new National Workforce Strategy ----with State Workforce Development Grants to address shortages, diversity and planning in their states in consortium models
 
THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT -  Immediate Benefits
Almost immediately, the American people will see the benefits of this historic legislation.  With the first year of enactment of this legislation, this bill fixes our broken health system by:
 
Providing affordable coverage to the uninsured with pre-existing conditions
Improving care to seniors
Lowering prescription drug costs
Reducing costs for small businesses through tax credits on premiums
Extending coverage for young adults
Providing preventative care free of charge
Prohibiting discrimination on the basis of salary, gender or existing illness
Eliminating lifetime limits on the amount of coverage a person may receive
Making health insurance plans more transparent and competitive
 
Unfortunately, SENATOR MENENDEZ, the sole Hispanic Senator, had an amendment to include immigrants and Puerto Ricans in Health Reform that did not get introduced in the time allotted for amendments. From his website, HIGHLIGHTED MENENDEZ PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION include:
  • Approx $70 million per year in savings for hospitals Current law ensures that hospitals in highly-urban states are protected from receiving unfairly low Medicare reimbursements. Provision would ensure that the costs associated with this protection are shared by hospitals nationwide..
  • AUTISM - Requiring insurance plans to provide behavioral health treatments. Plans in the exchange must cover behavioral health treatments as part of the minimum benefits standard.
  • Tax credit for critical biotechnology research performed by small firms. Creates a credit that would encourage investments in new therapies to prevent, diagnose, and treat acute and chronic disease, lower health care costs.
  • New Jersey funding for Medicare Advantage transition (as part of amendment by Sen. Ron Wyden). Amendment would include parts of New Jersey as one of only a handful of states that will receive funding to help seniors in the transition of Medicare Advantage from "fee-for-service" reimbursements to competitive bidding.
  • Out-of-pocket cost limit for families between 300-400 percent of the federal poverty level - IMPORTANT FOR HIGH COST OF LIVING STATES. For those between 300-400 percent of FPL, within the same actuarial value, the benefit will include an out-of-pocket limit equal to two-thirds of the Health Savings Account (HSA) current law limit.
  • Excluding more middle-class families, seniors from excise tax on high-value insurance plans - IMPORTANT FOR HIGH COST OF LIVING STATES (joined Sen. Kerry on amendment). Successfully fought to raise tax thresholds for retirees and high-risk workers so that their additional health needs could be recognized. Successfully fought to raise the indexing of the high premium excise tax threshold to save millions of family policies from being hit. Successfully included high-cost state transition rules which would give states like New Jersey higher thresholds than the rest of the country for the first three years.
  • Urban Medicare Hospitals. Some urban hospitals are highly dependent on Medicare payments because they serve high proportions of Medicare patients, but, unlike many otherwise similar hospitals, they do not receive any special add-on payments. This would provide for a study for a special add-on payment to be afforded this select group of hospitals that could be designated as urban Medicare-dependent hospitals.
 

NHMA PROGRAMS

 

 

 

Hispanic Physicians Leadership Initiative - NHMA is planning the Leadership Institute for medical society and health association leaders in the NHMA network at the Annual Conference with the US DHHS Office of Minority Health – meeting will be Friday, Mar. 26, 2010. NHMA is also updating its portal calendar for CME and other meetings from the Hispanic medical societies and information for providers on diabetes, obesity and cancer. American Cancer Society supporting this effort too.
NHMA Council of Medical Societies – State and Regional Hispanic Medical Societies that have MOUs with NHMA ---Dr. Sam Arce, past president of the Spanish American Medical and Dental Society of NY, volunteers to be next Chairman for the group of presidents to continue to build the capacity to advance Hispanic health in the States and work with NHMA at the national level. The NHMA Board of Directors will be formally nominating Dr. Arce to become a member of the Board in February. This year the Council will continue to increase joint membership and to advocate for health care reform.
NHMA Council of Residents – Dr. JP Sanchez, Resident at Montefiore, continues to lead the planning effort to organize the structure to include resident coordinators across the nation starting in large cities with Hispanic residents. The first NY Council of Residents event took place in November at the NY Academy of Medicine with 25 persons in attendance from the area hospitals, including some faculty and medical students and NHMA President & CEO. NHMA Membership Director sent letters of invitation to primary care residency directors for automatic membership of Hispanic residents.
NHMA 14th Annual Conference – “Health Care Transformation to Increase Prevention and Health Promotion for Hispanic Communities” March 25-28, 2010 –CME Conference for providers, professionals interested in advancing Hispanic health in policy, medical and health professions education, research, clinical arena. Join us in Washington, DC.
Opening Activities include Capitol Hill Visits to Senate and Congress, White House Briefing on Health Care Reform, Thursday, March 25th –followed by the Opening Reception at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC. REGISTER at www.nhmamd.org

–space is limited. See website for agenda!

Cancer Advocacy for Redes en Accion Program – In the House and Senate health reform bills, several cancer provisions for reducing cancer and cancer prevention were included. NHMA has been working with cancer coalitions and Congress to focus on chronic diseases such as cancer and prevention of obesity that will decrease cancer. Note Obesity is included as a Medicare demonstration project.
Alzheimer’s Disease – new project to advance learning of our providers for this disease will also be included at the conference plenary on dementia.
NHMA Partners with Secretary Sebelius and the HHS H1N1 Flu Campaigns – NHMA has urged all partners and the Hispanic Medical Societies to educate their patients about the H1N1 FLU. Next week is the national Vaccine Week ---see: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians/ and Flu.gov for more information.
 
 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

 

 
 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, The National Plan for Action Changing Outcomes - Achieving Health Equity

 

Public Comments Requested by February 12, 2010

 

 

 

National Plan for Action [HTML Print Version]
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/npa/images/plan/printplan.html
National Plan for Action [PDF Version | 6MB]
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/npa/images/plan/nationalplan.pdf
The National Plan for Action, which captures the status of health disparities in our country and proposes 20 strategies for their elimination, is a thoughtful and thorough collaborative effort of representatives from community, faith-based and non-profit organizations, academic institutions, foundations and Federal, State and local agencies.
 
Initiated by the Office of Minority Health, the National Plan for Action inspires us to move forward to implement the strategies and provides us a roadmap to make an impact in the elimination of health
disparities, a costly and undue burden on our country.
 
Comment forms are set up so that you may comment on individuals chapters of the report or on the report overall. Comments will not be posted at this time, but will be used for development of the final plan.
 
 

This plan will not be complete without your input. Please read individual chapters and take some time to add your voice to the thousands of concerned voices from around the United States. The plan will be available for your comment until February 12, 2010.

 
 

Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Loan & Scholarship Programs

 

 

 

The link below has information about scholarships, direct loans and loan repayment opportunities from HRSA, in addition to financial aid information from other government agencies.  Basically, an interested person can get a HRSA scholarship which includes tuition and a living stipend in exchange for 2-4 years of service in a health professional shortage area.  HRSA also provides up to $50,000 toward repayment of student loans in exchange for 2 years of service for primary care physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives and physician assistants.   www.hrsa.gov/help/healthprofessions.htm

  (just hit CTRL and right click on your mouse to open this link)

 
 

FDA Commissioner’s Fellowship Program

 

 

 

Touch the Lives of All Americans!
The FDA Commissioner’s Fellowship Program is a two-year training program designed to attract top-notch health professionals, food scientists, epidemiologists, engineers, pharmacists, statisticians, physicians and veterinarians. The Fellows work minutes from the nation’s capital at FDA’s new state-of-the-art White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland or at other FDA facilities. The FDA Commissioner’s Fellowship offers competitive salaries with generous funds available for travel and supplies.
Coursework & Preceptorship
The FDA Commissioner’s Fellowship program combines coursework designed to provide an in-depth understanding of science behind regulatory review with the development of a carefully designed, agency
priority, regulatory science project.
 
 

Who Should Apply?
Applicants must have a Doctoral level degree to be eligible. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline will also be considered. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, a non-citizen national

of the U.S., or have been admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence before the program start date. 
For more information, or to apply, please visit: www.fda.gov/commissionersfellowships/default.htm. 
 

Applications will be accepted from January 1, 2010 - March 15, 2010

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Family Practitioner

 

 

 

 
Mary’s Center is a community health clinic whose mission is to build better futures through the delivery of health care, education, and social services.  Nice environment, great work hours and excellent benefits! We offer loan repayment.
The Family Practitioner will function as one of the primary medical service providers for Mary’s Center. 
 

Qualifications: Must possess a M.D. or D.O. degree and a current licensed to practice Medicine in Maryland and DC.  Board Certification/eligibility in Family Medicine preferable.  A minimum of two (2) years of practicing medicine in a community health clinic environment and/or experience in working with immigrant or economically-disadvantage populations in a maternal/child healthcare setting highly desirable.  Spanish and English highly preferred.   A thorough understanding and knowledge of patient confidentiality issues and HIPAA compliance/regulations are essential.  Full time. 

 
Please indicate the position you are interested in applying for in your cover letter. Please send your resume or CV and salary requirements to hr@maryscenter.org or Fax # 202-332-0541. http://www.maryscenter.org
 
 
 
 

 Department of Health and Human Services

 

 

 

 

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

 
 

Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of

 

 

 

 

Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

 
 The NIH seeks exceptional candidates for the position of Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The Director will provide strong and visionary leadership for a complex organization that has as its mission to insure that children are born healthy and wanted and can achieve full potential for healthy and productive lives; that women suffer no harmful effects from reproductive processes; and that medical rehabilitation can optimize the health, productivity and independence of people with disabilities. In pursuit of this mission, the NICHD conducts and supports laboratory research, clinical trials, and epidemiological studies that explore health processes; examines the impact of disabilities, diseases, and defects on the lives of individuals; and sponsors training programs for scientists, doctors, and researchers. The Director plans, sets goals and priorities for and ensures the continuous evaluation of an integrated and coordinated program of basic and applied biomedical and behavioral research investigations, clinical trials, and epidemiological and longitudinal studies. All of these research efforts provide the data, information and advances needed to influence not only emerging scientific opportunities but also evolving clinical practice and public health as it affects the health and well-being of the overall public and the populations of interest to the Institute. To carry out its mission, the NICHD has a budget of $1.3 billion and a staff of approximately 1200—including 620 full time equivalent employees. The NICHD is located on the NIH Campus in Bethesda, Maryland; in offices in Rockville, Maryland; and in research facilities in Poolesville, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan.
 
Applicants must possess an M.D. or Ph.D. degree, have ongoing senior-level research experience, and be a recognized authority in one or more scientific areas related topediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and/or reproductive health. Candidates should also demonstrate experience and an understanding of research and clinical management issues associated with both physical and developmental disabilities. The duties of this position require outstanding scientific knowledge and experience in the broad fields of biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and translational research. A complete understanding of the Federal Government’s organization and administration of scientific grants and programs, and of related clinical research policies, is requisite for the position. Applicants must also demonstrate an exceptional ability to communicate directly to the scientific community and to the public about important scientific priorities, significant research findings, and critical public health topics.
Salary is commensurate with experience, and full Federal benefits, including leave, health and life insurance, retirement and savings plan (401K equivalent), will be provided. 
A detailed vacancy announcement that includes application procedures is available at: http://www.jobs.nih.gov (under Executive Jobs). Questions may be addressed to Ms. Lynnita Jacobs at: SeniorRe@od.nih.gov. Application packages must be received by 11:59 p.m., Friday, February 26, 2010. DHHS AND NIH ARE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS