Medicare Advantage is now the primary form of Medicare coverage in the United States. Over 55% of Medicare beneficiaries1 — more than 34 million Americans — choose Medicare Advantage for high-quality, comprehensive care at a lower cost than Fee-For-Service Medicare with key priorities:

• Promoting affordable health care that delivers better health outcomes, extra benefits, and cost savings for beneficiaries.
• Fighting chronic disease and delivering whole-person health care through innovative supplemental benefits, increased behavioral health supports, in-home
assessments, and strengthened partnerships between providers, plans, and aging organizations.
• Reducing administrative burden through prior authorization improvements and streamlined processes that enable providers, health plans, and stakeholders to deliver timely care.
• Supporting program transparency and accountability with comprehensive transparency standards, oversight, and adherence to in-home health assessment best practices.

The National Hispanic Health Foundation convened the leaders from the groups we have worked with for over 20 years - collaborating on our National Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship. Those groups are called the Hispanic Health Professionals Network and all have their own annual conference, chapters, programs and members. The virtual meeting took place on March 5, 2025  and the purpose was to share key ways we can continue to collaborate with the NHHF Focus Areas:
Leadership ---- Research -----Education. NHHF activities include Leadership - nominations of HHPN leaders to commissions as we have done with physicians; Research - continue to support mentoring for clinical researchers targeting Hispanic participation; and Education - nominations of HHPN experts to media partners. Other topics voiced more than once were the need for increased Hispanic health care professional recruiting through pathways such as participating at career conferences and the interest in federal policy advocacy - especially on mass deportation and impending cuts to Medicaid that negatively impact our patients and the Hispanic, poor, rural and other communities. More to come...

If interested in participating with us - send us an email - [email protected]

Today I spent the day at the National Association of Hispanic Nurses Policy Summit gaining knowledge on health policies being debated over the last few years in Congress that impact access and affordability to health care -- obesity disease preclinical and clincal care being covered by Medicare and Medicaid and insurance eventually; discount patient medication programs such as the 340B support to hospitals and their contract pharmacies to pass on to low income patients; and the need to look at chronic disease treatment by physicians without step therapy...as well as prevention support...

And ended the day at the Ambassador from Spain's residence hosting Latino CEOs of national and local organizatoins on a discussion on how to continue to build new efforts in this era with federal government and its bold changes (decreasing workforce and funding) creating uncertainty and anxiety in our communities and organizations, not to mention health care programs that are being scrutinized (nutrition, prevention, DEI, LGBTQ, price controls of medications) for new policy directions that can still advance health equity. 

Diversity is the Foundation of America

The United States of America was founded on the land of indigenous peoples in the 1400's by European explorers, among them Cristopher Columbus for Spain and others who followed from England, Spain, France, the rest of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Mexico was ruled by Spanish and French before independence and mainly occupied what is the western U.S. until 1848. Thus the U.S. population Hispanic/Latinos are about 64% Mexican American,and the others are from Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain and are 1 out of 5 Americans today.  The Spanish language is the second greatest spoken language in the nation and our culture, diet, music, values and our people and their small businesses have spending power that is fundamental to the U.S. economy.

The new policy on meritocracy by the Trump Administration will be an experiment to show that all can become better students and workers if held to one standard. But we know that it is the wealthy and those with legacy and networks who gain acceptances in higher numbers to universities and top jobs in most of our institutions.

Perseverance Through Transitions

January 20, 2024    Today President Trump, at the 60^th Inauguration of the U.S. President, announced one of his first Executive Orders on immigration reform The President will declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico Border and reinstate the “remain in Mexico” and the “catch and release” orders, and utilize the emergency act to direct federal funds to build a bureaucracy of new staff, deploy troops and immigration agents starting in Chicago as early as this week. Although these policies have decreased past flow of immigrants, they have also decreased detaining those with no safety risks or those with families in the U.S. and, thus, they have decreased costs of manning detention sites.

On the other hand, this effort will undoubtedly increase much fear, anxiety and stress among our Latino families that will lead to higher toxic health and wellbeing -  more diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and depression….leading to absenteeism and decreasing productivity, less services and products, and eventually increasing prices.

September 2024 Reflections

This September I have focused on the National Hispanic Health Foundation presence in our Leadership, Research and Education major activites:

Leadership - 

The NHHF California Leadership Fellowship Washington, DC Institute brought together our Class of 2024 physicians to meet leaders from the Congress and US Department of Health and Human Services, Think Tanks - Cato Institute and the Center for American Progress, Prevention leaders from Tobacco Free Kids and FDA Center for Tobacco Products, partners for Diversity in Medicine: White House Hispanic American Education Initiative and HRSA, Women's Health: ACOG and ACS; as well as Leadership Skills  - Federal Budget Process, Leadership Plans, Conflict Management and of course - executive leadership reflections for the end of the year-long program.  Our Fellows were joined by the NHMA group this year and we look forward to presenting their Policy Analysis Team Projects at the 2025 NHMA Conference.  

June 2024 NHHF Advocacy Activities

June 26, 2024 

This month, I increased my advocacy activities as President of the National Hispanic Health Foundation and was honored to speak at two Congressional Briefings—with the National Minority Quality Forum and the American GI Association—and also participated in small group meetings with Congress staff on the need to address obesity policy to decrease chronic diseases. 

I also followed up on our NHHF/NHMA Capitol Hill visits from April 12 to start follow-up meetings on priorities for Hispanic health with Congress offices across the nation.

May 2024 Advocacy Activities

May 9, 2024

NHHF and NHMA were highlighted as I spoke at several organizations' events in Washington, DC, this month: 

National Consumers League Vaccine Confidence Webinar Roundtable - Discussed lessons learned with our NHMA Vaccinate For All and NHHF Rockefeller Mini-Grant Program on how to educate Latino families about the importance of vaccines, especially about COVID-19, RSV, and Influenza.

NHMA and NHHF 30th Anniversary Leadership Summit 

April 25, 2024

NHHF and NHMA hosted 275 participants in Washington, DC, on April 12 - 13, 2024, to participate in Congressional Visits to advocate for Access to Care by protecting the Affordable Care Act prevention programs, expanding Medicaid, and focusing on obesity and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, HIV, tobacco control; and for increasing Latinos in medicine by policies that create new institutions (regional medical schools) and advance diversity programs in STEM, research experience, mentoring and financing medical education (new GME slots, loan repayment). We also cohosted the White House Briefing on the Biden Administration accomplishments that impact the health of Latinos and considering a political appointment. We thank the staff and Office of Public Engagement, the White House.

Day 2 was a summit that started with the story of the history leading up to the establishment of NHMA. Dr. David Hayes Bautista provided the context of the 1960s in the U.S. when Latino college students developed clubs for prehealth students. In California, for example, the CCM and CHE groups were created across the state. As the leaders became professionals, they went to different states. Elena Rios's history was announced as an activist and organizer -- started recruiting poor students at Stanford, started the California statewide Chicano/Latino Medical Student Association in 1983, and the NHMA in 1994.  Founders described their roles and challenges to the future: Collaboration, Leaning Latino Culture into Leadership, Enrichment of our NHHF Scholarship to help the next generation, and Partnership Development.  Participants were assigned to four working sessions that resulted in strategies for NHMA and NHHF in the next five years:  Increase Latinos in Medicine; Create health communications to other physicians about Latino health; Expand advocacy activities to Federal and State policymakers; and Develop partners to support executive leadership and clinical research training.

NHHF and NHMA proudly supports the Obesity Bill of Rights Initiative

March 15, 2024

As a Latina doctor with years of advocating for Hispanic health, I know the adverse effects of obesity on our own community.

Latinos face a greater prevalence of obesity and associated comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, when compared to the general population.

Women's Health is Key to Quality Health Care

March 1, 2024

As we start Women's History Month this year, the United States faces major challenges from policymakers and lawyers/judges in the court system who are motivated to keep women without reproductive health or choice.  This is demolishing the quality of the healthcare movement for a patient-centered, team approach between patient and physician, culturally sensitive/language appropriate and respectful, and accessible/affordable/transparent.  By leaving women out of healthcare, we are seeing the closing of hospitals (especially rural hospitals), a decrease in OB-GYN specialists practicing or applications to the field, and physicians not willing to lose their licenses over policies that go against a physician's oath to "do no harm".  We expect to see the loss of female contraception products available in this nation.  Young women must be educated to vote for women's health advocates to become activists for their generation and rid the system of the anti-women people in the power structure of the United States. In my generation I applaud the activists who believed in women enjoying quality healthcare.

Vaccination disparities are evident across demographics.

February 6, 2024

As the U.S. undergoes an unusually acute seasonal surge in respiratory illnesses, it’s important to remember that there are ways of staying healthy and avoiding life-threatening complications, which become more common among older individuals and those with already poor health. So, let’s look at the vaccination disparities and what they reveal about us.

Who’s Not Getting Vaccinated?

NHHF/NHMA 30th Anniversary Leadership Summit

January 03, 2024

In 1994, with doctors I met while working at the White House in 1993, especially Mark Diaz (CA), Conchita Paz (NM), Ciro Sumaya (TX), and our lawyer and consultants, we developed 2 organizations: the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) and the NHMA Foundation with Bylaws and Boards of Directors. We decided to start a volunteer effort (I worked at the HHS Office on Women's Health) and received support from HRSA Administrator Dr. Ciro Sumaya and OMH Director and Latino Advisor (Guadalupe Pacheco) to start an advisory meeting with HRSA on health workforce diversity, a national advisory committee, 5 regional meetings and 2 national conferences from 1995 - 1998. Then we received our first $1M in Government Funding to start Leadership training of physicians, residents, and medical students. Thanks to Jo Ivey Boufford and Susana Morales of NY to serving as core faculty...I left HHS to work part-time with NHMA/NHHF. 

We changed the Foundation name to the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) when we decided to start a National Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship and the HispanicHealth.info with an earmark from Congresswoman Hilda Solis with our networks sharing of Latino health information/calendar--- we formalized the Council of Medical Societies in 2005  and the National Hispanic Health Professional Leadership Network in 2004.

NHHF/NHMA Major Advocacy Efforts Review of 2023

January 2, 2024

We have had a busy year with Congressional, HHS, and White House meetings and advocacy to add the Hispanic lens to health care policy. Here are just a few priorities we have discussed and supported this past year and will continue to focus on in 2024:

1. Medical Education diversity policy to increase services in shortage areas - did not see the new funding for minority physicians, nor Costa/Kaine bill to build new medical schools - especially the HSI school we need ( and Resolution for Natl Latino Physician Day) - Congressional Briefing - July
2. Alternative Obesity medicines (AOM) coverage by Medicare for non-Federal insured — already covered by VA, Federal Employee Insurance
3. Nutrition - quality guidelines, support for WIC, SNAP, more education for Latino signup; White House Nutrition Conference: Food is Medicine
4. Clinical Trial diversity - new support for mentors and research programs outreach for Latino physicians/ others to build community research (NHHF)
5. Nominations for HHS positions/ commissions and political appointments for Secretary appointments ( NHHF HHS MOU)
6. ARPA-H - increased Latino researcher support (NHHF becomes a member)
7. Asthma, CVD, Diabetes, Maternal Health, Vaccines, Long Covid, Behavioral Health, Immigrant Health —And support Medicaid and Medicare expansion!  and more...

Partner with us to continue healthcare policy development in 2024! [email protected]

The National Latino/a Physician Day

October 1, 2023

The number of Latino/a physicians, according to the AAMC, is about 7 percent despite the Latino/a population being 64 million or 19 percent of the U.S. population in 2022, according to the U.S. Census. NHMA is proud to have advocated for the bipartisan Senate and Congress Resolutions that were introduced recognizing Oct. 1st as National Latino/a Physician Day. We are especially proud that two of the Congressmembers are Latino physicians - Congressman Raul Ruiz of CA and Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo.  We will continue to advocate for the approval of these resolutions by both houses.

NHHF and NHMA president Elena Rios, MD, was a speaker at the Stanford Medical School celebration along with the founders of the event, Cesar Padilla, MD and Michael Galvez, MD, Assemblyman Arambula, LMSA executive director JP Sanchez, MD, and Stanford Medical School Dean Minor, and others.  We celebrated with Latino/a physicians and medical students who participated through social media and local events nationwide.

The First HHS Hispanic Health Summit

September 26, 2023

NHHF/NHMA  president was presented with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for both NHMA (to develop a Hispanic pipeline for medical school) and NHHF the National Hispanic Health Foundation (to support Hispanic leadership development for the public health workforce, especially to increase Hispanics at HHS and county and state agencies and Hispanic principal investigators/patients in clinical research) through increased collaboration and information exchange with the HHS agencies and offices.  The Hispanic Health Summit brought together leaders from health care and community organizations interested in learning about HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra's priorities, including maternal health, access to care, especially Medicaid enrollment, and behavioral health programs to fight substance abuse, among other issues.  We appreciated the NHMA/NHHF Board members and staff who joined me at this great event - Claudia Zamora, Yvonne Rodriguez, Dr. Sylvia Preciado, and NHHF Program Director Guadalupe Pacheco and our interns, who learned a lot from this historic event. (see HHS videos). We encourage all our staff to participate in the federal celebration of Hispanic and health equity.

The Rate of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Cases Among Latine Infants

NHMA Congressional Briefing on How to Increase Latinos in Medical School

August 14, 2023

As we reflect on the Supreme Court decision to stop higher education race-based admissions, here are key policies and programs that were discussed at our 2023 Congressional Briefing in July:

Congressman Raul Ruiz discussed the need to continue working with Congressmembers as we have been on the need for policies to expand opportunities for students to be more prepared to move from high school to college, from college to graduate school. He thanked us for our advocacy for his legislation to change Hispanic funding from education to build mentoring and counseling for medical school admissions. 

US Supreme Court Decision to Stop Race-based Admissions to Higher Education

June 29, 2023

The National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) condemns the U.S. Supreme Court decision, based on the cases against Harvard College and the University of North Carolina, striking down race-based admissions to all colleges and universities nationwide.

This ruling against affirmative action reverses decades of precedent, going back to Brown v. Board of Education in the 1950s.

NHHF and NHMA Applauds Reintroduction of the Treat & Reduce Obesity Act

July 20, 2023

The National Hispanic Medical Association applauds U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) for reintroducing the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act. This bill is a critical first step to address our country’s escalating obesity epidemic and its disproportionate impact on Hispanic communities.

Our current healthcare policies deny millions from accessing the care they need to treat this chronic, deadly disease — perpetuating health inequities and preserving roots of systemic racism that have put access to healthcare out of reach for millions.

Gun Safety Legislation Needed in Congress

May 25, 2022

Yesterday's horrific mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, represents our government's continued failure to act against gun violence. The National Hispanic Medical Association grieves the loss of 22 innocent lives in Uvalde, Texas - a community that is 83.5% Hispanic. As a key representative of Hispanic interests and well-being, NHMA is devastated by this senseless and preventable loss of life. The incessant waves of gun violence in our country will not cease until policymakers pass gun safety legislation to protect our society. NHMA calls upon policy-makers in Texas and the U.S. Congress to set aside personal interests and carry out the long-overdue work needed to protect their constituents.