National Hispanic Medical Association National Conference to Focus on The Affordable Care Act and Best Practices in Health Care for Hispanics

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Hispanic Medical Association, the nation's leading organization working with Hispanic physicians to improve the health of America's Hispanic and other underserved populations, will hold its 18^th Annual Conference March 27-30, 2014, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, N.W., Washington, D.C.

More than 500 physicians, other health professionals, students and government and private sector advocates will gather for the conference that will focus on "The Affordable Health Care Act and Best Practices in Health Care for Hispanics."

Leading authorities will come from across the country to discuss the Affordable Care Act and Hispanics, Increasing Hispanics in the Health Care Workforce and in Clinical Trials, New Technology to Monitor and Educate Hispanics in the Home, Accountable Care Organizations, HIV-AIDS and Hepatitis C Management, Obesity Reduction Strategies for Hispanics, Aging Patients, and Health Reform and the Hispanic Community, as well as other topics.

"With the deadline for open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act program fast approaching on March 31, we as an organization are concerned that every effort is made to sign up uninsured Hispanic Americans," says Dr. Elena Rios, president & ceo of the National Hispanic Medical Association.  "Insurance is access to health care and a better chance to have a healthy life for millions of Hispanics who far too often have to make do with poverty, stress, poor nutrition, and untreated diabetes and other diseases."   NHMA will also be recognizing leadership to improve Hispanic health policy and programs needed for the newly insured - Congressman Becerra, Congressman Ruiz, Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, Wellpoint, Julie Rodriguez of the White House, Gina Rodriguez of the US Dept of Health and Human Services, Dr. Richard Izquierdo, Dr. Nellie Correa, and presidents of Hispanic medical societies and health professional associations in the US.

The meeting is being supported by Johnson & Johnson, Jannsen Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Verizon, American Chemical Council, Pfizer, PhRMA, International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, Aetna Foundation, California HealthCare Foundation, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Wellpoint, WK Kellogg Foundation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and others.

For more information about the NHMA Annual Conference, visit: http://www.nhmamd.org/index.php/events/18th-annual-conference

Established in 1994 in Washington, D.C., the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) association representing the interests of 45,000 licensed Hispanic physicians in the United States. NHMA is dedicated to empowering Hispanic physicians to be leaders who will help eliminate health disparities and improve the health of Hispanics.

SOURCE National Hispanic Medical Association