Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, July 15th, the National Hispanic Council on Aging will hold a new installment of its Legislative Breakfast. Keen and concerned minds will gather to discuss potential legislative solutions to systemic issues that are in evident need of being addressed. Following NHCOA’s public health priorities, topics scheduled for discussion concern widespread issues heavily impacting Hispanic American communities, which have otherwise been ill met with system-wide solutions.
The Legislative Breakfast will begin with opening remarks from NHCOA’s President & CEO, Dr. Yanira Cruz. NHCOA is pleased to welcome Max Richtman as well, from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security. Mr. Richtman will provide his own opening remarks before panelists begin their presentations.
Nancy Glick, Director of Food and Nutrition Policy at the National Consumers League (NCL), will attend the event to speak on the Weight Truth Campaign, which concerns the supply, transparency, and efficacy of the compounded GLP-1 weight-loss drugs being prescribed to patients with such chronic illnesses as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Following the Weight Truth Campaign, NHCOA welcomes two expert speakers who will present an overview and key insights into chronic kidney disease. Senior Director of Clinical Education for the American Kidney Fund, Shahzia Lakhani, and Medical Science Liaison of Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Max Hyams, are excellent additions to this Legislative Breakfast’s panel. NHCOA is thrilled to include chronic kidney disease in its sleight of topics; effective treatment and management of chronic diseases continues to be an intersection of systemic issues within the U.S. healthcare landscape.
This Legislative Breakfast also includes a fireside chat, wherein attending experts will hone in on the greater context of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, diving into the disparity between its intention and how it is actually used by certain healthcare entities. President & CEO of MANA, A Latina Organization, Amy Hinojosa will lead a discussion with fellow experts including Jeanette Contreras, the Founding Director of the Organization for Latino Health Advocacy (OLHA), and Guillermo Avilés-Mendoza, Associate Director of Programs for the National Hispanic Health Foundation.
Joining the conversation is Thomas Johnson, Executive Director of ASAP 340B, who will highlight the urgent need for greater transparency and reform within the 340B program. Johnson underscored the program’s original intent and the risks of its current misuse:
“The 340B program is a vital lifeline for safety-net providers and the communities they serve – which include many low-income Hispanic and Latino communities. But the program is in need of meaningful reform,” said Mr. Johnson. “In recent years, large hospital systems, corporate middlemen, and pharmacy benefit managers have taken advantage of the program to generate billions in profits while patients continue to struggle to afford their medications. Our nearly three dozen partner organizations have come together to advocate for transparency and accountability in the 340B program to ensure it benefits the communities it was designed to help.”
The event will close with a Q&A session, where attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the panel of experts, and bring forward any questions about the topics discussed.
NHCOA is proud to host yet another Legislative Breakfast, and facilitate what are highly important conversations. In order to enact impactful change in United States policy, it is absolutely necessary that such conversations are facilitated between experts, community members, and Congressional representatives. With trusted research and a genuine motivation to do better, together we can devise worthwhile solutions to issues that plague the nation’s public health.
About NHCOA: NHCOA is the leading national organization working to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults, their families, and their caregivers. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NHCOA has been a strong voice dedicated to promoting, educating, and advocating for research, policy, and practice in the areas of economic security, health, and housing for Hispanic older adults, families, and caregivers for the last 51 years.
For more information about NHCOA call 202-347-9733 or visit www.NHCOA.org.
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