AAPI MEMBERS SUCCESSFULLY MAKE THEIR MARK ON CAPITOL HILL
On April 26, 2005, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) held its 8th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. With a constituency of over 38,000 doctors and 12,000 medical students and residents, AAPI is the largest ethnic medical association in the United States and is the second-largest medical organization after the American Medical Association.
The Legislative Conference, held every Spring, gives AAPI’s leaders from across the country the opportunity to meet with lawmakers and their staffs and hold unique discussions on issues important to not only to the Indian American medical community but also to both Indian Americans and medical doctors of any background.
This year’s Legislative Conference was highlighted by substantive policy discussions with several prominent political figures including Robert Blackwill, former U.S. Ambassador to India, about the future of Indo-U.S. relations; Congressman Jim McDermott about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India; House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer; Congressman Phil Gingrey; and Senator Jim DeMint about America’s rural health care crisis. In the evening, Indian Ambassador to the U.S., the Honorable Ronen Sen, and an additional 25 members of Congress from 17 states attended AAPI’s Capitol Hill Reception. “We came here to build on our year-round efforts and to signal to the U.S. Congress that Indian American physicians are an integral piece of the American fabric,” stated former AAPI President, Jagan Ailinani. “Today sets the stage for another productive year for AAPI, and the entire Indian American community, on Capitol Hill.”
In addition to discussing mainstream medical issues such as skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance premiums and drastic cuts in Medicare reimbursements, AAPI continued its strong campaign to raise awareness on Capitol Hill of the contributions that International Medical Graduates (IMGs) have consistently made to America’s underserved rural and inner-city communities. In particular, AAPI unveiled a position paper laying out a three-point plan to help Congress in crafting a solution to the growing physician workforce crisis in these locales.
AAPI also advocated for Congressional funding for AAPI’s ground-breaking study of diabetes among Indian Americans. The pilot for this longitudinal study was triggered by a historic Congressional Appropriations grant to AAPI of $500,000 in 2003. AAPI met with key members of the Appropriations Committee and their staffs on a one-on-on basis to discuss a request for funding in the amount of $2 million for the 2006 fiscal year.
Photos from the event.
Legislative Committee Update - April 27, 2005 -
Ashok Jain, M.D.Chair, AAPI Legislative Affairs Committee
Anurag Varma, Esq., - AAPI Legislative Director |
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