Healthcare
The Healthcare Task Force focuses on ensuring Latinos have access to affordable health care. Additionally, the Task Force focuses on public health, prevention, and health disparities.
Members:
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Co-Chair
Rep. Raul Ruiz, Co-Chair
Rep. Pedro Pierluisi
More on Healthcare
WASHINGTON, D.C.—On April 22, 2021, Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients listing further steps and recommendations that can be taken to better address COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccine equity in Hispanic and immigrant communities. The letter outlines actions that can be taken to reduce the barriers that Hispanic and immigrant communities face to receive these life-saving services, including a lack of reliable information in their languages, misinformation, and fear of deportations.
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) COVID-19 Task Force met with pharmacy executives from Albertsons, Southeastern Grocers, Good Neighbor Pharmacy Programs & Services/AmerisourceBergen, Ahold Delhaize Pharmacy Brands, and LeaderNET and The Medicine Shoppe/Cardinal Health to learn about the pharmacies' efforts to ensure an equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Last month, the CHC met with major pharmacy executives from CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Walmart. Following the meeting with the small chain pharmacies, CHC Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. released the statement below:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On February 2, 2021, the President issued Executive Order 14,012, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to review the implementation of the public charge ground of inadmissibility. As part of its review, DHS determined that continuing to defend the Trump's public charge rule was neither in the public interest nor an efficient use of limited government resources. Therefore, yesterday, the Biden Administration dropped its litigation defense of the Trump Administration's public charge regulations. As a result, federal courts dismissed the appeals, ending the 2019 policy. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) issued the following statement after the announcement:
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Meets with Major Pharmacy Executives to Discuss Vaccine Equity
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Yesterday, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) met with major pharmacy executives from CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Walmart to learn about the pharmacies' efforts to ensure an equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Following the meeting, CHC Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. released the statement below:
WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Thursday, Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) sent a letter to the National Governors Association (NGA) urging governors to follow CDC guidance in distributing vaccines to food and agriculture workers to help eliminate Latino health inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Saturday, over 100 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter led by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to express their commitment to including a pathway to citizenship for essential workers, TPS holders, and Dreamers in the COVID-19 budget reconciliation package.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Democratic Committee Chairs sent a letter to Health and Human Services Deputy Inspector General Grimm calling on him to investigate allegations that ICE is interfering with ORR's legal obligation under the Flores Settlement to place children in the least restrictive settings, including placement with suitable sponsors.
The letter was signed by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20), House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chair Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), and House Judiciary Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren (CA-19).
WASHINGTON — Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus led by Chairman Joaquin Castro sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Azar and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Verma urging them to use funding from the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to support Puerto Rico's health care infrastructure during this unprecedented pandemic.
WASHINGTON—Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to urge them to defend Medicaid against efforts to weaken "maintenance of effort" (MOE) protections during the coronavirus pandemic.
"The federal Medicaid MOE protections in the Families First Act prevent states from making it harder for people to qualify for Medicaid and from terminating people's coverage during the public health emergency," the Members wrote. "We write to express our strong opposition to efforts underway to weaken these protections, which would endanger coverage and access to care for millions of Hispanic and Black beneficiaries in states that would likely act to restrict Medicaid eligibility."
WASHINGTON—Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro and 18 members sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Perdue, Health and Human Services Secretary Azar, and Department of Labor Secretary Scalia calling for an investigation of working conditions in meatpacking facilities during the COVID-19 crisis and emergency standards to protect meatpacking workers.