Page 30 - The Indian EYE 020521

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline February 05, 2021 | The Indian Eye 30

aapi Legislative day planned for

may 19 on the Capitol hill

Our Bureau

Washington, DC
ealthcare continues to
be the center of the na-
Htion’s focus, especially
as the nation is seeking ways to
effectively combat the deadly vi-
rus, COVID-19, AAPI’s annual
legislative day, comes to be a vi-
tal part of AAPI’s growing influ-
ence and having its united voice
heard in the corridors of power.
“We are excited to announce
that our next Legislative Day
is on Wednesday, May 19th in
Washington, DC,” said Dr. Sud-
hakar Jonnalagadda, President
of AAPI. “We expect to have
the participation from dozens of
key Congressmen and Senators.
The annual Legislative Day will
be a unique opportunity for heard in the corridors of power, 2017,” she added.”
and thus taking AAPI to new
“AAPI is once again in the
AAPI to be part of the decision heights.” forefront in bringing many
making process on matters re- “AAPI Legislative day is burning health care issues fac-
lated to healthcare.” a flagship annual event that is ing the community at large and
“Our daytime program be-
gins at 9:00 am and will include eagerly awaited to rekindle and bringing this to the Capitol and
lunch in the U.S. House of Rep- renew our energy in bringing up to the US Congress,” says Ravi
resentatives. We will conclude the issues that we need to bring Kolli, Vice President of AAPI.
Dr. Kolli urged his “AAPI col-
to the attention of national poli-
in the afternoon, giving partic- cy makers and leaders of the US to see many of our friends in leagues and everyone interested
ipants the opportunity to meet Congress on Capitol Hill,” said Washington, DC on May 19th.” in or connected with providing
their own Congressman/Senator Dr. Sampat Shivangi, chair of Dr. Shivangi added. health care to attend this event
on their own time. That evening,
we are planning for a reception AAPI Legislative Affairs Com- “AAPI has been seeking and ensure that our concerns
and dinner with several digni- mittee. “A tradition of more than to collectively shape the best and needs are heard by our law-
taries at the Indian Embassy,” two decades which has brought health care for the people of US, makers and ensure that they act
many important transforma- with the physician at the helm, on them.”
summarized Dr. Jonnalgadda. tions in National Healthcare caring for the medically under- Stating that the “US is cur-
AAPI represents the inter-
ests of over 80,000 physicians policies that have helped Physi- served as we have done for sev- rently experiencing a physician
and 30,000 medical students cians of Indian Origin. Now, it eral decades when physicians shortage, which will be exacer-
and residents of Indian heritage is the need of the day to renew of Indian origin came to the bated by retiring baby boomers,
in the United States. Dr. Saja- our friendship with new leader- US in larger numbers,” says Dr. affecting thousands of patients’
ship under President Joe Biden Anupama Gotimukula, presi- access to a physician, and ul-
ni Shah, Chair of AAPI BOT and Vice President Kamala dent-elect of AAPI. “During the timately the health care they
said, “The mission AAPI, the Harris and brief the leadership annual Legislative Conference, need, AAPI strongly supports,
largest ethnic organization of on issues that are important to among others, AAPI will dis- the much needed “Immigra-
physicians, is to provide a forum
to facilitate and enable Indian us.” According to Dr. Shivangi, cuss: Increased Residency Slots, tion Reform, particularly with
American physicians to excel “The legislative day is also time Immigration Reform, Medicare the focus on H-1 and J-1 visas
at inpatient care, teaching and to meet and interact with Indi- and Medicaid Reimbursements, are used by many South Asian
an Ambassador to USA Hon. Tort Reform, Repeal of the Indi- American physicians, playing an
research, and to pursue their Taranjit Singh Sandhu and the vidual Mandate, Lowering the important role in providing crit-
aspirations in professional and Embassy officials during an Cost of Prescription Drugs, and, ical health care across the coun-
community affairs. The Execu-
tive Committee is working hard, evening dinner to be hosted by The South Asian Heart Health try,” Dr. Amit Chakrabarty,
enabling AAPI’s voice to be the Ambassador. I look forward Awareness and Research Act of Secretary of AAPI, pointed out.

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