Dr. Pejman Salimpour Appointed to National Latino Healthcare Task Force - Findings to be Presented to President Bush and Congress
Dr. Pejman Salimpour, president & CEO of NexCare Collaborative in Sherman Oaks, California, has been appointed to the National Latino Healthcare Task Force. NexCare Collaborative assists in the enrollment of children into free and/or low cost health insurance programs.
Sherman Oaks, CA (PRWEB) July 7, 2005 -- Dr. Pejman Salimpour, President and
CEO of NexCare Collaborative, has been appointed to the National Latino
Healthcare Task Force, effective immediately. The appointment was made by the
two leaders of the Task Force, Josh Valdez, Senior Vice President of Healthcare
Management, Wellpoint West Region; and Robert de Posada, President of The Latino
Coalition.
The National Latino Healthcare Task Force, comprised of 15-20
prominent healthcare leaders, policymaker and small business owners, is
chartered to improve the delivery of healthcare services to Latino communities
nationwide.
The first meeting of the Task Force is scheduled for late
July in Washington D.C.
The Task Force’s main purpose is to identify
prevalent Latino healthcare issues and formulate effective strategies and action
plans; and determine legislative, resource and other barriers that could
negatively impact strategies and action plans. Task Force members will work to
ensure fulfillment of the organization’s Charter and will provide a final
recommendation to the President and Congressional leaders.
According to
Valdez, “Dr. Pejman Salimpour’s distinguished career and accomplishments on
behalf of Latinos will add great depth and insight to the final recommendations
to President Bush and Congressional leaders. We look forward to the opportunity
of closely working with him.”
Latino Americans represent 13.7% of the
total U.S. population, and it is reported that by the year 2050, 24% of the
population will be Latino (U.S. Census Bureau, September 2004). As the Latino
population increases, it is important that healthcare providers and systems
recognize the health needs and behaviors of the Latino community.
“I am
deeply honored by this appointment, “commented Dr. Salimpour. “NexCare
Collaborative has been very committed to assisting the Latino community,
particularly in the area of helping parents obtain health insurance for their
children. A major part of our success is because of our strong partnership with
Telemundo television in Los Angeles, Channel 52. Their weekly, remote newscasts
from our Call Center have helped spread the message of the importance of health
insurance and other key healthcare issues to Southern California’s Latino
population. We have assisted in the enrollment of more than 18,000 children in
health insurance programs in just the past two years and we will continue these
efforts. The formation of this Task Force is a great opportunity for America’s
Latino population and I am eager to contribute in any way I can, “Salimpour
continued.
In particular, accessing and receiving healthcare is a major
problem and the availability of healthcare remains divided along social,
economic and ethnic lines. About 30% of Latino Americans lack a usual source of
healthcare, compared with less than 16% of Whites (Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality). The percentages of uninsured Latinos are particularly
high in Texas, Arizona, California, Florida, New York and New Jersey (Source:
The California HealthCare Foundation, “Snapshot California’s Uninsured 2004”).
The lack of insurance significantly impacts one’s ability to receive benefits of
preventative care, such as cancer screenings, diabetes education and smoking
cessation. Ultimately, many Latinos suffer from complications due to their
chronic disease states.
More details regarding the National Latino
HealthCare Task Force will be announced soon.
NexCare Collaborative is a
501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization that serves the healthcare and social
service needs of individuals and organizations through its comprehensive,
professional Call Center, Web site and resource databases. Its Advisory Board is
composed of numerous collaborators, including the National Institutes of Health,
National Library of Medicine, the UCLA School of Public Health, Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the Los
Angeles County Medical Association, Shriners Hospital for Children and the Los
Angeles County Office of Education.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb258654.htm