Contact: Erika Martinez
(505) 986-4819
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
For Immediate Release
August 11, 2014
Senator Jacob Candelaria Joined Latino Leaders in San Diego for NALEO National Policy Institute on Health
Over 40 other Latino elected officials from across the country discussed healthcare delivery under the Affordable Care Act during a three-day convening
Santa Fe, NM –Senator Jacob Candelaria (D-26-Bernalillo) joined the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, the nation’s preeminent Latino leadership organization, and more than 40 Latino state legislators, municipal and county officials from across the country to discuss and develop strategic collaborations for addressing healthcare delivery under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The event took place August 8-10, 2014, as part of the NALEO National Policy Institute on Health in San Diego, Calif. During the three-day convening on “Health Care Delivery: Imminent Policy Challenges and Opportunities,” Sen. Candelaria and other elected officials were provided with an opportunity to enhance their understanding of implementation of the ACA and the key policy challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Under the Patient Protection and ACA, millions of previously uninsured Americans became newly eligible for insurance coverage by 2014. With Latinos having the highest uninsured rates of any racial or ethnic group in the country, ACA implementation presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for the Latino community. According to a research brief issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than five million uninsured Latinos will be able to gain coverage under the ACA by 2016.
“We have a fundamental duty to protect and promote the health of every New Mexico family–we must put politics aside, and realize that health is a fundamental human right,” stated Sen. Candelaria. “Our state must do a better job of reaching out to communities, enrolling families in coverage, and empowering them to live healthier lives.”
At the NALEO National Policy Institute on Health, Sen. Candelaria and other policymakers received information on the latest research and best practices. Topics covered during the three-day convening included an update on ACA implementation, the impact and future of Medicaid expansion, the role of technology in health care delivery and long term care services and support.
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