Secretary Becerra reiterated HHS’s commitment to continued partnerships to improve health outcomes in the Latino community.
On Wednesday, October 25, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra met with leaders from national Latino civil rights, direct-service, and provider organizations to discuss how HHS can continue to partner with their organizations to improve health outcomes in the Latino community and further Latino health equity. This meeting builds upon a series of conversations and engagements between Latino community leaders and HHS.
During the roundtable, Secretary Becerra highlighted the results of the important work done by the Biden-Harris Administration to provide the Latino community with access to health care, address behavioral health concerns, and further connect Latino organizations to available HHS resources. Secretary Becerra expressed his appreciation to the Latino leaders at the roundtable and reiterated that HHS will continue to work closely with Latino community organizations.
HHS has undertaken several noteworthy initiatives to improve health outcomes and services for the Latino community. These include reducing the cost of prescription drugs through the Inflation Reduction Act, providing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline with Spanish language text and chat services, launching a Spanish website for FindSupport.gov (EncuentraApoyo.gov ), and ensuring the ready availability of COVID-19 vaccines and test kits. Additionally, HHS has taken action, through the HHS Health Workforce Initiative, to strengthen the health care workforce pipeline, recruitment and retention, and career advancement issues with a strong focus on equity and cultural competency.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Unity Agenda and Fiscal Year 2024 budget prioritizes investments to close health disparities. HHS continues to work to ensure that individuals, families, and communities – including those in the Latino community – can go to sleep at night with the peace of mind that comes with having access to quality, affordable health care, and has engaged in a Department-wide approach to delivering integrated and equitable health care.
HHS has a strong record of partnering with leaders in the Latino community to address health concerns and eliminate health disparities.
The following representatives participated in the meeting:
- Carmen Feliciano, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, UnidosUS
- Dr. Elena Rios, National Hispanic Medical Association
- Amy Hinojosa, President, MANA
- Adrianna Nava, National Hispanic Nurses Association
- Guillermo Chacon, President, Latino Commission on AIDS
- Patti Tototzintle, Executive Director, Esperanza United
- Fredrick Sandoval, Executive Director, National Latino Behavioral Health Association
- Dr. Maria Teresa McPhail, President and CEO, Vida Senior Centers
