2013 Minority Health Month Fly-In

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2013 Minority Health Month Fly-In On April 21, 2013 US GAPP hosted the 1 st annual Washington DC, Minority Health Month Fly-In.

across the country to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies in the healthcare and medical device sector and to understand the healthcare disparities that have continued

Click here to view highlights from the 2013 Minority Health Month Fly- In: On Sunday, April 21 st, 2013, we began the fly-in with a historic tour of Washington DC.

1 2013 Minority Health Month Fly-In On April 21, 2013 US GAPP hosted the 1 st annual Washington DC, Minority Health Month Fly-In. The purpose of the fly-in was to bring together members of Baxter s Business Resource Groups (BRG s) - African American Leadership Council, Asian Leadership Network, and Latinos@ Baxter -from across the country to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies in the healthcare and medical device sector and to understand the healthcare disparities that have continued to affect racial and ethnic minorities. Click here to view highlights from the 2013 Minority Health Month Fly- In: On Sunday, April 21 st, 2013, we began the fly-in with a historic tour of Washington DC. During our Sunday evening working dinner, Mayra Alvarez, M.H.A., Director of Public Health Policy, Office of Health Reform Department of Health and Human Services spoke on the topic of health disparities across the country and how the implementation of the Affordable Care Act will impact our nation and, more specifically, the health of those who are most vulnerable. This stimulating discussion of how policy and social issues affect the health of minority

communities helped the members of the BRG s to understand the role of healthcare companies, like Baxter, and to learn strategies to better

On Monday, April 22 nd, the Baxter s fly-in team attended the 10 th Annual National Summit on Health Disparities, where we heard and spoke to

Baxter s Board of Director, James Gavin, MD, PhD, CEO of Healing our Village. Dr.

within minority communities. The summit brought Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, President, American Medical Association and Gary A.

Principal Engineer together members of congress, federal employees, clinicians, and senior industry and advocacy group representatives to identify

2 communities helped the members of the BRG s to understand the role of healthcare companies, like Baxter, and to learn strategies to better collaborate with community partners. On Monday, April 22 nd, the Baxter s fly-in team attended the 10 th Annual National Summit on Health Disparities, where we heard and spoke to Michelle Luo, Director of Medical Outcomes and Laurie Hernandez, VP II, Strategy & Business Development. Baxter s Board of Director, James Gavin, MD, PhD, CEO of Healing our Village. Dr. Gavin was delighted to see so many representatives from Baxter and pleased that the company is investing in learning about healthcare disparities within minority communities. The summit brought Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, President, American Medical Association and Gary A. Puckrein, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Minority Quality Forum Joseph Serrano, Manager I Purchasing and Rosa Yeh, Sr. Principal Engineer together members of congress, federal employees, clinicians, and senior industry and advocacy group representatives to identify integrated solutions to health inequities. The Dana Atwater, Baxter Renal Account Executive; Gary A. Puckrein, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Minority Quality Forum; Heather Polk, Baxter Senior Marketing Manager group learned about the medical and technological advances that are helping to reduce the disproportionate prevalence of disease and adverse outcomes among minorities. Organized by the

National Minority Quality Forum (www.nmqf.

industry-sponsored, and national policy initiatives promoting wellness in minorities.

3 National Minority Quality Forum ( in partnership with the American Medical Association and the Congressional Black Caucus, the summit served as a platform for distinguished panelists to present community-based, industry-sponsored, and national policy initiatives promoting wellness in minorities. On Tuesday, April 23rd, the Baxter team arrived on Capitol Hill at 7:45am and was greeted by Paulo Pontemayor, Policy Analyst for the Asian & Pacific Islander Health Forum. The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) is a health justice non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of more than 17 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders living in the United States and its jurisdictions. Paulo spoke to our team about the work of APIAHF and their mission to influence policy, mobilize communities, and strengthen programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Paulo then introduced the Baxter team to Congressman Ami Bera, PhD (D-CA-07). Congressman Ami Bera represents California s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 7th district is located just east of California s capitol city, Sacramento. During Congressman Bera's twentyyear medical career, he worked to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of healthcare. After graduating from medical school in 1991, he did his residency in internal medicine at California Pacific Medical Center, eventually becoming chief resident. He went on to practice medicine in the Sacramento area, serving in various leadership roles for MedClinic Medical Group. He then served as medical director of care management for Mercy Healthcare, where he developed and implemented a comprehensive care management strategy for the seven-hospital system. Congressman Bera went on to put his medical experience to work for his community, serving Sacramento County as chief medical officer. He then moved into education, working as clinical professor of medicine and associate dean for admissions and outreach at University of California, Davis, where he taught the next generation of doctors. He also helped the University s student-run

clinics find innovative ways to engage with the community and deliver care to those who needed it most.

responsibility for their own health and that of their community. Next on the agenda were meetings with member of Congress and their staff.

Charles Cush, Sr Director Marketing,, Mariko Bennett, Manager Governmental Affairs, Rep. Andre Carson, Heather Polk, Sr. Marketing Manager, and Joseph Serrano, Manager, I Purchasing.

4 clinics find innovative ways to engage with the community and deliver care to those who needed it most. Congressman Bera inspired the Baxter team with his enthusiasm, optimism, and belief that minority communities will have better health outcomes by partnering together to take responsibility for their own health and that of their community. Next on the agenda were meetings with member of Congress and their staff. While on Capitol Hill the Baxter team raced through the halls of Congress, meeting with a total of 24 offices in less than 7 hours! Charles Cush, Sr Director Marketing,, Mariko Bennett, Manager Governmental Affairs, Rep. Andre Carson, Heather Polk, Sr. Marketing Manager, and Joseph Serrano, Manager, I Purchasing. Jack Maniko, Director of Medication Delivery Federal Legislative Affairs, Michelle Luo, Director of Medical Outcomes, Laurie Hernandez, VP II Strategy and Business Development, and Reginald Jones, Renal Account Executive. During these meeting, the Baxter team lobbied members of Congress and professional Congressional staff about key Baxter issues list below:

5 1. MEDICARE PART B Changes to Medicare reimbursement for physician infusion of drugs have forced many immunecompromised patients into the hospital setting, making them more susceptible to infections. Further cuts to Medicare reimbursement caused by the sequester could exacerbate the problem. Additional entitlement reforms could also impact access for patients. Baxter s Ask: Please restore cuts to Medicare drug reimbursement and protect patient access to care. 2. TRACEABILITY Support a national traceability standard that preempts any state law. Baxter s Ask: Please ensure low cost, low margin product exemptions in California pedigree law or in any federal law. 3. DEVICE TAX The Affordable Care Act created a 2.3% tax on sales of medical devices effective in The law subjects many industries involved in health care (pharmaceuticals, insurance providers, medical device producers) with new taxes, fees or regulations. Preliminary estimates suggest our liability may be at least $30 million in Last Congress, the House voted to repeal the tax. Recent Senate non-binding budget resolution voted to repeal the tax Baxter s Ask: Support Jobs and Innovation by repealing the device tax. 4. ESRD Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and its progression to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) are devastating. Minority communities face a disproportionately higher risk for kidney disease.

Even though home dialysis utilization varies widely by race and state.

Baxter s Question: How can we work with you to raise awareness about the disproportionate representation of minorities

Bennie Thompson Michelle Luo, Dir. Medical Outcomes.

Medical Outcomes. Jack Maniko, Director of Medication Delivery Federal Legislative Affairs, Medical Outcomes.

6 Even though home dialysis utilization varies widely by race and state. Minority populations are significantly less likely to choose home dialysis methods. Baxter s Question: How can we work with you to raise awareness about the disproportionate representation of minorities on home dialysis? Charles Cush, Sr. Director Marketing, Mariko Bennett, Mgr. Government Affairs, Rep. Bennie Thompson Michelle Luo, Dir. Medical Outcomes. Reginald Jones, Renal Account Executive, Laurie Hernandez, VP II, Strategy and Business Development, Michelle Luo, Dir. Medical Outcomes. Jack Maniko, Director of Medication Delivery Federal Legislative Affairs, Reginald Jones, Renal Account Executive, Laurie Hernandez, VP II, Strategy and Business Development, Michelle Luo, Dir. Medical Outcomes. Having members from the various Business Resource Groups in Washington, DC has expanded Baxter s reach into key Congressional offices and has already had measurable influence for Baxter!

7 We have asked the Baxter team to be ready if we need them to contact a member of Congress in regards to any of our priority issues in the future. The GAPP team is and will continue to work hard to maximize the momentum that has been generated from this fly-in. If you are interested in hearing more about our work during minority health month please be sure to contact Mariko Bennett, Manager, Government or mariko_bennett@baxter.com Fly-In Takeaways: At the start of the Fly-In BAXPAC had a 50% participation rate with the 2013 Minority Health Month Baxter Team. We left Sunday s dinner with an 87% participation rate!

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