Search Results for "DACA"

Ruling Expands Health Care Coverage to DACA Recipients



Federal regulators recently published a final rule to expand healthcare for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and certain other noncitizens. The rule – which modifies the definition of “lawfully present” – essentially opens enrollment in the healthcare marketplace to those in the DACA program, many of whom are Latinos. The ruling will take effect on Nov. 1, 2024. Salud America! members were among 530 people who submitted a public comment last year to support this expansion of healthcare access to DACA recipients. “This overdue step is a critical victory for equitable access to health care,” according to the National Immigration Law Center. Let’s dive further into what this ruling means and how it will impact Latinos. What is DACA? ...

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530 People Ask to Expand Health Care for DACA Recipients!



The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its proposed rule to expand health care for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.  The goal is to reduce barriers for DACA recipients through Affordable Care Act Marketplaces, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.   “DACA recipients, like all Dreamers, are Americans, plain and simple. The United States is their home, and they should enjoy the same access to health care as their fellow Americans,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in a press release.      You can comment now on this proposed rule change.   We at Salud America! have created the following model comment you can use to speak up on the ...

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Cesar Ramirez: From Honduras to DACA, on a Mission to Be a Doctor Who Cares


Cesar Ramirez

Shiny cars screeching down the road. Grocery stores filled with bright lights and food-stuffed aisles. TV screens flickering colorfully. Cesar Ramirez stepped – mesmerized – into American life for the first time as a child. Born in rural Honduras, Ramirez only knew poverty. He lived in a one-bedroom shack with his mother and no water, electricity, or healthcare. His father, in the U.S. to work, sent money home. “We just had enough to survive, that was enough for us,” Ramirez said. Ramirez, with the support of his parents and resiliency from childhood, is now a medical student at Sam Houston State University, pursuing his dream to be a doctor who cares for patients and improving healthcare systems. He is also an intern at the Institute for Health Promotion Research ...

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10 Steps to Boost Mental Health Services for Latino Immigrants amid DACA, COVID-19


How to Provide Mental Health Services to Latino Immigrants amid Changes to DACA, COVID-19

Life as a Latino immigrant is stressful. Migration is difficult. Changing immigration rules make it hard to get health-promoting assets. Fear of deportation and family separation add anxiety. Now the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening social and environmental inequities. Who is looking out for the mental health of Latino immigrants? Informed Immigrant, Immigrants Rising, and FWD.us have a 10-step guide to help mental health care providers respond to the distress of immigrants whose status is in flux due to ongoing changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, amid coronavirus. "In addition to managing the stress and uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there are around 700,000 immigrant youth who may also be worried and distressed ...

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Tick Tock: The Impact of DACA on Latinos


latino-kid mental health

President Donald Trump's administration recently rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an American immigration policy signed by President Barack Obama five years ago. DACA allows unauthorized immigrants who arrived in the United States as children to work, go to school, and get a driver’s license without fear of deportation. The clock is now ticking for a Congressional fix for people who qualify for DACA. If not, recipients could lose their status starting March 5, 2018. Who are DACA recipients? Since the program started in June 2012, most DACA recipients are in Latino-centric states: California (222,795) followed by Texas (124,000) and Illinois (42,376). Unauthorized immigrants from Mexico make up more than three-quarters of all DACA ...

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National Latino Physician Day: Spotlighting Healthcare, Education Disparities


National Latino Physician Day 2024

Latinos currently make up 19.5% of the US population.  Yet only 7% of physicians are Latino, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).  What’s more, only 2% of the 7% are Latina, according to the publication Latina Women in the U.S. Physician Workforce: Opportunities in the Pursuit of Health Equity.  Latino representation is vital to achieve health equity for all patients, including Latinos.  This glaring disparity can increase instances of racial and ethnic bias, delay preventative care, influence what kind of treatment someone receives, and cause a stronger mistrust of the healthcare system – all of which can disastrously impact Latino health.   During Hispanic Heritage Month we are honoring Latino physicians on National Latino Physician ...

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What New Immigration and Education Policies Mean for Latino Families


Young hispanic student smiling happy wearing a backpack at the university.

Latinos have endured generations of systemic inequities due to racism and discrimination.  Over the years, institutions, structures, and policies have given rise to gaps in housing, income, education, and more, which lead to higher risk for diseases like cancer.  Even though these disparities persist, policymakers are pushing for change.   On July 17, 2024, the Biden White House announced several new policies to expand opportunities for Latino communities, including increasing access to higher education.  Let’s investigate some of these policies and how they endeavor to help Latinos.  Increasing Educational and Economic Gains Through Hispanic-Serving Institutions  More than 500 Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) that span across 27 states, the District of Columbia, ...

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Analysis: US Poverty Higher in Latino Populated Cities



Latinos now make up 19.5% of the US population.  Counties in California, Florida, and Texas are home to some of the largest Latino communities in the nation.  However, a recent Axios analysis found that poverty rates are also higher within many of these areas.  US Census Bureau 2022 5-year estimates show that 10 of the largest Latino communities have a poverty rate that’s 50% higher than the national average (12.5%).  Let’s break down the numbers and how they relate to the health equity of Latinos.  Analysis Findings on Poverty  Axios conducted an analysis of 10 census-designated places that had at least 100,000 residents with a high percentage of Latinos.  Based on the collective data, the outlet determined that the average rate of poverty for Latinos in these ...

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Percentage of Uninsured Latinos Decreases to 18%



US Latinos and other racial/ethnic minority populations made historic gains in healthcare coverage in the years after the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to five recent research briefs from the US Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). In the research brief focused on Latinos, research showed that the uninsured rate for nonelderly Latinos decreased from 32.7% to 18% from 2010 to 2022. However, the brief also found that Latinos are more than twice as likely as non-Latino Whites to be uninsured. Let’s further explore health insurance coverage among Latinos. Latinos Facing Health Barriers For Latinos, health outcomes are affected by factors like lack of health insurance, language and cultural barriers, and lack of access to care. “Studies ...

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