NHHF Action Fund Brings Health Professionals to Capitol Hill to Advance Hispanic Health Priorities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Inaugural advocacy day connected frontline health professionals with federal policymakers on access, affordability, workforce development, prevention and research

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2026 — The National Hispanic Health Foundation Action Fund (NHHFAF) convened physicians, nurses and other health professionals in Washington on September 16 for its inaugural Capitol Hill Day, bringing frontline perspectives directly to congressional policymakers on issues affecting Hispanic and other underserved communities.

Participants met with congressional offices to discuss how federal policy affects the patients, families, and communities they serve. The conversations addressed access to affordable, high-quality care; health coverage; administrative barriers to treatment; workforce shortages; chronic disease prevention; health research; and the need for stronger Hispanic representation throughout the health system.

“Health professionals see every day how decisions made in Washington affect whether patients can obtain coverage, receive timely treatment and find providers who understand their communities,” said Andres Ramirez, President of the NHHF Action Fund. “Our Capitol Hill Day gave these professionals a direct voice in the policymaking process. This is central to NHHFAF’s purpose: turning evidence, frontline experience and Hispanic health priorities into meaningful policy action.”

NHHFAF’s congressional agenda called for action across six principal areas:

• Protecting health coverage, affordability and the health care safety net

• Reducing administrative barriers that delay medically necessary care

• Preserving educational opportunities for future health professionals

• Strengthening and diversifying the health and public health workforce

• Advancing chronic disease prevention, research and clinical-trial representation

• Protecting communities facing disproportionate health and access challenges

The agenda included specific recommendations concerning Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage, community health centers, prior authorization, federal support for health professions education, workforce programs, maternal health, clinical-research diversity, and federal investments in public health and biomedical research.

During the Capitol Hill Day, NHHF also presented its Hispanic Health Leadership Award to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, recognizing her work to lower prescription-drug costs, improve access to rural and tribal health care, protect Medicare and support mental and maternal health.

The Capitol Hill Day also marked the beginning of NHHFAF’s broader advocacy program. The organization will continue engaging Congress, federal agencies, state policymakers, health professionals, community leaders, and mission-aligned partners to advance practical policies that improve health outcomes.

“Our first Capitol Hill Day demonstrated the value of connecting policymakers with the professionals who understand how health policy works on the ground,” Ramirez said. “This was not a one-day effort. It was the beginning of a sustained, nonpartisan advocacy campaign to ensure that Hispanic communities are represented in the decisions that shape their health and future.”

About NHHFAF

The National Hispanic Health Foundation Action Fund is a national, nonpartisan 501(c)(4) advocacy organization advancing federal and state policy solutions that improve health outcomes for Hispanic and other underserved communities. NHHFAF engages health professionals, community leaders, policymakers, and partners to expand access to quality care, address health disparities, strengthen the health workforce, and ensure that Hispanic communities have a meaningful voice in health policy.

NHHFAF is the 501(c)(4) advocacy partner of the National Hispanic Health Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on leadership, research, and education.

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