The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. the health care reform law, or ACA) and its impact on Latino patients was at the top of the agenda at the 17th Annual Conference of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), as reported in the Insurance & Financial Advisor (IFA). According to an NHMA statement, about one-third of Latinos, or 15 million people, will be seeking new doctors for diabetes, hypertension, cancer and preventive services when they become eligible to buy or receive health insurance under ACA. NHMA aims to enroll more Latinos in health insurance this fall, and it projects a growing demand for primary care, dental care, mental health care, prevention screening and counseling. Because of similar demands, a potential negative result of ACA is that 7 million Americans could face primary care physician shortages.

To read the IFA article, click here.

To read the NHMA statement, click here.