Health
American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin fully represented in Nation’s Capital
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi speaking at a reception hosted by the Embassy of India for American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin members on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin flexed the full weight of its influence in the nation’s capital Wednesday, presenting its legislative priorities before more than 30 members of Congress from both parties.
With nearly 100 AAPI members on hand from across the country to participate in the organization’s Legislative Day, held at the Rayburn House Office Building, a multitude of matters were discussed, including green cards, immigration and the recent spike in targeted attacks against Indian Americans across the U.S.
The organization, which represents more than 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, said that more than two-dozen members of Congress were also on hand, and all were very receptive. AAPI president Ajay K. Lodha said the lawmakers were presented with an official list of the group’s legislative priorities at the meeting.
“One of the main points in the white paper was increasing residency slots,” he told The American Bazaar. “There is a shortage of doctors here in this country, and by increasing the residency slots, that can be addressed.”
The long wait for green cards for the AAPI members currently in the U.S. on H-1B visas was also a topic of conversation. “Some of these doctors have to wait for 15 to 16 years,” said Lodha, a primary care physician based in New York.
All four Indian American representatives — Rep. Ami Bera, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rep. Pramila Jayapal — attended the event. Other political heavyweights such as Ed Royce, Tulsi Gabbard and Joe Crowley were also in attendance.
In a Shakespearean twist, the event was held in the backdrop of a major Republican-led effort to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Gautam Samadder, who is next in line to become the AAPI’s president, hailed the event as one of the best-attended legislative day events in the history of the organization. “Our issues are not the same as they were when AAPI was formed,” he said. “Back then we were all mostly first generation Americans. Discrimination was one of our biggest issues. Now we have a significant percent of our membership that is from the second generation. We have a lot more issues before us.”
Later in the evening, Indian Deputy Chief of Mission Reenat Sandhu hosted a reception for AAPI members at the embassy of India in Washington, DC.
SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — The FBI says, CEO Ridhima Singh of Amity Home Health Care is among the 28 people, that include doctors and nurses, accused in the scheme. Federal prosecutors charged the Bay Area’s largest home health care provider, Amity Home Health Care, with involvement in a kickback scheme that led to $115 million in tainted claims. The complaint said medical professionals received $8 million worth of bribes disguised as payroll, phony medical directorships, reimbursements, entertainment or gifts, in what the Department of Justice said was simply “a cash for patients scheme.”
The man accused of stabbing and killing 62 year old Parmjit Singh in Tracy made his first court appearance. 21 year old Anthony Kreiter-Rhoads of Tracy pleaded not guilty of homicide during his arraignment. Police are still investigating the motive behind the crime.
And Priyanka Chopra & her husband Nick Jonas were named by People Magazine as their pick for ‘Best Dressed of the Year.’
Ravi Kapur contributed to this report.
-
News2 months agoParamvir Singh killed in brazen gas station robbery 
-
News4 months agoUS and India to hold military drills near the China-India border
-
News4 months agoTwo Pakistani men charged with gang rape of 21 yr old American woman
-
News4 months agoTiE announces $25M endowment at SoCal’s 25th anniversary
-
News2 months agoVice President Kamala Harris involved in minor car crash in Washington
-
News4 months agoIndian American news anchor Uma Pemmaraju passes away at 64
-
News3 months agoTejinder Singh charged with hate crime in Taco Bell rant
-
News3 months ago3 Sikhs shot outside Stockton Sikh Gurdwara