American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin fully represented in Nation’s Capital

Published

3 years ago

May 4, 2017

David Barclay

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.

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FBI: Amity CEO Ridhima Singh, others accused of major healthcare fraud

Published

10 months ago

September 5, 2019

Staff Reporter

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.”

To read the full indictment:Download

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Ravi Kapur contributed to this report.

Business

PM Modi’s Houston reception sold out, 50,000 to attend

Published

11 months ago

August 22, 2019

Staff Reporter

HOUSTON (Diya TV) — “Howdy, #Modi!”, the community event in Houston next month featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sold out, with more than 50,000 people registering for the program. This community summit will be at NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans football team. The expected crowd will be the largest for a foreign leader in the United States other than for Pope Francis.

The Indian government has begun to ease restrictions in most areas of Kashmir, with barricades being lifted to allow more freedom of movement of people and traffic. Markets remained shut and phone and internet services are still suspended. Large security measures are also still in place. Students are being asked to return to school, but most classrooms are still mostly empty.

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Fire Eye, an American-based cyber security firm says hackers broke into a leading India-based healthcare website, stealing nearly seven million records containing patient and doctor information. Fire Eye did not publicly name the website, but says the cyber criminals are mostly China-based and are selling the stolen data underground.

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Featured

Indian PM Modi to address the United Nations in September

Published

11 months ago

August 2, 2019

Staff Reporter

NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) session on September 28th. He is also expected to attend a multitude of high-level summits while in New York. He will also speak at a diaspora event in Houston on September 22nd.

India and the U.S. are “very close” to resolving all their trade-related differences, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal planning to meet the U.S. Trade Representative in the next month.

India is the only major Asian economy that’s grown its export share since the start of the tariff wars in 2018. It’s also the one with the fewest trade links to China.

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