THE RIGHT PRESCRIPTION FOR A HEALTHIER NEW YORK COMMUNITY

New York, NY - More than 45 million Americans, including more than eight million children are living without health coverage. In New York alone, over 2,866,000 people do not have health insurance -- that's over 15% of the population. When it comes to Hispanics, the numbers are staggering: nearly one in three lacks health care coverage - more than any other racial or ethnic group.

Lack of health insurance can be risky and costly: health problems can wipe out a family's bank account; symptoms that may have been uncovered during a routine check-up are never diagnosed or treated. As a result, emergency rooms are filled with patients suffering from conditions that could have been caught earlier - a factor that not only burdens the individual but also increases the overall cost of health insurance.

An alternative solution

In today's economic environment, health insurance premiums are formidable, and in many cases, cost-prohibitive. Too often, the "solution" is no insurance - and thus, no health care. Starting in April 2006, a collaborative effort of local private medical offices, together with Community Premier Plus-a non-profit health insurance company-and Community Voices - a non-profit community advocate for the uninsured - will launch a bilingual advertising campaign that will focus on addressing the fundamental issues of access to medical care. It's aptly entitled, "The care you want, the peace of mind you need."

Campaign that reflects commitment

The advertising campaign will run for three consecutive months (April- June). Each month, an ad will address a different need, from mothers with children and young adults to women. Each offers a free doctors visit with a free medical check-up, as well as assistance in applying for free or low-cost health insurance. All that's required of the reader is a toll-free phone call to 1-877-CPP-4456 to set up an appointment at any of the participating private practice medical locations throughout the Bronx and Manhattan.

About CPP
Since 1996, Community Premier Plus (CPP) has been a pioneer in the health care field, providing high quality, coordinated preventive and treatment services for a diverse medically underserved population as well as the uninsured.

CPP has been rated as one of New York's top health plan by its members for three years in a row. The health plan provides free or low-cost health insurance to more than 50,000 members, and sponsors various health events and complimentary workshops throughout the year.

CPP is committed to the health and well being of the community -- from health insurance to assurance that the community has the services and information it needs. It's evident in everything CPP does, from the advertising campaign to its free clinics and partnerships - and in the plan's mantra "We treat you like family."

African American Woman Dr. Named National Health Leader and Dean

NATIONAL LEADER IN WOMEN'S HEALTH NAMED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS AND DEAN OF MEDICINE AT MEHARRY

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice 

More on Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice Researcher in Women's Reproductive Health

Nashville, TN (BlackNews.com) - Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, nationally renowned educator, clinician and researcher in women's reproductive health, is the new senior vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine at Meharry Medical College. Montgomery Rice's appointment was announced by Dr. John E. Maupin Jr., Meharry president, at a campus-wide meeting on Feb. 24.

Amid enthusiastic applause from students, faculty and staff as the announcement was made, Maupin said, "Valerie Montgomery Rice is the best leader for the School of Medicine at this important time in the College's history. As we continue providing excellent health professions, education and training and high quality patient care, we are enhancing our research efforts with a focus on ending the health disparities that exist for people of color and the disadvantaged. Dr. Montgomery Rice's proven expertise and leadership in these areas greatly benefit our efforts."

Maupin added that a national search to fill the position was not conducted after consultation with the College's chief faculty governing bodies, the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Council, and the Meharry Board of Trustees. "I conferred with the trustees and the faculty leadership, who all said virtually the same thing: Dr. Montgomery Rice is exactly who Meharry needs leading the School of Medicine," he said. "The fact that she is already serving on our faculty helps us make this transition as seamless as possible."

"I am pleased and honored to receive this appointment," Montgomery Rice said. "Meharry has a strong history of providing education and training to health professionals who are committed to medically underserved communities. We are building upon that tradition today in the School of Medicine, working to provide exceptional leadership in the national efforts to advance scientific understanding of ethnic-based health disparities; address disparities in the quality and type of care provided to minorities; and ensure greater diversity in the health professions workforce."

ABOUT DR. VALERIE MONTGOMERY RICE
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice has served as chair and professor of Meharry's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and executive director of Meharry's Center for Women's Health since 2003. During her tenure, she has overseen efforts to create the Center for Women's Health, which provides subspecialty patient care in urogynecology, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, gynecologic oncology and high-risk obstetrics.

Under her leadership, the Center launched the Women's Cancer Research Laboratory in 2005, and the Center for Women's Health Research, scheduled to open this fall as the first of its kind devoted solely to addressing diseases that disproportionately affect women of color. In 2004, she re-established Meharry's residency training program in obstetrics and gynecology, which closed in the early 1990's due to low patient volume. Today, there are six resident physicians receiving training in the program; six more will be added by 2007.

Montgomery Rice is known throughout the U.S. as one of the newly emerging voices in the expanding field of reproductive endocrinology and as a noted lecturer in the area of menopause. She has participated in national campaigns in support of low-dose hormonal applications and has served as the principal investigator on numerous clinical trials of low-dose birth control pills and hormonal replacement therapies. She has extensive expertise in female infertility and gynecologic reproductive endocrinology including repetitive pregnancy loss, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis and menopause.

Montgomery Rice currently serves on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs and is a reviewer for several journals including Fertility Sterility, Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Menopause. Her most recent awards include the National Institutes of Health Supplemental Research Award and the Joy McCann Endowed Professor Award, of which she was the first Meharry Medical College recipient.

She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Medical Association, National Medical Association; American Medical Women's Association and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

Prior to her appointment at Meharry, Montgomery Rice served as associate professor of medicine and director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

She earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and bachelor's degree in chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology. She completed her internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Emory University School of Medicine and affiliated hospitals in Atlanta and served a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Hutzel Hospital in Detroit.

Montgomery Rice succeeds Dr. PonJola Coney, who held the position since 2002 and will remain on faculty in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

ABOUT MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE
Meharry Medical College is the nation's largest private, independent historically black institution dedicated solely to educating health science professionals. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services; and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation's health professions workforce. Black Issues in Higher Education's ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.

Blacks Honored During April Minority Health Month.

CMS DIRECTOR MARK MCCLELLAN, U.S. REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS, FORMER GOV. MARK WARNER & ROBERT GALLO, MD TO BE HONORED AT HEALTH DISPARITIES SUMMIT IN APRIL

April Is Minority Health Month!

Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) - The National Minority Health Month Foundation and the American Medical Association today announced the Third Annual Leadership Summit on Health Disparities and Awards Dinner, themed "Bridging the Quality Gap," will be held on April 11-12, 2006 at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC.

Among the cadre of 2006 awardees are Mark B. McClellan, MD, PhD, Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; U. S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings; Former Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner; and eminent scientist Robert C. Gallo, MD, co-discoverer of the HIV virus.

"Dr. McLellan, Congressman Cummings and former Governor Mark Warner have made a real commitment to improving the health status of all Americans and I am thrilled to honor them at this year's leadership summit to eliminate health disparities," said Gary A. Puckrein, PhD, executive director of the National Minority Health Month Foundation. "The summit has become an important platform for government, industry and community to interface and collaborate."

Legendary football greats Calvin Hill, Brian Mitchell, and Roy Jefferson, the First Ladies Summit, the National Coalition of Pastors' Spouses, the American Heart Association, the American Hospital Association, the Alliance of Minority Medical Associations, the Congressional Leadership Alliance, the Center for Health Transformation, industry leaders, physicians and community advocates are among the participants.

Free registration is available for working media. For more information, go to The National Minority Health Month Foundation or call (202) 223-7560.


About National Minority Health Month Foundation

Since its inception in 1999, the National Minority Health Month Foundation has distinguished itself as a leader in coalescing efforts to eliminate health care disparities. The Foundations seeks to eliminate health disparities through innovation, collaboration and evidence-based solutions. Using zip code level data, the Foundation has created a centralized data warehouse with the ability to pinpoint "Health Disparity Zones." The Foundation was instrumental in launching 'National Minority Health Month,' supported by a resolution from the U.S. Congress and recognized by most states.