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Newswise (Washington, DC: March 28th, 2014) Physician Shortage, J-1 Visa Waiver Program, Immigration Reform, Permanent Fix to the Medicare SGR, Medical Liability Reform, Tuberculosis Prevention and Funding, and Support for the Nomination of Dr. Vivek H. Murthy as Surgeon General of the United States were part of the Legislative Agenda for 2014 discussed during the annual Legislative Day, organized by the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic organization of physicians, representing over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC on March 26th and 27th, 2014.

In their efforts to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill, particularly on issues relating to healthcare, over 120 members of AAPI from around the nation shared of the need to fix the many vital healthcare issues that confront the physicians in the US, even as the nearly two dozen US Lawmakers from both the Parties endorsed AAPIs agenda and expressed strong support, while promising to do the needful in the US Congress.

AAPIs Legislative Day and Reception on Doctors Making a Difference began with a Indian Buffet Dinner Reception at Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, March 26th, 2014. In his keynote address, India's Ambassador to the United States, Dr. S. Jaishankar, praised the Indian American community, and in particular, the physicians of Indian origin, for their great achievements and contributions to the their motherland, India, their adopted land, the US and in a very significant way to the transformation of the Indo-US relations. He emphasized the key role AAPIs Global Healthcare Summits have made in transforming the delivery of healthcare system in India. If India has changed, the credit goes to you the physicians of Indian origin, he said. You have made a change in the perception of India in the US by your hard work, commitment and great achievements. And we are truly grateful to you, he added.

In her keynote address on Thursday, March 27th, Assistant Secretary of State, Nisha Desai Biswal, the Obama administration's point person for South Asia, praised the Indian American physicians and the broader Diaspora community for not just being catalytic in fostering the India-United States relationship, but for being the solid anchor that sustains this partnership through good times and bad. AAPI has been a tremendous organization for what you do here in the United States and for what you do in India and for what you do to improve and extend the US-India relationship, she said.

Among the areas of cooperation between the two nations, she referred to Indias partnership with the United States on the Global Call for Action on Child Survival, which was a global effort to end preventable child deaths. Biswal hailed India for being a leader and a partner on so many health innovations and we are working together, like I said, in advancing health issues in India, but then also partnering with India on taking these innovations globally. These are all indicators of how important and valued this relationship is for both countries but also the future trajectory, which is on a very positive path. She acknowledged that, All of this is possible because of the very early investments that all of you have made over the decades, and your continued engagement and activism is most welcome and always, always, needed.

Rep. Jim McDermott, MD (D-WA), co-chair of India Caucus in the US House, acknowledged the need to fix to the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. While responding to AAPI leaders referring to the temporary Bill passed in January 2013, averting a 26.5 percent cut, which expires in April 2014. Rep. Steny Hoyer, Chief Democratic Party Whip, pointed out that everyone in the Congress is in agreement that the SGR be fixed permanently. However, the difference is about to how to pay for the increase in healthcare cost that is estimated to be $134 Billion when SGR is fixed.

Rep. Tulasi Gabbard, who began the deliberations on March 27th, while acknowledging the need for a permanent fix to SGR, said, We dont allow it to lapse, without fixing. The way we get this done is through discussion and respect for each others views, working out the differences. Rep. Tom Price, MD (R-GA) said, Healthcare problem is not a Republican or a Democratic problem, It is an American problem and we will need to work together and find amicable solutions to it. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a double amputee, surviving a crash during Operation Iraqi Freedom, spoke eloquently of the need to fix the immigration system, the SGR formula and of the need to increase the Residency Slots in order to meet the growing demand for physicians.

Rep. Joe Wilson, said, I have born with a deep appreciation for the Indian American community in the US, and I join you today to have a permanent fix to SGR. While referring to Members of both the Parties coming together to address and express support for AAPIs agenda, he said, You have brought together people who never talk to one another. Rep. Joe Crowley lamented that the US has not been working towards meeting the growing demand for Doctors by educating and raising the Residency Slots in the country. Our country has the best, the finest, bravest physicians in the whole world, he said. While referring to the Indian elections, he praised the peaceful transfer of power through the largest democratic exercise in the world.

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US Lawmakers Express Strong Support for AAPI's Legislative Agenda During AAPI's Legislative Day on Capitol Hill